Second Referee

The second referee in volleyball is an official who works at court level on the opposite side of the net from the referee stand, assisting the first referee with match officiating duties. This essential officiating position monitors specific responsibilities including substitutions, timeouts, rotation order, net contact on their side, back-row attack violations, and various other infractions that are more visible from court level than from the elevated first referee position. Understanding the second referee's role, responsibilities, positioning, and coordination with the first referee is important for comprehending volleyball's comprehensive officiating system that ensures fair and properly conducted competition. The second referee's position at court level at the opposite end of the net from the referee stand provides a unique viewing perspective that complements the first referee's elevated vantage point. Standing on the floor allows the second referee to see certain actions more clearly than the first referee can, particularly net contact on their side of the court, foot positioning during service, and back-row player positioning relative to the attack line. This dual-official system with different viewing angles creates more comprehensive court coverage than either official could provide alone. Substitution management represents a primary second referee responsibility. When coaches signal for substitutions, the second referee recognizes these requests, whistles to authorize the substitution, beckons the substituting player into the game, ensures the substitution is legal according to rules, and signals the scorer's table to record the substitution. The second referee verifies that players enter and exit at the proper location between the attack line and end line on their side of the court. Managing substitutions efficiently while ensuring compliance requires the second referee to understand substitution rules thoroughly and execute procedures smoothly. Timeout coordination falls to the second referee who recognizes timeout requests from coaches, whistles to stop play at appropriate moments, ensures timeouts are recorded at the scoring table, and monitors timeout duration to signal when teams should return to play. The second referee must verify that teams have timeouts remaining before authorizing requests. During timeouts, the second referee may use this time to confer with the first referee on any issues or concerns, though timeout duration is limited so these conferences must be brief and focused. Monitoring rotation order and player overlap violations requires the second referee to verify that teams maintain proper rotational positions before each serve. Players must be positioned correctly relative to adjacent players in their rotation, with back-row players behind front-row players in the same rotational column and side-to-side positioning requirements met. The second referee checks the serving team's alignment primarily, though both teams' positions should be legal. If overlap violations occur, the second referee whistles immediately and signals the infraction to prevent serves with illegal alignment. Foot fault monitoring during service is a critical second referee responsibility. From their court-level position, the second referee has an excellent view of the server's foot position relative to the end line. The second referee watches carefully to ensure servers do not step on or over the end line before contacting the ball during service. When foot faults occur, the second referee whistles immediately and signals the violation. This responsibility requires focused attention on each service, as foot faults happen quickly and must be caught in real-time. Back-row attack violations are called primarily by the second referee who monitors whether back-row players jump from behind the attack line when hitting balls completely above the net height. This judgment requires seeing both where the player's feet are during takeoff and the height of ball contact relative to the net. The second referee must position themselves to see these elements clearly and make accurate calls. False calls either direction create significant problems, so second referees must develop strong judgment on these relatively complex violations. Net contact monitoring on the second referee's side of the net represents another key responsibility. While the first referee monitors the net as well, the second referee has the best view of net contact on their side. When players contact the net during active play in ways that affect play or provide advantage, the second referee whistles and signals the violation. Modern rules distinguish between incidental contact that doesn't affect play and illegal contact that does, requiring second referees to exercise judgment about whether contact should be penalized. Communication with the first referee coordinates their complementary responsibilities and ensures consistency in match officiating. Before each serve, both referees check their respective sides and signal readiness. During rallies, they may need to confer on calls where both have relevant information. While the first referee holds ultimate authority, the second referee provides critical information from their court-level perspective. Good referee partnerships communicate effectively while maintaining appropriate authority structure and public professional presentation. Scorer's table liaison responsibilities connect the second referee with the scorekeeping operation. The second referee stands near the scorer's table and serves as the communication link between officials on court and administrative personnel at the table. When scoring errors occur or questions arise, the second referee coordinates resolution. Before matches begin, the second referee verifies that the scorer's table is properly prepared and staffed. This liaison role ensures smooth administrative operations that complement on-court officiating. Line judge coordination involves the second referee working with line judges who call balls in or out on their respective court boundaries. While line judges operate independently in making their calls, the second referee serves as a coordination point and may assist with line judge questions or unusual situations. In some match formats or facility configurations, the second referee's positioning must accommodate line judge positions and sight lines. This coordination ensures comprehensive officiating coverage of all court boundaries. Assisting the first referee with difficult calls provides additional value from the second referee's alternative viewing angle. On some plays, particularly those near the net or involving actions the first referee cannot see clearly, the second referee may have the better view. When appropriate, the second referee can provide information to help the first referee make accurate calls. However, this assistance must be provided appropriately without undermining the first referee's authority or creating the appearance of official disagreement. Pre-match responsibilities for second referees include assisting with team check-in procedures, verifying lineup cards match actual player jerseys, ensuring team benches are properly arranged with bench personnel in appropriate areas, and confirming with the scorer's table that all administrative preparations are complete. Thorough execution of these pre-match responsibilities prevents problems during matches and demonstrates professional officiating standards that contribute to well-run competitions. Training and certification for second referees parallels the path for first referees, involving rules study, practical experience, and evaluation. Many referees develop skills by serving as second referees before advancing to first referee assignments. The second referee position provides excellent learning opportunities as officials develop their judgment, signaling, and game management skills. Governing bodies including FIVB, USA Volleyball, and state/regional associations provide training specific to second referee responsibilities and techniques. Physical positioning and movement during rallies requires second referees to maintain optimal viewing angles while staying out of play. The second referee must position themselves to see critical actions like net contact and back-row attacks while remaining mobile enough to move with play and avoid interfering with player movement. This balance of optimal positioning with necessary mobility develops through experience and awareness of how play typically develops during rallies. Managing bench conduct and monitoring teams for unsporting behavior fall partially to the second referee given their proximity to team benches. The second referee watches for improper bench behavior, excessive coaching during play, or other conduct violations. When issues arise, the second referee brings them to the first referee's attention for appropriate handling. This monitoring helps maintain proper competitive atmosphere and prevents minor issues from escalating to major problems. In summary, the second referee is a court-level official who assists the first referee with match officiating duties including substitution management, timeout coordination, rotation verification, foot fault monitoring, back-row attack violations, net contact on their side, and various other responsibilities. The second referee's court-level position provides viewing angles that complement the first referee's elevated perspective, creating comprehensive officiating coverage. Through proper training, effective communication with the first referee and scorer's table, and professional execution of their defined responsibilities, second referees contribute essentially to fair, well-conducted volleyball competitions at all levels.