Ask the Ref - Rules Questions

[PHargis]

Under blocking add

3. Any attacked ball may be blocked, so if a team directs their 1st or 2nd team contact toward the opponents (refs judgement), the ball may be blocked on the opponents side of the court.

This whole section is something fans talk about in the stands and it is good the detail that has be gone in to the explanation. The more players play above the net and have increased their verticles. the explanation needs to keep up with the play.u

[TheGreatLineJudge]

Agreeing with sideout, the libero tracker's sole purpose is to be an independent person to monitor who the libero replaces and who, in turn, replaces the libero, to make sure that 24/L, in turn, becomes L/24 on the tracking sheet.

 

As a primer for those not quite as intimate with the rules surrounding tracking/replacements being enforced:

 

The libero is a defensive specialist who, at any time, may enter between the attack line and end line for any player currently in the back-row. She is defensive in nature, not offensive.

 

With the exception of when the libero serves, she must sit one point between replacements, but is otherwise free to enter and exit upon demand.

 

The libero replacement is not to be confused with substitutions. Substitutions are limited to 18 per game, with no maximum number of subs on any given player or position (up to the team maximum). Libero replacements are unlimited and are not counted.

 

When the libero enters and exits the game, her movements must be tracked. For this, we have the libero tracker (pretty original, right?). On a sample sheet for Team A, let us assume that Team A starts with the serve and their starting order is:

 

14

3

8

21

22

5

 

When the libero enters the match for #5:

 

14

3

8

21

22

5 L

 

When the libero re-enters the match for #5:

 

14

3

8

21

22

5 L 5

 

When you have a couple of substitutions:

 

14 7

3

8 9

21

22

5 L 5

 

And, finally, once 9 is in the back-row and the libero enters for her:

 

14 7

3

8 9 L

21

22

5 L 5

 

Now you know, quickly, that the libero is in for #9 and that she must replace #9 when #9 is coming into the front row. It is the scorekeeper, NOT the libero tracker, who officially keeps up with when/who the libero serves. If the libero does not get replaced by the correct player (#19 comes off the bench for the libero, for instance), the tracker should notify the official at the first opportunity.

 

Hope that helps.

[PageMan]

New subject: Electronic scoring devices on a team's bench - Are they legal?

[PHargis]

New subject: Electronic scoring devices on a team's bench - Are they legal?

Now that's a good question. Seen these devices a lot in the arena as well as someone manually keeping stats in the stands as well as on the bench and sometimes by the scorers table. In this age of electronics and transferring data to all who need it commercially, its hard to visualize any sport not having a means to keep up with the game electronically. u

[TheGreatLineJudge]

New subject: Electronic scoring devices on a team's bench - Are they legal?

 

 

I presume you're referring to PDAs and the stat software being marketing for PDA use. I know of nothing against it in the rulebook. The only electronic devices I can think of that aren't kosher would be megaphones and bullhorns.

 

Interestingly enough, there are advertisements in the NFHS rulebook for PDA stat software.

[lovevb]

TGLJ, thanks for the explanation - libero tracker. If I had really thought about it, its pretty obvious what their purpose is. I now fully understand.

[PageMan]

Interesting, as I was referring to PDA's or laptops for stat gathering and instant analysis. I had been told by an assistant coach at Centennial that they were illegal. I think there was a question about this on the football board where it was stated they were illegal. It appears that any data gathered electronically in the stands would be ok, but having it readily available on a team's bench would be unfair unless both teams had the capability.

[PHargis]

Interesting, as I was referring to PDA's or laptops for stat gathering and instant analysis. I had been told by an assistant coach at Centennial that they were illegal. I think there was a question about this on the football board where it was stated they were illegal. It appears that any data gathered electronically in the stands would be ok, but having it readily available on a team's bench would be unfair unless both teams had the capability.

Good information. I am unsure of the difference if the report was accurate. Is that why some scorekeepers doing manual stats had to move from the bench to the stands? I had thought it was a chair problem.

[PHargis]

The GLJ is correct as usual, I think. J McNeese at the TSSAA checked with whoever is in charge with Volleyball and came back with the information that there was noting wrong with PDA's on the bench if they are used for stats. Football is a different situation.and came up in the NE Pats situation. ( and as a sidelight , the ball is oblong)

[PageMan]

Back Row Attack. It seems like to me there have been a lot of these calls mainly involving Nashville Association officials - both veteran and new officials. It this a point of emphasis?. I am thinking that it mainly involves setters who start on the back row and come to the front row and either attack overhand or block the ball. Can you give me a explanantion about BRA?

[play4keeps]

Back Row Attack. It seems like to me there have been a lot of these calls mainly involving Nashville Association officials - both veteran and new officials. It this a point of emphasis?. I am thinking that it mainly involves setters who start on the back row and come to the front row and either attack overhand or block the ball. Can you give me a explanantion about BRA?

 

 

I believe you are correct in your assessment. If a player is in the back row they cannot attack the ball in front of the 3meter line. So if a setter is back row, she cannot "dump" a set over, block or otherwise attack from the front row. You will often hear players on the opposing team call out "Setter's Back!" both to alert the front row (no tips or blocks from the setter) and (in a not-so-discreet way) alert the ref to be watching.

 

We haven't seen many of these calls this year in our matches (just a couple) and I wish the refs would watch more carefully sometimes.

[PHargis]

I believe you are correct in your assessment. If a player is in the back row they cannot attack the ball in front of the 3meter line. So if a setter is back row, she cannot "dump" a set over, block or otherwise attack from the front row. You will often hear players on the opposing team call out "Setter's Back!" both to alert the front row (no tips or blocks from the setter) and (in a not-so-discreet way) alert the ref to be watching.

 

We haven't seen many of these calls this year in our matches (just a couple) and I wish the refs would watch more carefully sometimes.

I'm afraid I've seen it both ways almost every match, in fact, PM called it to my attention at the Finals FRI. By the way, by sayig this it does not mean intentionally but looked as if it was unintentional.