Officiating Game where One Team is Deaf

[Back In The Saddle]

I have done both volleyball and basketball games with one deaf team. What has been said so far very much mirrors my experience. There was always an interpreter present at the pre-game captains meeting. Since their scorekeeper was also deaf they taught us the signs for the two colors, and we used them when reporting. Sometimes you need to have a little patience as play may not stop immediately.

The pea whistle v. Fox 40 is a new one. If I ever get the chance to work this school again, I'll have to try it out and see if I notice a difference in the players' response.

Another difference that hasn't been mentioned is that the deaf players, obviously, cannot hear you talk. I normally use my voice and try to talk players out of stuff when I can (clear, hands off, straight up, get the knee out, etc.). It seems to me that, where one team is deaf, talking to the hearing team gives them an unfair advantage. So I just don't talk in those games. Seems kinda quiet.