A couple situations from the weekend
 

Two things from a Saturday tri-match.

1) Here's another "what do I do if I know I'm right" situation? I'm R1. Table crew is made up of students, but my R2 is very good. Subs for both teams approach the sub zone. Partner authorizes S-13 to enter the game for S-14 and turns to authorize Team R's sub. S-13 immediately steps off the court and is replaced by the libero.

Partner turns back to Team S and realizes the libero replacement has occurred but didn't see who was replaced. I see him take a long hard look at Team S's bench and he tells the libero tracker who was replaced.

When libero comes off the court, S-13 returns to the court. Perfect. Except that partner thinks that it was S-14 who was replaced. He takes #13 off the court and puts #14 into the front left position.

Now, I'm 99.5% sure that it should be #13, but coach doesn't make a fuss. #13 looks confused (but now, so do I), but doesn't protest. I tried to give R2 the "skunk eye", but he doesn't respond. So we play.

At the end of the set, he comes to the stand to talk about it. He's 100% sure that 14 was replaced, not 13. After the match, the table crew pulled up the live stream and ran it back, and it turns out that I was right.

So what should I have done (a) when I realized that the R2 didn't actually observe the original replacement or (b) when I was 99.5% sure that the subsequent replacement was botched?

Headsets would've made this easy. I could've just said "libero's in for #13" and it would've been all set. But I haven't invested in a set yet, and nobody here uses them for D3 matches anyway.

2) Ever have a back row player make you doubt yourself? #5 is the back row setter in Rotation 3. For some reason, she comes to the net and strongly blocks the opponent's attack. She's not up there trying to save an overpass. She's intentionally blocking the ball.

I blew the whistle, but immediately wondered if I had missed a rotation and she was actually front row. I knew I was right, but she seemed so sure of what she was doing, I had to do a double-take. Thankfully, I was right, but that moment of doubt was terrifying.

1. If you are 100% positive whom the libero replaced, step in and correct that. There's a chance of a team being incorrectly penalized (versus semantics of which call is "correct" when the same team will win the rally regardless), so by all means, call your partner over, give the information, get it right, and while the R2 fixes things, explain to the captains the issue and the solution, then play again.

And yes...invest in a set. I can point you to a great deal if you want. No one there uses it for D3...yet. But you can affect change with that. We use them in Wisconsin for D3 often.

2. Yes. Players do dumb things sometimes. :D

I would love a recommendation, thank you.

Ditto.

I used a set at a match -- and it seemed to amplify the whistle -- right in my ear. I'd be interested in a set that functions as well as earplugs and cancels the whistle.

Do (almost) any headsets work with almost any bases. or do they need to be the same?

My Take. I love them.
 

I have been using them since last season. I prefer to put the earpiece in my left ear. Since I wear hearing aids, I just take my left aid out. It doesn't bother me during play. However, I do unplug it when I'm talking prior to play beginning.
It's annoying to me especially when I am doing the coaches/captains meeting. I however don't force my partner to use them.

I've found them really useful in a competitive match because the exchange of information between the partners is quicker, and you can keep the flow of the match moving. Also, when I'm working with a newbie, I can provide them with instant feedback on their work.

Here's the set I bought this year:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...d=UNZDYjwt6HIG

I bought a set of four for around $320, and the sound quality is really good. The volume adjusts nicely, and there's quite a bit of noise cancellation, provided your partner isn't blasting a Sonic Blast into your ear. If so, ask them to take a little off the whistle. I use three each match, getting the scorer in on the headset, and it makes referee/scorer communication so much better/faster.

It has a built in mute function which is nice, and very comfortable headsets. They also charge with Micro USB plugs, so I have a couple of USB to 4 micro USB tips, to charge them either at the school or in my car on the drive over.

But, with any affordable set, there are cons. Nothing that can't be overcome, though...

Cons:
1. The directions included are a pain for pairing. But the website has a video which is much easier to use to pair.
2. The headsets have to be paired in a specific order. #1 has to be paired to #2, which has to be paired to #3, etc. And if you use 2, it has to be 1 and 2, for three, 1, 2, and 3, etc. Silver sharpie took care of that.
3. The headsets don't automatically join when on. Just double press the B button, and everyone gets joined together within 10 seconds, at most.
4. Once in a while, if you unplug the earpiece and plug it back in, #1 can't hear everyone, so I just power it off and back on, then rejoin the group. Takes about 15 seconds max, or maybe one rally at most.
5. Only right ears come with the set, but the same website sells really good EJEAS headsets that are compatible with these. If you already use EJEAS or Maxquall headsets, these will work if you want to use those with these.

I've found the sound quality is better than the Maxqualls or Axiwis. I had a person who owns a really high end set who said she would rather have the ones I have.

Reach out to me privately if you would like more info. I do not work for GoRef or aliexpress, I'm just giving my feedback on my successful experiences with them.

Thank you for the recommendation, Felix. I talked to my mentor about the libero situation and it turns out that he just upgraded to a new headset and is letting me have his old set at a big discount.