Line Judge Responsibilities
- 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).
- 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:
- Arrive at the attack line/side line at the same time as your partner.
- Roll up your flag and hold it with both hands in front.
- Leave at the same time-:15 whistle (or when teams return to court).
- Ball crew should hold all balls during TO.
- Collect ball/s and go to time-out position.
- 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.
- At: 30 on clock (R2 whistle) return to position ‘a’ above.
- Proceed to T.O. position, wait for R1 to come off stand and move together across the court, avoiding team huddles and hand shaking.
- 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.
- If discussed ahead in pre-match, may proceed to designated area and wait for R2 and go to official’s room for debrief.
- 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).
- 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).