Player on the court yelling after every set. Whats the call?

[South Bay HHVBC]

Many times in high school volleyball, there are times where a setter may not have the best hands and he/she dishes out questionable sets. Either they look like lifts or double contacts. When this player sets the ball and it looks like it is not a clean set, it usually brings the crowd to yell such things as "AHHHHH!", "EEEWWWW!!, "NOOOOOO!!" or some kind of sound that would indicate that they did not see the set as clean and should be called illegal. Sometimes the ref may call a violation, some times they wont.

Heres the situation.

Setter from Team A sets the ball. The setter from team B, while on the court screams "NO!" after the set. He doesn't scream it directly through the net at anyone. He just says it loud after every set that looks very questionable. After about 5 or 6 times, the ref calls the setter from team B over and tells him that he cannot yell NO after every set. Referee states to him that because he is yelling NO, he is questioning the referees judgement. Play resumes and the setter from team B yells NO after another set by team A. The ref whistles the play dead even before the ball is terminated and issues a red card to the setter on team B for yelling NO.

In situations like this, do the referees have any limitations? Can the referee tell the setter not to yell NO after every set? Can he deem the situation, if setter B yelling NO after a set, a sign of disrespect towards him? I know that the refs ruling is basically final, but in the NFSHSA rule book, i cant find where this is a violation. Maybe i overlooked it. Anyone with thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Virginiaref]

I think this may be covered under 12-2 Art. 8 (unsportsmanlike conduct) as it could be viewed as an attempt to influence the official's call and/or question the official's judgment. It really depends on the context though, doesn't it.

It sounds like the ref tried to handle it discretely by putting the player on notice that the behavior was unacceptable; but that the player decided to forge ahead anyway. Of course a yellow first, then red, would have been a better progression.

[Homer]

Virginiaref has got it just about right. The conduct is fairly encompassed as unsportsmanlike conduct within 12-2-8c "questioning or trying to influence officials' decisions".

The situation is similar to 12.2.7 in the casebook where a team is shouting "touch" each time they hit the ball out of bounds. The casebook deems that conduct worthy of a warning and then a card for repetitions.

The casebook suggests a verbal no-card warning (reminder) to the captain and then a yellow card for a subsequent offense.

Going immediately to a red card after the verbal warning might be a bit more severe than I would be inclined to go but the official is certainly within his/her authority to administer an immediate red card - a intentional repeated offense after a clear warning could certainly be deemed a "serious offense" where the "situation warrants" issuing an immediate red card without first giving a yellow.

However, whistling the ball dead to administer the card is NOT correct. The rulebook clearly specifies that cards shall be administered "at the first dead ball". The play should continue and the penalty card administered after the rally is ended.