["Lurker"77]

I've been a lurker in multiple sports as a fan of sports/officiating/rules -- and appreciate the education/entertainment. This is the only sport I can claim anything close to first-hand experience -- even if most of the time as R1/R2 comes after being conscripted as a part of coaching duties. In this case, however, I was just acting as coach but am trying genuinely to think it through from all perspectives. I hope it's still useful and welcome.

USAV Ruleset, low level u14; Certified R1, player R2 w/ 2 player line judges

Rally ends with ball bounding into serving team's free-zone/bench so that coach, server, bench, etc. are initially watching/catching a ball they saw as clearly out and acting accordingly. R1 has called ball in (with or without help) in that same interval. Team is confused (if they even see the signal). Coach catches tail end of signals and briefly tries to confirm, from this position at the end-line, the call while simultaneously returning the ball, triggering a prearranged double substitution with his bench behind him, and informing the R1 the players are on their way (unofficial sub sign as a courtesy, knowing it isn't binding). The players are seated on the bench 15 feet behind attack line (and u14s) so even knowing the plan, that trek takes time, and may take a beat longer than it should here, but happens quickly. Ball meanwhile travels to the new server. R1 is beckoning as both players arrive yet no one waives them off either. Coach looks up from shepherding players into the substitution process to see ball being put in play -- two-thirds of the players are trying to play to the whistle but the rally is taking place with two interlopers in the sub zone and that quickly is a fatal distraction. R1 adjudicates the abandoned rally ignoring the extra players; speaks to the u14 captain, saying they weren't in the zone before he was ready to play, and then allows the substitutions.

No problem with the R1 in general -- he made sure to follow-up at next intermission; wasn't overly officious. Matches were run very efficiently, if on the quick side for the skill and age level, which may be reflected here.

Obviously, ideally, the crew and participants all see the play the same, the subs move quickly, the R2 deals with the sideline, the coach preps his players better, etc. Even still, once derailed, what should be happening here?

Seem like a few nebulous issues come together for me here:
Some confusion for me here is that the USAV rules allow coaches to bypass captains yet those same players act as R2. So, the chain of communications seems peculiar. The rules allow the adult coach to bypass the captain to talk to the officials . . . but he/she should speak to the minor R2? yell across the court? or mime politely as I did (apparently less successfully than usual)?

USAV, generically speaking, seems particularly concerned about governing pace of play, so continually slowing down to suit a confused, weaker, or less seasoned team would be to give an advantage (and certainly would help this particular team). Yet, clearly officials are charged with finding some impartial standard of guaranteeing both teams meet some standard of preparedness (or opportunity for preparedness?) for each rally. What is that? A time out would be a severe remedy and still require beating a quick whistle. Is there another remedy the team should employ (that is not abusing another legitimate means of interrupting/delaying the match)? In what sense is its the R1's job (at any level) to guarantee comprehension of a situation and "ready to play" (12.3) before moving on?

Even if by rule late and improper, should the rally have been allowed to start at all with the (attempted) subs in transit?

This ruleset only allows a sub request (barring injury) by a player entering the zone, yet in some facilities keeps the players a very long distance from the zone. I would think the younger players would get some consideration when properly moving without delay.

Finally, most surprisingly, I can find where the rules give a team the right to request a rules basis for a ruling OR to modify a request to a changed ruling, but I missed any indication of how to simply request repetition or clarification of a call (I hope I just am missing it in my scan!). Assuming such a procedure is proper (if rare at a higher levels with two officials properly signally and large groups of attentive participants), should such a request formally or informally slow the next rally for any appropriate requests?

The result was unfortunate, but it more just left me feeling very uneasy as to my rules knowledge -- more holes than I would like. I would feel equally ill-at-ease if I as R1 had whistled for a serve at u14 level with a team confused and subs actively (and without delay) headed for the zone that I didn't waive off. [I worked as R2 with this R1 later in the day and we waived off a sub attempt (13th) and, living up to its name, delayed slightly.] Any help with how to get such a situation quickly back on the rails as R1 or coach? Are there rules provisions I'm missing?