Before I get into the situation I would like to thank everyone for their valuable insight. I am finishing up just my second year officiating volleyball and don't always get to spend 15 minutes discussing with my partners techniques and procedures when our matches are done.
I had (another) lower level match last week that continues to bother me...mostly because I know I should have done a better job handling the situation. It was a combined 7th/8th grade, with the 8th grade playing first and me refereeing. Taking your previous advice about calling ball handling violations (both teams were evenly skilled), we breezed through the first game with no problems. Near the end of the second game, during a long point, the visiting team felt that I should have called an illegal hit on the home team. I did not see it that way and let play continue. The coach and several players on the bench for the visiting team jumped off the bench, screaming for a whistle. I should have given a card at that time (which card would you give and to whom would you administer?) but instead I opted to wait to remind the coach between games (visiting team won second game to force deciding game). When she was done talking to her team, I warned her that she and her team members were not to leave the bench while the ball was still in play. Her response was to laugh at me, then wait until I was up on the platform before she pointed at me while she said something to her assistant and laughed some more. I felt as though adminstering a card at that time would seem like sour grapes so I did nothing. The third game finished without any problems and the visiting team won the match.
Second match starts, and the 8th grade coach is now acting as an assistant to the 7th grade coach. I am the umpire. The 7th grade match is only a few points underway when the 8th grade coach begins to complain to the 7th grade coach about my partner. At the first dead ball, I very discretely gave her another warning. Was I being too warning friendly? I didn't hear another word out of her for the remainder of the 7th grade match.
Also during the 7th grade match, the visiting team served an ace. Like most teams they broke out their ace cheer, but I felt their cheer was over the line since they made a derogatory comment about the home team during the cheer. I contemplated a card but the referee didn't make a move to administer one so I let it go also. What are your thoughts on this? If you would give a card, who would receive it in this situation?
I have yet to administer a card (I've umpired baseball and softball for several years and am accustomed to abuse, but I know volleyball is not the same) or seen a card administered. Am I being too lax for not using them, or am I being too uptight because afterwards I stress about not using them? I had another match two nights ago (7th grade again...interesting how most of these problems occur in middle school matches and not the high school matches I officiate) where one of the coaches was constantly yelling at her players. I was umpiring that match and again followed the lead of my (much more experienced) partner in letting her actions go.
What say you all?
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