Zero Tolerance on Referee Abuse
During the last week we have had two issues of reported poor behaviour/ referee abuse from players during matches.
It is our collective responsibility is to create, foster, and preserve sport environments that ensure positive, healthy and fulfilling experiences for all individuals. Positive sport experiences require participants to be safe and free from physical, emotional and mental harm.
Volleyball ACT would like to make it clear that verbal abuse or negative criticism of referees is as unacceptable as verbal abuse or negative criticism of players. We do not intended to imply that referees are always “right” or that players, spectators or coach is always “wrong”. Just as players make mistakes during play and coaches may err in strategy or methodology, referees will make mistakes in officiating.
Due to a persistent shortage of referees, a referee may be officiating at a higher level game than they are comfortable with. It is all of our responsibilities to ensure all referees receive positive support from players, coaches and spectators to continue to grow as an official. A player, coach or spectator should only communicate in a positive way with a referee.
Please remember within the FIVB Official Rules 5.1 Captain’s Responsibilities, it is only a team Captain (or on court captain) who may approach the referee during the game. The Captain may only ask:
5.1.2.1 During the Match: to ask for an explanation on the application or interpretation of the Rules
5.1.2.2 to ask authorisation:
a) to change all or part of the equipment,
b) to verify the positions of the teams,
c) to check the floor, the net, the ball, etc.
5.1.2.3 in the absence of the coach unless the team has an assistant coach who has overtaken the coach’s functions to request time-outs and substitutions.
FIVB Official Rules 5.2 Coaches Responsibilities
The coach is responsible for ensuring all players and spectators associated with his/her team follow these guidelines relating to communication with a referee.
A player, coach/spectator may not express any disagreement or dissatisfaction with the officiating to the referee. A coach/spectator may not, before, during, or after a game, discuss with a referee their critique of the referee’s performance, other than to thank and compliment the referee.
If a coach, player or fan is harassing a referee, the referee has the right to take the following measures to cease harassment:
1. Go to the offending team's captain and ask them to control themselves or their personnel.
2. If the problem persists after the above measure is taken, the referee may go back to the captain and ask the offending party to remove themselves from the game.
3. If the problem persists after the above measures are taken, the referee may stop the game and the outcome of the game will be determined by the competition authority.
Please note, coaches, players and /or parents/spectators are highly discouraged from approaching or confronting referees in between sets or after the match for any reason other than saying ‘thank you’ and/or shaking hands.
Any concerns or feedback regarding referees must be submitted in writing to the Competitions Manager. Concerns related to referee performance or behaviour will only be accepted from a Club Official (i.e. board member)or the team’s coach. The claim must provide details specific to the complaint and cite examples where referee performance or behaviour was inadequate or improper. The Competition Manager will engage the appropriate parties in investigating and taking disciplinary action. (In cases of egregious referee abuse (e.g., physical confrontation), information will immediately be forwarded to the VACT CEO for investigation and discipline decisions.
