Informal Signals for NFHS Volleyball

1
Informal Signals for NFHS Volleyball
2
OVERVIEW

• A lot of good information about using informal
  signals is available in the 2007-08 NFHS
  Volleyball Rules Book and the 2007-08 NFHS
  Volleyball Case Book and Manual. There is
  additional information regarding how informal
  signals help the referee and umpire get the calls
  right. This comes over time from other volleyball
  officiating venues.

3
OVERVIEW

• Much of the information on informal signaling
  and how it can benefit matches has been developed
  over time from other volleyball sources USA
  Volleyball (USAV) and, for college womens
  volleyball, PAVO (the Professional Association of
  Volleyball Officials). In its search for
  improving high school girls volleyball, the NFHS
  includes representatives of USAV and PAVO at its
  annual meeting where rules, mechanics and
  instructional techniques are discussed.

4
Making a Commitment toward Becoming a Better VB
Official

• Guidance
• Learning more effective use of informal signals
  can help facilitate the matches that you
  officiate.
• Keep an open mind toward assimilating these
  informal signals into your officiating since they
  can help you and your partner get the calls
  right!

5
Informal Signals

• Informal signals are a key communication tools
  for the officiating crew.
• The referee is responsible for scanning the
  officiating crew on every play to take in all
  available information before making a decision.
• The referee and umpire should be in a constant
  scan mode.

6
Informal Signals

• The referee and umpire should be in a
• constant scan mode, looking for such things as
• Potential safety issues.
• Coach requests.
• Bench activity.
• Readiness of the umpire.
• Line judges in proper position.
• Additional time needed by scoretable support
  staff (readiness issue).

7
Informal Signals

• Notes
• Informal signals should reflect the pre-match
  agreements regarding what the umpire will signal
  the referee.
• Only play-ending information should be shown.

8
Informal Signals

• Show only play-ending information such as
• 4-hits
• 2-hits
• Prolonged contact, below-the-waist contact, or
  assisted hit
• Touched out
• Back-row block, illegal attacks
• Over-the-net contact
• Ball down/in, ball out, and ball touched out
• Possible position switch on the serving team
• Possible screening formation

9
Informal Signals

• Guidance A Very Good Practice to Follow
• An umpire can help the referee on plays where the
  referee is unsure of what happened and needs to
  be led. To do this requires the umpire to have an
  opinion regarding which team lost a rally.
• Moving to the side of the team that lost a rally
  can be exactly the help the referee needs on a
  bang-bang play in particular. Attack-antenna-block
  or attack-block-antenna is one situation.
  Another is a 3rd hit tape shot that goes out of
  bounds off the block or off the attack?
• Discussion.

10
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 1
• Third team hit not going over the net
• When a ball has already been contacted three
  times and the next contact will result in the
  teams fourth hit, the referee has asked the
  umpire to show 4-hits to confirm for the referee
  that the next contact will be the teams fourth
  hit. Umpire has agreed to step out big to be very
  visible on this call. Referee has agreed to be
  alert (awareness of partner movement) to pick up
  this type of helping information.

11
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 1
• Umpire Action Team A has already contacted the
  ball three times and the ball clearly isnt going
  over the net. Umpire steps out strongly to the
  side of the team who already contacted the ball
  three times and shows four fingers in the chest
  area, using the hand to the side of the team that
  would be committing the fault on the next
  contact.
• Referee Action Referee sees 4-hits and whistles
  the 4-hit fault at the next team contact.

12
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 1
• Discussion On this play, the umpire could be
  saving the referee from embarrassment. One never
  knows when a referee has a temporary (hopefully)
  mind meltdown. This is not a discrete signal. The
  umpire is not empowered to whistle a 4-hit fault.
  Rather, the referee has agreed to be alert and to
  trust partner assistance.

13
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 2
• Extra contact not seen by referee
• If a team has an extra contact that the referee
  might not have seen (such as where a ball glances
  off a player, is then passed and set), the
  referee has asked that the unusual 4-hit call
  be shown early (as soon as the third hit is not
  attacked) by the umpire to alert the referee that
  the next contact will be the teams fourth hit.
• Umpire has agreed to step out big to be very
  visible on this call. The referee has agreed to
  be alert (awareness of partner movement) to pick
  up this type of information.

14
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 2
• Umpire Action Team A has already contacted the
  ball three times, and unlike an easy 4-hit call,
  the umpire realizes that by angle and player
  positioning the referee was unlikely to have
  seen one of the contacts (first or second). The
  umpire is getting the referees attention early
  to shock the referee who likely isnt aware of
  the extra contact that the next contact will be a
  4-hit fault. The umpire steps out really big to
  the side and toward the court to be seen.

15
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 2
• Discussion The referee is trusting his/her
  partner. The umpire will be selling to the
  affected head coach that this call came from the
  umpire. She took my call on that one, coach. I
  had the ball glance off two players and then the
  ball was set. If, for some reason, the referee
  fails to scan and doesnt see the umpires
  movement, the umpire should not remain out of
  position but should give up the call and not miss
  a net. It is not a good situation for the umpire
  to have to cross the court to discuss this after
  the rally is over.

16
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 3
• Third hit attacked into tape or top of net,
  block up
• If a teams third hit is attacked into the tape
  or the net just below the tape with a block up,
  the referee and umpire are expected to partner to
  get the call right. If the ball does not cross to
  the blocking teams side of the net, the referee
  must have an opinion regarding whether or not
  there was a touch on the block. This opinion can
  be formed independently or with assistance from
  an umpires informal signal.

17
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 3
• The pre-match discussion could go like this If
  the referee has a clear opinion that ball was
  touched by the block (allowing attacking team 3
  more hits), the referee can show the touch with
  an unrushed signal above the net, especially if
  team is yelling no touch.

18
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 3
• In this situation, the umpire may already have a
  4-hit informal signal showing but the referee saw
  a touch and is going what he/she saw. However, it
  is good partnering for the referee to look at the
  umpire for information. The referee can make eye
  contact to acknowledge the call and a light head
  shake to say, I saw it differently, were
  playing on. In this case, showing a touch above
  the net (with proper mechanics) is helpful
  especially if there are yells of no touch.

19
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 3
• The aftermath on this play comes from what occurs
  next. If the ball lands in, loss of rally is
  awarded the blocking team. If the ball lands out,
  loss of rally goes to the attacking team because
  the referee has already shown a touch on the
  block. If the attacking team plays the ball, play
  on. Line judges can not be looked to for a touch
  on this play, only an in or out of bounds
  call unless the ball comes back off the block and
  touches a player on the attacking team before
  landing out.

20
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 3
• Third hit attacked into tape or top of net,
  block up
• But what if the referee isnt sure whether or not
  there was a touch on the block and needs partner
  help. The umpire has to be prepared with an
  informal signal of 4-hits or a head nod or
  nothing if the umpire had a touch on the block.
  The agreement has to be clear on what the umpire
  will show the referee. The referee agrees that if
  the umpire shows 4-hits, the referee will take
  the call. However, 4-hits wont necessarily occur
  because the ball could land in or out without
  someone digging the ball.

21
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 3
• Umpire Action 1 The referee scans for
  information from the umpire who shows 4-hits in
  the chest area which confirms for the referee
  that the umpire had no touch. This will be the
  call if the ball is next played by the attacking
  team, and the umpire will own the call. Neither
  of us had a touch, coach. Lets say the ball
  then goes out of bounds off the tape/net. The
  umpires 4-hit signal helps the referee award the
  rally to the blocking team.

22
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 3
• Umpire Action 2 When the referee scans for
  information and the umpire has a touch, the two
  officials have agreed that the umpire will not
  show touch because this is used only with
  play-ending information but, instead, will give a
  head nod. And there are times when the umpire is
  unsure, and the referee simply has to decide. If
  the referee has the touch and/or takes the touch
  from the head nod and the ball lands out of
  bounds, the referee will award the rally to the
  attacking team.

23
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 3
• Referee Action There are times when the referee
  appropriately scans for information but the
  umpire is not sure about the touch. In such a
  situation, the referee will not show touch above
  the net because the referee may have no block OR
  the referee has yet to make a decision. ? The
  referee has until the ball lands or is next
  touched to decide. Each official has his/her own
  approach to whether you have to see the touch or
  assume no touch or assume the block got it unless
  it was a clear no touch.

24
Informal Signals

• 4 hits Scenario 3
• Discussion If the umpire does not provide
  rally-ending information, the officials have to
  partner based on what happens next. If the ball
  clearly lands in, no problem. Signal ball in.
  However, if the ball lands out, the referee will
  now award the ball to the attacking team because
  the ball was blocked out (touch on the block,
  ball stayed on attacking teams side). On this
  play, line judges should have been instructed to
  call in or out and not try to offer information
  about the block.

25
Informal Signals

• Umpire Leads Referee, Part 1
• Tape shot
• Ball attacked into the tape sometimes produces
  the deer-in-the-headlights look on the part of
  the referee, at which time the umpire
  recognizing this has occurred literally leads
  the referee in making the call. If the umpire has
  no touch on the block, the umpire steps out big
  to the side of the attacking team with the 4-hits
  call in the chest area.

26
Informal Signals

• Umpire Leads Referee, Part 1
• Tape shot
• The umpire showing 4-hits on the side of the
  attacking team clearly tells the referee that the
  umpire is on the side of the team that lost the
  rally and that the 4-hits call should be shown if
  the attacking team touches the ball again OR that
  if the ball lands out, the blocking team has won
  the rally. Referee shows out signal, gestures
  to the attacking team and then awards the point
  with the new loss of rally signal.

27
Informal Signals

• Umpire Leads Referee, Part 2
• Tape Shot
• If umpire scans and sees referee needs help and
  umpire had a touch on the block, umpire steps out
  big to the side of the blocking team with a head
  nod to tell the referee that the umpire is on the
  side of the team that lost the rally if the ball
  lands out or that the umpire is on the blocking
  teams side if the attacking team digs the ball
  and runs its offense. The referee shows out,
  gestures to blocking team, then awards point with
  new loss of rally signal.

28
Informal Signals

• Double hits and multiple contacts
• A pre-match discuss of how to handle double hit
  or multiple contacts out of the view of the
  referee is important.
• This should include multiple contacts that from
  the umpires angle - are outside the range that
  the referee has been using in calling a 2-hit
  fault.

29
Informal Signals

• Double hits and multiple contacts
• Umpire Action
• Umpire shows 2-hit signal in the chest area to
  offer help to the referee regarding a fault call.
  This is also used if from the umpires angle
  there is a double hit on the type of play that
  the umpire believes the referee has called
  previously this can bail out the referee.

30
Informal Signals

• Double hits and multiple contacts
• Referee Action
• Referee whistles the fault. Umpire sells call to
  affected coach. Coach, he took my call on that
  one. He was screened. This shows that partnering
  is occurring. If referee fails to make eye
  contact and umpire is sure, umpire may whistle
  the fault. But, if eye contact occurs, and the
  referee shakes off the help/call, its play on
  the umpire would not whistle the fault.

31
Informal Signals

• Illegal hit not seen by referee
• What to do if there is an illegal hit outside the
  view of the referee such as prolonged contact,
  below-the-waist contact, assisted hit or ball
  rolling on the arm or body.

32
Informal Signals

• Illegal hit not see by referee
• Umpire Action
• Show the illegal hit signal in the chest area
  using the hand on the side of the team that
  committed the fault. Step out big to be visible
  to the referee.
• Referee Action
• Referee whistles the fault. If referee fails to
  make eye contact, and the umpire is sure that a
  violation occurred, the umpire may whistle the
  fault. But, if eye contact occurs, and the
  referee shakes off the help/call, its play on
  the umpire would not whistle the fault.

33
Informal Signals

• Ball touched out
• The umpire will not show the touch call while the
  ball is in play. When a ball has landed out or
  near a line and the umpire has a touch on the
  ball, the umpire should step out and be very
  visible with the touch signal, stepping to the
  side of the team that had the touch.
• If the referee has the ball landing out or takes
  a line judge call to this effect, the touch
  signal shown by the umpire should be picked up by
  the referees scan before signaling the result of
  the rally.

34
Informal Signals

• Possible back-row block
• If a back-row blocker is near the net, reaching
  higher than the net and contacting the ball, the
  umpire should step out and show the illegal block
  signal in the chest area. The umpire may whistle
  the fault if the referee does not see the signal
  and misses the back-row block. If the referee
  gives a head shake no, the umpire will not
  whistle the fault.

35
Informal Signals

• Possible collective back-row block, completed
• If a back-row blocker is near the net, reaching
  higher than the net and is part of a collective
  block, it is an illegal back-row block if the
  ball touches any of the blockers. To be a
  blocker, a player must be reaching above net
  height. The umpire should step out and show the
  illegal block signal in the chest area. The
  umpire may whistle the fault if the referee does
  not see the signal and misses the ball touching a
  player in the collective block. If the referee
  gives a head shake no, the umpire will not
  whistle the fault.

36
Informal Signals

• Blocking the serve
• No one can block the serve. If a player is near
  the net (meeting the definition of a blocker), is
  reaching above net height and contacts the ball
  in what can be construed as blocking action
  (action that deflects or intercepts the ball),
  the referee should whistle an illegal block. If
  the referee does not see the play or does not
  wave it off as legal, below the net contact, the
  umpire should step out and show the illegal block
  signal in the chest area, then whistle the fault
  if the referee does not see the signal.

37
Informal Signals

• Possible illegal back-row attack
• If the ball is clearly totally above net height
  and the ball then crosses the net or is legally
  contacted by the opponent, the umpire may show a
  strong attack signal and may whistle the fault if
  the referee doesnt see the signal.
• This requires the umpire to have been effectively
  tracking back-row players for both teams,
  especially the setters but not limited to the
  setters.

38
Informal Signals

• Possible illegal back-row attack
• If a back-row player whose last position on the
  floor was in the attack zone contacts the ball
  when the ball is entirely above net height, it is
  an illegal back-row attack if the attack is
  completed (legally contacted by opponents or
  crosses untouched to the opponents side). The
  umpire may step out and be very visible while
  showing the illegal attack signal in the chest
  area and then may gesture if the referee hasnt
  seen the signal. The umpire may whistle the fault
  if the referee doesnt see the signal but not if
  the referee shows the legal attack signal.

39
Informal Signals

• Possible illegal attack off the libero pass 1
• If the liberos current contact with the floor is
  in the attack zone and the libero plays the ball
  with finger action/setting, then the next contact
  with the ball by a teammate cannot be a completed
  from totally above the height of the net.
• The umpire looks at the foot position of the
  libero to determine the possibility of an illegal
  attack and may give an immediate safe signal to
  the referee if the libero is close to but not in
  the attack zone.

40
Informal Signals

• Possible illegal attack off the libero pass 2
• The referee looks at both the hand position of
  the libero and tries to also pick up foot
  position on the court to determine the
  possibility of an illegal attack. If the referee
  sees the libero make any pass other than a set,
  there is no problem.
• If the referee sees the libero set the ball and
  sees the libero in the attack zone or sees the
  umpire giving the informal illegal attack signal
  in the chest area, the referee waits until the
  next contact to determine ball height. If the
  next contact is a completed attack, the referee
  signals legal attack or illegal attack based on
  ball height.

41
Informal Signals

• Possible illegal attack off the libero pass 3
• The referee and umpire must partner on this play
  and make eye contact to get the call right. An
  active libero will step up and set the first ball
  or the second ball. If its the first ball, the
  setter (back-row or front-row) cant dump the
  ball over the net on the next contact if the ball
  is totally above net height.

42
Informal Signals

• Possible illegal attack off the libero pass 4
• If the referee does not acknowledge with a legal
  attack signal that the libero set the ball in the
  attack zone and the ball is then attacked above
  net height on the next play with the attack
  completed, the umpire may step out big and give
  two pumps of the arm to show the attack. The
  umpire may whistle the fault if the referee
  missed the call. In calling the fault, the
  officials signal illegal attack and then gesture
  toward the libero.

43
Informal Signals

• Possible illegal attack of a served ball
• If any player attacks a serve from anywhere on
  the court when the ball is totally above net
  height, this becomes illegal when the attack is
  completed. The referee may use the legal attack
  signal to show that part of the ball was below
  net height. If the ball is played by a teammate
  before crossing the net (or being contacted by
  the opponents), play on. If the ball is hit into
  the net and dug out, play on. The umpire can help
  inform the coach why such a play was legal.

44
Informal Signals

• Over the net
• If a player reaches over the net and contacts the
  ball which has not been attacked while the ball
  is totally on the opponents side of the net, the
  umpire should step out and show the over-the-net
  signal in the chest area. The referee should pick
  up the help and will make the call.
• Over the net includes an attack on the other side
  of the net as well as a block contact which takes
  a play away from the opponents on a ball that was
  not going over the net and/or is not an attack.
  However, any ball that has already been contacted
  three times may be blocked on the opponents
  side.

45
Informal Signals

• Ball in/down
• The umpire may have a great angle plus with
  ability to adjust position to see a ball down/in
  and may step out to signal the referee to assist
  with making the call. If the referee waves off
  the umpire (indicating the referee saw the ball
  up, the umpire should pull the call back and
  play continues.
• However, if the referee fails to see the call
  despite the step out and sell job, the umpire
  being 105 certain that the ball touched the
  court, is empowered to whistle the fault.

46
Informal Signals

• Out
• The umpire may also have an informal out call
  to offer on a play where the umpires focus did
  not have to stay with the net and center line,
  just in case the referee is left with a no-call
  on the part of a line judge.

47
Informal Signals

• Possible position switch on serving team
• The umpire may show a possible illegal alignment
  on the serving team picked up during the umpires
  court scan. Such a situation typically involves a
  player position switch. This is part of the
  pre-match discussion and may involve an informal
  signal.
• The referee has responsibility for observing the
  serving team and should have this call but may
  use help from an umpire who has kept track of
  both teams rotations on the court.

48
Informal Signals

• Possible screening
• Possible screening can be detected by the umpire
  based on the umpires scan when viewing signs
  that the receiving team is struggling to see the
  serve.
• Umpire Action
• Show screen signal in the chest area to alert the
  referee to possible screening. Address possible
  screening with umpire while referee warns
  captain. Referee shows screening signal to alert
  umpire that this is being discussed.

49
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals
• The illegal attack due to a back-row player
  taking off from behind the attack line when there
  is contact totally above net height should be
  used sparingly by the umpire, typically only when
  the players take off was close to the attack
  line or the ball was near the top of the net and
  the referee has not made the signal.
• The safe signal may also be used to show the
  libero was making a finger-tip setting action
  from outside the attack zone or that the next
  contact off the libero set from the attack zone
  was on a ball that was not totally above the
  height of the net.

50
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals
• There is one legal play signal (Signal 7) shown
  under NFHS Official Volleyball Signals. The
  description reads Legal Back Row Attack but
  should include legal libero attack, legal attack
  of a libero set in the attack zone and a variety
  of other attacks where a signal represents
  helpful communication of the officials awareness
  and that a decision was made that play was
  legal.

51
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals
• The description for Legal Back Row Attack is
  Arm on attackers side is extended, parallel to
  the floor at chest level, palm down. Make one
  slight horizontal sweeping motion.
• This signal does nothing for an official wishes
  to communicate why a play wasnt called for a
  back-row block, when a contact by a player near
  the net might result in first contact rather than
  a block, attack off a libero set from the attack
  zone where the next contact is a completed attack
  but at least part of the ball was below net
  height, legal attack of the serve, serve was not
  blocked, etc.

52
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals
• Last year, the NFHS was sent a proposal to use
  standardized signaling of player numbers.
• This year the NFHS will be asked to consider
  adopting two legal play signals to more clearly
  convey judgment of officials regarding ball
  position in relationship to the height of the
  net whether a player near the net is reaching
  higher than the top of the net or not, libero not
  in the attack zone while setting the ball, and
  other information not clearly conveyed by the
  current signal.  

53
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals
• Officials need to be able to communicate more
  information to coaches, players and fans than is
  currently communicated clearly by the current
  signal.
• Two signals would be used. Signal 1 would be
  play on, legal attack, player behind the attack
  line while Signal 2 would be play on, legal
  play either legal attack based on ball height
  or first contact/not a block based on a player
  not reaching above net height or position not
  near the net or the play.   

54
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals
• Signal 1 (play on, legal attack) 
• The sweeping arm extension would be on the side
  of the team attacking the ball horizontal parall
  el to the floor and at chest level.
  However, instead of palm down, the palm would
  face the attack line to show that
• a) the position of a back-row player was not in
  the attack zone or
  b) if
  the next contact that occurs is a completed
  attack from above net height off a
  libero finger-tip set, the play is legal because
  the libero was behind the attack line. 

55
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals
• Signal 1 (play on, legal attack) would be shown
  as a wave-off motion with the palm of the hand on
  the attacking team extended toward the attack
  line in a similar sweeping gesture to the current
  signal. By the nature of the signal, it conveys
  that a play is legal based on player position in
  relationship to the attack line (including
  imaginary extension of the attack line).

56
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals
• Signal 1 (play on, legal attack) 
• The wave off toward the attack line for Signal 1
  would more clearly show that a play is continuing
  on an attack of a ball that is contacted while
  the ball is totally above net height by a
  back-row player.
• This would not address an attack by the libero
  since ball height is the only judgment factor on
  such a play.     

57
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals
• Signal 2 (play on, legal play either legal
  attack based on ball height or not a block/first
  contact) would have the official's arm initially
  extended but not in as much of a sweeping motion
  and not quite as far out to the side in the
  direction of the team in question.
• The extended arm would be parallel to the floor,
  still at chest level although possibly a little
  lower down, and with the palm of the hand down
  and parallel to the court. The official
  would make a couple of soft downward motions as
  if lightly patting a small child on the head. 
•  

58
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals
• Signal 2 (play on, legal play either legal
  attack or first contact/not a block) would be
  shown to convey different information regarding
  why play is continuing. It could show
• a) position of the ball in relationship to the
  top of the net
• b) that a player near the net was not consider a
  legal or an illegal blocker because the player
  was not reaching above net height when contact
  was made with the ball

59
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals (continued)
• c) that the libero was not reaching above net
  height and therefore cannot be considered as
  attempting to block
• d) that a contact was not a back-row block and
  should be treated as first contact
• This change would help take into account NFHS
  libero playing rules and limitations.  

60
Informal Signals

• Legal Play/Safe Signals (continued)
• There is a good reason why Signal 2 is currently
  used in officiating under PAVO/NCAA and USA
  Volleyball rulesets. An advantage to this signal
  is that it can be also used by the umpire on a
  play where the umpire attempts to make eye
  contact with the referee and the referee doesn't
  look at the umpire. If the referee is playing on
  but does not make the informal signal and a
  question is being raised by the opposing head
  coach, the umpire wave off is at least one
  visible sign if the referee doesn't do anything.

61
Informal Signals

• Umpire signals
• When a team has a legal back-row attack because a
  back-row player left the floor from behind the
  attack line or a back-row player played a ball
  when the ball was not entirely above the height
  of the net, the umpire may show an informal
  signal of legal back-row attack off to the side
  on the side of the court where the play occurred.
  This may help the referee if the referees view
  was screened.
• To indicate a legal attack by a back-row player,
  the umpire can make a vertical signal with the
  arm on the side of the attack. Some officials
  already use the light patting down signal to show
  the ball was not totally above net height, but
  this is not yet an official informal signal for
  NFHS.

62
Informal Signals

• Time-outs taken
• Number of time-outs taken by each team is shown
  by the umpire at the beginning of the time-out at
  the end of the time-out. The scorer typically
  confirms number of time-outs used by each team to
  the umpire and signals the number to the referee
  during the time-out, then both umpire and scorer
  show this at the end of the time-out. The umpire
  informs the two coaches as well.

63
Informal Signals

• Support for partner
• A good call by either official may be responded
  to by the partner with a thumbs up signal as
  part of offering support. Eye contact, head nod
  and a smile go a long way toward offering
  support.

64
Informal Signals

• Leading the referee
• There are times where an informal signal by the
  umpire will not be sufficient. Part of effective
  partnering is recognizing when your partner needs
  help and leading the call. A bang-bang play at
  the net, ball played tight to the net,
  attack-block-antenna and who the fault was on,
  etc. can all necessitate the umpire leading the
  referee.
• Recognizing that deer-in-the-headlights look
  and need for help can be a partnership-defining
  moment! Get the call right!

65
Informal Signals

• Game point
• After confirming the serving team has game point,
  the umpire will show this with an index finger on
  the shoulder of the team that has game point. So
  should the scorer. The referee will acknowledge
  the signal with a nod but will not signal back in
  return.
• The informal signal of game point is repeated
  only as necessary and not while the other team is
  continuing to serve and the receiving team has
  repeated game points. However, if the score
  becomes tied, game point will be shown each time
  either team has a game point through the end of
  the game.

66
Informal Signals

• Warnings and sanctions
• Warnings and sanctions are never informal signals
  for high school volleyball. The purpose of a
  warning is to call sufficient attention to the
  inappropriate behavior as to prevent an
  escalation and the need for a formal
  warning/yellow card. The issuance of a yellow
  card may be requested by the umpire or directly
  by the referee.
• Sanctions in the form of a penalty (red card) or
  disqualification (red and yellow cards held in
  separate hands) may be requested by the umpire.
  The referee may issue these cards directly as
  well.

67
Informal Signals

• Request to cross the court to the referee stand
• There are times when the umpire needs to come
  across the court after a play for a private
  discussion with the referee regarding something
  that simply cant be signaled. Typically, the
  partners pre-arrange that when the umpire moves
  to the court with toes to the sideline, the
  referee should call the umpire across the court.
• The above scenario is to be used only for matters
  that merit special concern.