Feferee Causes Rotation / Alignment Error

[bob jenkins]

Below is 5.4.3 SITUATION D. It last appeared in the 2018 - 2019 NFHS Case Book, but has been removed from subsequent editions.

SITUATION: Team A serves the ball into the net, then requests a time-out. When both teams return to the court, the coach of Team B asks for the serving order of his/her team. The second referee places Team B in the wrong serving order. The error is not discovered until Team B has won points with an improper server. Prior to Team A serving, the scorer notifies the referees that Team B had an improper server. After conferring with the second referee, the first referee corrects Team B's serving order, cancels the four points scored with the improper server, and Team B serves with the proper server.

RULING: Correct procedure.

COMMENT: The first referee may correct an error by a member of the officiating crew provided the correction occurs before the opposing team contacts the ball for the serve.

What happens if the referee puts the RECEIVING team in the incorrect order? Do the words "opposing team" affect the ruling?

Play: R2 puts Team R/B in rotation 1; the should be in rotation 6. S/A serves and loses the point. Before R serves, the error is discovered. Do we:
A) use the case play above and have a "do over"
B) Let R keep the point they won and have the proper server serve (again, Rotation 1)
C) Call R for illegal alignment and switch the point to S/A