Line Judge Responsibilities

  1. Crew Responsibility;
    • Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to match and check in with R1.
    • Remain in neutral area and await instructions from R1.
    • If R1 does not give specifics regarding positioning, pursuit, etc be sure to ask.
    • Warm ups; minimum you should assume your position (without flags) during final warm up to get eyes adjusted to speed and lighting (11 min).
  2. Perception-make it look sharp
    • Take ball to base position each set, holding ball until R2 provides the server with the first ball. Position should be 3-5 ft off your corner.
    • Time-outs:
  3. Arrive at the attack line/side line at the same time as your partner.
  4. Roll up your flag and hold it with both hands in front.
  5. Leave at the same time-:15 whistle (or when teams return to court).
  6. Ball crew should hold all balls during TO.
    • End of set:
  7. Collect ball/s and go to time-out position.
  8. Wait until both team benches change courts before crossing (along attack line), place balls on table and go to neutral area, preferably not in sub zone.
  9. At: 30 on clock (R2 whistle) return to position ‘a’ above.
    • End of match:
  10. Proceed to T.O. position, wait for R1 to come off stand and move together across the court, avoiding team huddles and hand shaking.
  11. Balls may be left to ball crew and if site flags they can be left on stand or put on table after you cross the court.
  12. If discussed ahead in pre-match, may proceed to designated area and wait for R2 and go to official’s room for debrief.
  13. Duties
    • Call every ball on your two lines and any touch you see.
    • Avoid showing facial expressions after initial signal.
    • Line violation & antenna signal (wave your flag until seen by R1 or R2), then point for the violation (review what R1 wants on player off the court at time of serve).
    • Review signals; pursuit, ball off block (touches or out).
    • Movement to be in best position (get eyes stopped before the ball arrives). Do not signal until the ball contacts the floor.
    • Pancakes; signal only if you see the ball contact the floor.
    • Server; if server is within 3-4 feet of your position, move to position behind them and move up quickly as they move, unless told to go to the side.
    • Ignore fan/team member comments & conversations unless inappropriate or derogatory (signal like an antenna violation @ next dead ball).
    • On balls coming toward you, move early to see best the line that it will be closest to (1 quick step back from corner).
  14. Signals (make sure you practice them)
    • Pursuit; left hand with a fist out to the side (90 degrees), preferably with flag in right hand (drop the hand if legal return or antenna signal if not)
    • Line violation server/player off the court; wave flag and then point at line of the violation (end line or side line).
    • Antenna violation; wave flag and then point at the antenna. This includes ball contacting the net outside the antenna.  If needed, signal to clarify offending team/player.
    • Touch or out; determined by last player to touch the ball and where the ball ends up. If last touched by a player on the side the ball ends up it is a touch.  If ends up on the other side it is out.
    • In; be consistent with what you consider to be a ball on the line.
    • All signals should be crisp and clear. Minimize hesitation and snap the flag (make it sing).