In my judgement…
This is the first in what I hope to be a pretty regular blog for our WHSVOA members. Why did I choose the title “In my judgement…”? There are a few reasons for this title. First, my writings are my own personal thoughts. They may be different from what you have heard in the past, what you do yourself, or how you like to officiate. That is ok. Take what you want from these and use it how you feel best. I just want to let you know what has worked for me in my 30 years of officiating so far. The other reason is the statement “In my judgement” can get you out of a lot of sticky situations. By making that statement when talking with a coach you aren’t blaming the coach or discounting his/her view on a play. You are stating that from the view you had and from what you observed that your judgement is…. Judgements are not up for reversal considerations. A coach may disagree with your judgement but when it comes down to it you are the official and your judgement is what matters. The statement cannot be used for the “black and white” calls that have to be made and are not up to judgements. Things like a net touch, in or out, and procedural things are not judgement calls. However, if a coach disagrees with ball handling (multiple contacts and/or prolonged contacts) those ARE judgements. Hopefully you aren’t having multiple discussions about your judgements during a match, because that could indicate a bigger problem and maybe a reevaluation of your judgement, but a single judgement call disagreement can be deescalated by using the statement “In my judgement.”
I want to start this first blog out with a brief history of how I became the official I am today. I started out calling lines for my dad (Keith Marx) when I was about 5 years old. It was simple in my mind. The ball was in or out and I made that call. I didn’t care who won or lost, I just called the ball in our out. I became a certified high school official when I graduated high school (I never played high school or club volleyball I was just always around it). I worked several high school matches and tournaments before I left for the Air Force in late September of 1992. I used to sit in the bleachers and go over alignments with my dad while we watched and he helped me with the system I use today (index card and paper clips). In 1993 I was stationed in Oklahoma City and I started officiating volleyball there. I sent out letters to every coach and high school athletic director I could find and offered to officiate scrimmages for free just to be seen and hopefully get some match assignments. There was no local officials association so each school assigned their own officials. I got a pretty good schedule my first year and worked any match that I could. I reffed some pretty low level volleyball but I got seen and I learned from every partner I worked with. I did get some pretty good matches due to working those free scrimmages and when I got those matches I officiated just like I did every other match. One of my first matches I called an illegal alignment. The coach come to me right asway and said, “That was the right call, but I don’t think an illegal alignment has ever been called in Oklahoma City.” The next year I was officiating all of the “bigger matches” and got assigned my first state finals match for the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Athletic Association (OSSAA). I was assigned to umpire (R2) the finals because of what I had learned about alignment and how to officiate as the down official. The following year I worked another state final but everyone was aware that was my last year in Oklahoma and they asked me to officiate are the Ref (R1). I then moved back to Wisconsin and continued my officiating. In 1999 I was invited to ref my first state championship for the boys state tournament held by the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association (Boys Volleyball wasn’t a full WIAA sport at the time). I have been lucky enough to officiate a boys championship tournament (either boys or girls) every year until 2021-22 season. I have had great partners (Keith Marx and Linda Dahl) in my officiating career.
I started officiating volleyball when it was still using the side out scoring system. Any serve that touched the net was a side out. There was no Libero. Games were played to 15 and if the score was tied at 14 each team received an additional time out. The girls state tournament consisted of pool play. We wore black and white stripes. Proper mechanics for the R2 (umpire) included ducking under the net. Servers had to serve from the right 1/3 of the back line. Getting on the ladder sometimes meant getting on an actual ladder. The ball was all white. Multiple contacts were never allowed. A player was allowed 3 entries into the game. Once they left after their third they were done for the set. All matches were 2 of 3. It was not uncommon for Saturday tournaments to go from 9 am until 10 pm for $150.
Things have changed a lot and we, as officials, have to continue to change. I look forward to sharing some knowledge and advice based on my past experiences. If you have any specific questions please feel free to reach out to me at any time. I want this blog to be interactive. Please ask questions, add comments, feel free to add your own opinion. What I say and do may not be 100% correct 100% of the time. I just do my best like we all do.
Brian Marx
brian.marx@yahoo.com
WHSVOA President
When I first began officiating, the R2 — or umpire as we were called then — was able to make ball handling calls and was expected to on the serve receive.
Great blog, Brian. I was coaching when games went to 15 with side out scoring and an extra time out at 14-14. Bob Grise encouraged me to officiate when I could because I knew the rules so well. So thanks, Bob. Or THANKS, Bobby
I am new to volleyball so I don’t have any rules that were around that are different from when I started (we will have to see what Indianapolis comes up with this off season so I can start my list). However I am not new to officiating, and I agree that the judicious and proper usage of “in my judgment” can be a powerful tool in your toolbox.
Great blog, Brian. Much like soccer, I got into officiating volleyball because my (in this case – youngest) daughters played the sport and I wanted to give back to the sport. With only 3+ years for WIAA volleyball experience I don’t have any “back in my day” stories.
Soccer OTOH is another story of experiences, but I go into every match trying to learn something new or to reinforce what I’ve learned.
In soccer we use “In the opinion of the referee” as a way to stop discourse on judgement calls.
Brian, I met your father for the first time two night ago. We reffed a regional match up in Manitowoc (we like to drive? ;). He told me he started you line judging when you were 5 or 6 years old. I told him he was mean!
Great first blog; and looking forward to more.
Great post Brian! I did like the pool play for regionals, sectionals and state back in the day. I felt it was a great way to still advance if you were in a really tough pool. For some things I love how the game has changed but other things I wish we would go back, like center line violations.
Although new to officiating, I have many years of playing and coaching experience. Have enjoyed my first season in WI and meeting many of you! Back when I played we wore bun huggers, if you remember that you are old like me!!! Great job Brian and hi to your dad!
I was doing a match as the R2 when one of the girls on the court came over to me and explained a problem- she wasn’t the captain but she really had to say something. After hearing her words and discussing things with both coaches, I then had the uncomfortable duty to approach the R1 about what was going on. Seems the R1, who was wearing very short jogging shorts, was not fully equipped with any undergarments and several times gave the girls an eye full. Needless to say we switched rolls and continued on with the match. He did not have a change of clothes, as we all should, in his car. Several lessons learned.
Oh my! How uncomfortable! Very brave of the player to say something.
When I started officiating volleyball, there were 2 different State Tournaments – WIAA & WISAA. The WISAA Tourney was held at Pius HS, and the WIAA Tourney was held at Neenah HS. The WISAA officials all went to breakfast together before the matches started, and the always entertaining Tom Klosza (sp?) was the meet manager. He often times played tricks on the officials during the tourney.
Also, when the WHSVOA first started , we met in Keith Marx’s classroom at WA Central.
I remember Kloza taking us out to breakfast before State and we missed the coaches meeting!
Great stuff all. Thanks for your bios. I am a 1st year VB official and with playoffs underway I have a few line judge assignments coming my way. As such I have a couple of questions.
A) In a match earlier this year as R2, I had a coach ‘go after’ my HS-age line judge. I quickly stepped in and quelled the situation. Are line judges allowed to answer/interact with the coaches?
B) As a line judge can I suggest a yellow to the R1 due to coach or player misconduct?
Thanks.
Line Judges should not be interacting with any players or coaches. They are part of the officiating crew. All communication with coaches should be done by and through the R1 and R2.
As a line judge you should only be involved in “In and out” calls as well as touches and serving foot faults. If a player or coach (or fans) are being disrespectful towards you then by all means talk to the R1. All other situations should be left to the R1 and R2.
Good deal. Thanks.
There haven’t been too many rule changes in my time as a VB official. One that sticks out though is that the first yellow card issued to bench personnel does not require the head coach to sit the remainder of the match. One rule that seems a bit odd to me personally is the outer edge of the court / antenna ruling. If any part of the ball hits any part of the line, the ball is in. But the vertical antenna, which is placed along the outer edge of the side line, and the vertical tape on the net, if used, is placed directly over the side line, is considered out of bounds if the ball hits it.
I have always thought it was a strange thing too. In reality a player could serve from the corner. Serve directly over the antenna and have the ball land “in” on the line but it is rules out because it passes over the antenna.
The game (rules) certainly have changed. I’m glad a net serve is no longer a side out- though I was pretty good at calling it. I have never aspired to officiate at the State level. Sometimes it is assumed that everyone has the goal to do the biggest matches. I know my limitations and comfort level and feel if I am doing a good job at those levels I am successful.