Beach referees are expected to be friendly, relaxed, and to interact with the players. This is unlike many other sports, and makes beach refereeing a very rewarding job!
For more information about refereeing, visit Volleyball England
The first referee directs the match from the start until the end. The first referee has authority over all officials and team members. During the match, the first referee’s decisions are final. He/she is authorized to overrule the decisions of other officials, if he/she judges that the latter are mistaken. The first referee may replace officials who are not performing their functions properly. The first referee also supervises the work of the ball retrievers.
The first referee has the power to decide on any matters involving the game, including those not provided for in the Rules. The first referee shall not permit any discussion about his/her decisions. However, at the request of a player, the first referee will give an explanation on the application or interpretation of the rules upon which he/she has based his/her decision. If the player disagrees with the explanation and formally protests, the 1st referee must authorize the commencement of a Protest Protocol. The first referee is responsible for determining before and during the match whether the playing area and the conditions meet playing requirements.
- Inspects the conditions of the playing area, the ball and other equipment
- Performs the coin toss with the team captains
- Controls the teams’ warming-up.
- To sanction misconduct and delays
- To decide upon:
• the faults of the server,
• the screen of the serving team,
• the faults in playing the ball,
• the faults above the net and at its upper part.
- At the end of the match, he/she checks the scoresheet and signs it.
The second referee performs his/her functions standing at the post outside the playing court on the opposite side of and facing the first referee. The second referee is the assistant of the first referee, but has also his/her own range of jurisdiction. Should the first referee be unable to continue officiating, he second referee may replace him/her. The second referee may, without whistling, also signal faults outside his/her jurisdiction, but must not persist in such signals to the first referee.
The second referee supervises the work of the scorer. The second referee authorizes the time-outs and court switches, controls the duration of such and rejects improper requests. The second referee checks the number of time-outs used by each team and reports to the first referee and the players concerned after completion of their time-out in each applicable set. In the case of an injury of a player, the second referee authorizes recovery time. The second referee checks during the match that the balls still meet the requirements of the regulations.
During the match, the second referee decides, whistles and signals:
- The contact of the player with the lower part of the net and the antenna on the second referee’s side of the court, interference due to penetration into the opponent’s court and space under the net (Rule)
- The ball that crosses the net outside the crossing space or touches the antenna on their side of the court.
- The contact of the ball with an outside object.
- At the end of the match, he/she signs the scoresheet.