CHANGES and NOTICES for Head coaches

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WRITTEN STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS 

FOR NFHS VOLLEYBALL SCORE KEEPING

It is required that scorekeepers and assistant scorekeeper (Libero Tracker) be at the scorers table no less than 20 minutes prior to the start of each match. 

  Scorekeepers are an integral part of the officiating crew. It is essential that scorekeepers be proficient in scorekeeping. The assigned R1/R2 officials should not be expected to train the scorekeeping staff.

The scorekeeper should:

• Be very familiar with the NFHS score sheet and scorekeeping process.
• Have enough blank score sheets available for a best 3-of-5 match (plus spares).
• Have enough Libero tracking (assistant scorekeepers) sheets for a best 3-of-5 match.
• Have a red and black (or dark blue) pen.
• Have blank roster sheets sufficient enough for both teams.
• Sit just to the right or left of the closest net standard, so they can see the action on the court, but be able to see substitutions on both sides of the court.

The scorekeeper and assistant scorekeeper (Libero tracker) should:

• Sit next to one another. 
• Check with each other often during the match so they can make sure their respective score sheets match (number of substitutions, time outs, Libero on or off the court, Libero serving position, etc.).
• Communicate/verify the incoming substitutions.
• Verbally verify the correct server.

DOWNLOADABLE SCORESHEET PDF

NEW for the 2024 season:

5-9-2b NOTE (NEW), State Association Adoption Chart: Requires line judges to switch sides of the court between sets when, by state association adoption, teams remain on the same benches throughout the match.

Line Judges are an integral part of the officiating crew. They are an extra set of eyes for the R1/R2 and provide valuable information quickly and professionally. The position of Line Judge (LJ) must be taken seriously, and those who have a hard time staying focused on their job should not volunteer for this position.

Line Judges should:

• Report to the R1 at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the match for instruction. This includes those who are experienced line judges. Every match should include a briefing by the R1 for both Line Judges.
• Wear neutral colors (not colors typically warn by either team.
• Be totally impartial (no cheering, or other actions showing partiality toward either team or any player.
• Be able to remain standing and focused for up to an hour and a half or more.
• Be able to take constructive criticism and direction from R1 and R2.
• Be able to work as the Line Judge for the entirety of the match (and not leave or switch with anyone else during the course of the match unless injured or ill).
• Not be intimidated by coaches, players, or fans.

NOTICE: Starting with the 2021 Maine High School Girls volleyball season, the Maine Principals Association is requiring all host schools to supply 2 (two) ADULT (18 and over) Line Judges for each home varsity match.

TIPS FOR BEING A GOOD VOLLEYBALL LINE JUDGE

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• Be on time (no less than 20 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the match for which you're working). If you're going to be late, please let the athletic director or event staff know as soon as possible.
• Act professionally. As a Line Judge you are a valued part of the corps of officials in charge of that match. It takes two referees, a scorer, assistant scorer, scoreboard operator/time, and two line judges to officiate a high school volleyball match. That's a team of seven people, and every one of them is important to the success of the match.
• Secure your Line Judge flag before you meet with the R1. Schools should supply two Line Judge flags for each match. They can usually be found at the scorers table. At the end of the match return your flag back to the spot where you found it.
• With your partner, report to the R1 (First Referee) at the Scorers table for instructions and a quick refresher course, and to learn specifically what they are expecting from you. The R1 doesn’t want to have to give their presentation more than once. 
• Line Judges are expected to work for the duration of the match, whether it is finished in 3, 4, or 5 sets. Unless you are injured, or become ill during the match, you are expected to finish the match.
• Ask questions after the R1 has finished with their presentation. The R1 typically has their 5-minute Line Judge presentation memorized, and questions during it may cause them to forget important information, or lose their place.
• Even if you have been a line judge many times before, please be respectful and listen the presentation again. There are many, many facets of being a good line judge, and you may not know everything the R1 wants you to know.
• During the timed warm-up period before the match (while one team is warming up on both sides of the court, take your normal Line Judge position and observe the warm-ups of the team on the court. Focus on watching balls landing close to either line, and balls that are traveling over the net. During serving practice watch the players practicing serving for their foot positions. This can help you make those close calls during the match. Pay special attention to those players who jump serve, and see how close they come to touching or being over the service line when they contact the ball.
• For players who use a jump serve, remember that as long as the player jumps from completely behind the service line and contacts the ball while above the floor; either behind or over the court, they are legally serving the ball.
• If a player serving is touching the service line with their foot, or feet or is in front of the service line when the ball is contacted for serve, that is a fault.
• The line is part of the court. Any part of the ball touching any part of the line is "in".
• Watch the line, and not the ball. If you try to track the ball as it is coming toward a line, it is more difficult to determine if it lands in or out. Focus on the line, and then see the ball come into your field of vision. This will allow you to better determine if the ball landed in or out.
• Hold your ground as much as possible. BUT, if a player(s) is running directly at you, get out of the way and don't worry about making the call. It is more important that you avoid injury to yourself or a player(s).
• Billy, Don't be a Hero. If a player is coming at you DO NOT attempt to catch them, or help them in any way. Attempting to be a Good Samaritan is a recipe for injury. Players are trained to know how to fall, and can better help themselves if you’re not in the way.
• Be QUICK and DECISIVE when making every call. If you hesitate even one bit, you're going to do three things: 1) starting questioning yourself about that particular call and then subsequent calls, 2) give the coaches an opportunity to question your ability and focus, and 3) leave the R1 no alternative but to disregard your late decision, and make the determination on their own, and then also question your reliability.
• On every call you make, be sure to snap that flag with authority. "Sell" your call and let everyone in the gym know you are confident you've made the right decision. It is easier for the R1 to stand behind you and the decisions they ultimately make if you look like you’re confident you’ve made the right call.
• The ultimate goal is to get the call right. The R1 has the responsibility for the match. They use the help they can get from the R2, and Line Judges. If the R1 overrules a call you’ve made, remember that it’s not personal. Move on.
• Line Judges are not ball chasers. Unless the loose ball is rolling right past you or stopped right next to you let one of the players on the court or on the bench retrieve it. The R1 needs the Line Judges to be attentive to their jobs, and if they're first reaction is to run after a loose ball they may not remember if the ball landed in or out, and the R1 needs that information immediately.
• The prescribed position for a Line Judge is to stand approximately 6” (inches) from their respective corners, with one foot pointing down the service line, and the other foot pointing down the sideline, so together they are at a 90-degree angle. As long as your feet are not actually touching the court, they are in a good position. 
• DO NOT stand any further away than 6-8” from either line. As long as you are not actually touching the lines, you are not too close. Unless you are backing up three steps for a player attempting to serve within in 8-10 feet of your normal position, don’t be any further than 6-8” from the court when the ball is in play (unless you have to get out of the way of a player chasing the ball directly coming at you!).
• In your normal Line Judge position, you are standing outside the court. Therefore if a ball hits you that ball is “out.” There is no need to move out of the way unless a player or players are coming directly at you and then you need to vacate that spot quickly and safely.
• Get the best angle possible on balls that are traveling across the net. It's easy to see a ball crossing the net from inside the court boundaries from one side to the other, however, if a ball is coming from outside the court and traveling over the net, the Line Judge may need to move three, four steps up the sideline or along the service line to make sure the entire width of the ball crosses the net INSIDE, or in between the two antennas, or the imaginary line extended straight above the antenna. And as soon as you make that determination, wave your flag above your head and point to the antenna if any part of the ball travels outside the antenna and across the net. If the ball legally crosses the net get back as quickly as possible to your normal spot.
• Make sure you're watching the service line on EVERY serve, to make sure it is legal.
• If the server is going to serve from within about eight or ten feet of your normal Line Judge position, make sure you take three or four steps backwards, from the service line extended to give the server enough room. You are still watching for a service line fault. As soon as the ball is contacted for serve, get back to your normal spot.
• Make sure you look at the R1 every time you hear a whistle. They may not be looking at you every time, but when they do they need to see that you're ready to give them any information you have. Make this a habit. Some R1s will look at line judges more than others. But when they need your judgment on a ball it needs to be immediate.
• If you see the ball contact the antenna, or over the net outside the antenna, or contact the antenna our outside the antenna as it is affixed to the net, be sure to point at the antenna with one hand, and wave the flag over your head with the other, until the R1 recognizes you.
• Make it a good habit to make a call on every ball that ends a rally on your side of the court, and on the other side of the net down YOUR sideline. By making a call every time (in/out/touch) you'll be ready to make that call on any ball that lands close to the line or for which the R1 needs your help.
• Even though the R1 doesn't need your help on every call, make that call anyway. The R1 probably won't be looking for your help on the easy ones. They may not even give you a glance, but if they do, you need to be making that call before they even check with you.
• Pobody is nerfect. If you are overruled by the R1 (or R2) don't be offended. The R1 is ultimately responsible for every final decision. You are there to assist. The R1 has the best view of the entire court, and sometimes has a better view than even the Line Judge. If you're overruled by the R1, put it behind you immediately. If they have anything to add or discuss they'll be able to speak with you during a time out or briefly after that set.
• On rare occasions, an R1 may ask you to come to their position on the officials platform. Move quickly, and do not cut through the court. Give the  the information you have and they will determine if it is relevant. Don't guess and don't tell them what you THINK they want to hear.
• During a time out is a good chance to discuss a play with the R1. During a time out, teams have up to one minute to discuss strategy. During that time Line Judges are asked to come to the spot where the ten-foot line meets the sideline next to the R1. If you're in the corner (LJ2) next to one of the teams walk the service line to the opposite side line, and then turn left, down the sideline to your spot next to the officials stand. IF the R1 has something to discuss with you they'll let you know. Otherwise, just take your spot.
• Gather up the game ball if it is on your side of the net when a time out is called. Don't give it back to the server until play is ready to resume or when directed by the R1.
• At the end of a set, if the ball is on your side of the net, collect it and return it to the Scorers Table. In between sets you are free to sit in the bleachers or seats behind the Scorers Table. Please don't leave the gymnasium without first letting the R2 know. The intermission between sets is three minutes, but may be shorter if both teams are ready. DO NOT make the R1 wait for you to return to your spot.
• NEVER walk through the court when players are on it. Make it your habit to always quickly walk around the boundaries of the court at all times.
• After a time out return QUICKLY to your spot. Don't dawdle. Once the time out is over and the players are on the court the R1 is ready to beckon for serve right away. Don't make them wait.
• Indicate “in” or “out” ONLY with the flag. Do not indicate with the flag AND your other hand.
• Don’t point the flag at the ball when it lands inside the court. Always point the tip of your line judge flag toward the floor in the direction of the center of your side of the court.
• When the ball lands outside of the court, snap the flag up so that it is above your head.
• When signaling a “touch” hold the flag-stick in front of your body so that the top of the flag is level with your chin, and place your other hand on top of the flag, with the open palm facing toward the floor.
• You are responsible for the entire service line in front of you, and for the ENTIRE sideline on your side of the net AS WELL AS the other side of the net. Between the two line judges they have clear views of the entire court’s boundary lines.
• The Line Judge to the immediate right of the R1 is LJ1.
• The Line Judge to the immediate right of the R2 is LJ2.
• At the end of a set and at the beginning of a time out, the LJ2 leaves their position and walks along the service line to the opposite sideline. When the LJ2 reaches that corner, then both LJs simultaneously walk along that sideline to the Attack Line (10’ line) beside the R1. In between sets, the LJs walk along the Attack Line to the opposite sideline to the scorers table. During a time out, when the clock reaches the :15 second mark, they reverse the process, and the LJ2 walks the sideline to the service line. When the LJ2 has reached their service line, the LJ1 walks to their spot.
• STARTING in 2024, Line Judges will switch sides of the court after each set.
• Signal “in”, “out”, or “touch” as soon as you can immediately when a ball contacts the floor, or an object such as a wall, or goes into the bleachers, for example. Hold your call until after the R1 indicates which side receives the point (won the rally). Waiting even a second later to make your call forces the R1 to wait to decide the outcome of the play.
• Keep a sharp eye out for “pancakes” on your side of the court. A pancake is when a player attempts to slide their flattened hand under the ball just before it hits the court. If the player is successful with their pancake the ball will rebound upwards without actually contacting the floor. Sometimes a player will attempt a pancake and part of the ball actually does contact both the floor and their hand. Usually when this happens, the ball will rebound at a strange angle. If any part of the ball, in your opinion, contacts the floor, that ball is “in” and you immediately signal it. If it is a successful pancake (in your opinion) do nothing.

(updated August 19, 2024)