Progression of sanctions
 

In USAV, the progression of sanctions starts with a verbal warning before issuing a yellow card. In a club match last weekend, I had a boys' match in which a player completed a kill stepped back from the net and then yelled through the net directly at an opponent. I don't think he was talking to him, just yelling (like "YEAAAAAAHH"). But it was clearly at the opponent.

I carded this. In your opinion, should this have been the player's verbal warning instead? Once I give the yellow, that's it for warnings on that team. But it seemed like too much for a verbal warning.

In your honest opinion, should a non-profane yell across the net get a card or a verbal warning? Thanks for your thoughts.

If the “yeah” was not accompanied by gesturing, pointing nodding etc. or specifically directed at another player, I’d probably warn.

My first ever red card, issued to a player, was for repeated yelling and gesturing at an opponent across the net. I’m no psychiatrist, but I could tell the young man had mental/control problems and just couldn’t help himself. Sorry, but red card nonetheless.

Talk across the net happens all the time. I was guilty of it back in my time too. If the refs can’t hear it, attempts for enforcement often turn into he said/she said mess.

Looking at the scenario, I would have called him up and given a pretty clear verbal warning, kind of making an example out of him to anyone who might have similar thoughts. Remember in USAV that first step of the sanction scale can be given directly to a player on the court, and often that can fix the issue, and save time not having your scorer figure out how to record it.