Transcript Informal Signals for NFHS Volleyball OVERVIEW A lot of good information about using informal signals is available in the 2007-08 NFHS Volleyball Rules Book.

Informal Signals for
NFHS Volleyball
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OVERVIEW
A lot of good information about using informal
signals is available in the 2007-08 NFHS
Volleyball Rules Book and the 2007-08 NFHS
Volleyball Case Book and Manual. There is
additional information regarding how informal
signals help the referee and umpire get the calls
right. This comes over time from other volleyball
officiating venues.
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OVERVIEW
Much of the information on informal signaling and
how it can benefit matches has been developed
over time from other volleyball sources – USA
Volleyball (USAV) and, for college women’s
volleyball, PAVO (the Professional Association of
Volleyball Officials). In its search for improving high
school girls’ volleyball, the NFHS includes
representatives of USAV and PAVO at its annual
meeting where rules, mechanics and instructional
techniques are discussed.
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Making a Commitment toward
Becoming a Better VB Official
Guidance
 Learning more effective use of informal signals
can help facilitate the matches that you officiate.
 Keep an open mind toward assimilating these
informal signals into your officiating since they
can help you and your partner get the calls right!
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Informal Signals
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Informal signals are a key communication
tools for the officiating crew.
The referee is responsible for scanning the
officiating crew on every play to take in all
available information before making a
decision.
The referee and umpire should be in a
constant scan mode.
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Informal Signals
The referee and umpire should be in a
constant scan mode, looking for such things as:

Potential safety issues.

Coach requests.
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Bench activity.
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Readiness of the umpire.

Line judges in proper position.

Additional time needed by scoretable support
staff (readiness issue).
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Informal Signals
Notes:

Informal signals should reflect the pre-match
agreements regarding what the umpire will
signal the referee.

Only play-ending information should be shown.
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Informal Signals
Show only play-ending information such as:
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4-hits
2-hits
Prolonged contact, below-the-waist contact,
or assisted hit
Touched out
Back-row block, illegal attacks
Over-the-net contact
Ball down/in, ball out, and ball touched out
Possible position switch on the serving team
Possible screening formation
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Informal Signals
Guidance: A Very Good Practice to Follow:
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An umpire can help the referee on plays where
the referee is unsure of what happened and
needs to be led. To do this requires the umpire
to have an opinion regarding which team lost a
rally.
Moving to the side of the team that lost a rally
can be exactly the help the referee needs on a
bang-bang play in particular. Attack-antennablock or attack-block-antenna is one situation.
Another is a 3rd hit tape shot that goes out of
bounds – off the block or off the attack?
Discussion.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 1
“Third team hit not going over the net”
 When a ball has already been contacted three
times and the next contact will result in the team’s
fourth hit, the referee has asked the umpire to
show 4-hits to confirm for the referee that the next
contact will be the team’s fourth hit. Umpire has
agreed to step out big to be very visible on this
call. Referee has agreed to be alert (awareness of
partner movement) to pick up this type of helping
information.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 1
 Umpire Action: Team A has already contacted
the ball three times and the ball clearly isn’t going
over the net. Umpire steps out strongly to the
side of the team who already contacted the ball
three times and shows four fingers in the chest
area, using the hand to the side of the team that
would be committing the fault on the next
contact.
 Referee Action: Referee sees 4-hits and
whistles the 4-hit fault at the next team contact.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 1
 Discussion: On this play, the umpire could be
saving the referee from embarrassment. One
never knows when a referee has a temporary
(hopefully) mind meltdown. This is not a discrete
signal. The umpire is not empowered to whistle a
4-hit fault. Rather, the referee has agreed to be
alert and to trust partner assistance.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 2
“Extra contact not seen by referee”
 If a team has an “extra” contact that the referee
might not have seen (such as where a ball glances
off a player, is then passed and set), the referee
has asked that the “unusual” 4-hit call be shown
early (as soon as the third hit is not attacked) by the
umpire to alert the referee that the next contact will
be the team’s fourth hit.
 Umpire has agreed to step out big to be very visible
on this call. The referee has agreed to be alert
(awareness of partner movement) to pick up this
type of information.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 2
 Umpire Action: Team A has already contacted
the ball three times, and unlike an easy 4-hit call,
the umpire realizes that – by angle and player
positioning – the referee was unlikely to have
seen one of the contacts (first or second). The
umpire is getting the referee’s attention early to
shock the referee who likely isn’t aware of the
extra contact that the next contact will be a 4-hit
fault. The umpire steps out really big to the side
and toward the court to be seen.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 2
 Discussion: The referee is trusting his/her
partner. The umpire will be selling to the affected
head coach that this call came from the umpire.
“She took my call on that one, coach. I had the
ball glance off two players and then the ball was
set.” If, for some reason, the referee fails to scan
and doesn’t see the umpire’s movement, the
umpire should not remain out of position but
should give up the call and not miss a net. It is not
a good situation for the umpire to have to cross
the court to discuss this after the rally is over.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 3
“Third hit attacked into tape or top of net, block up”
 If a team’s third hit is attacked into the tape or the
net just below the tape with a block up, the referee
and umpire are expected to partner to get the call
right. If the ball does not cross to the blocking team’s
side of the net, the referee must have an opinion
regarding whether or not there was a touch on the
block. This opinion can be formed independently or
with assistance from an umpire’s informal signal.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 3
 The pre-match discussion could go like this: If the
referee has a clear opinion that ball was touched
by the block (allowing attacking team 3 more
hits), the referee can show the touch with an
unrushed signal above the net, especially if team
is yelling “no touch.”
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 3
 In this situation, the umpire may already have a
4-hit informal signal showing but the referee saw
a touch and is going what he/she saw. However,
it is good partnering for the referee to look at the
umpire for information. The referee can make
eye contact to acknowledge the call and a light
head shake to say, “I saw it differently, we’re
playing on.” In this case, showing a touch above
the net (with proper mechanics) is helpful
especially if there are yells of “no touch.”
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 3
 The aftermath on this play comes from what occurs
next. If the ball lands in, loss of rally is awarded the
blocking team. If the ball lands out, loss of rally goes
to the attacking team because the referee has
already shown a touch on the block. If the attacking
team plays the ball, play on. Line judges can not be
looked to for a touch on this play, only an “in” or “out
of bounds” call unless the ball comes back off the
block and touches a player on the attacking team
before landing out.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 3
“Third hit attacked into tape or top of net, block up”
 But what if the referee isn’t sure whether or not there
was a touch on the block and needs partner help.
The umpire has to be prepared with an informal
signal of 4-hits or a head nod or nothing if the umpire
had a touch on the block. The agreement has to be
clear on what the umpire will show the referee. The
referee agrees that if the umpire shows 4-hits, the
referee will take the call. However, 4-hits won’t
necessarily occur because the ball could land in or
out without someone digging the ball.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 3
 Umpire Action 1: The referee scans for information
from the umpire who shows 4-hits in the chest area
which confirms for the referee that the umpire had
no touch. This will be the call if the ball is next
played by the attacking team, and the umpire will
own the call. “Neither of us had a touch, coach.”
Let’s say the ball then goes out of bounds off the
tape/net. The umpire’s 4-hit signal helps the referee
award the rally to the blocking team.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 3
 Umpire Action 2: When the referee scans for
information and the umpire has a touch, the two
officials have agreed that the umpire will not show
touch because this is used only with play-ending
information but, instead, will give a head nod. And
there are times when the umpire is unsure, and the
referee simply has to decide. If the referee has the
touch and/or takes the touch from the head nod
and the ball lands out of bounds, the referee will
award the rally to the attacking team.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 3
 Referee Action: There are times when the referee
appropriately scans for information but the umpire is
not sure about the touch. In such a situation, the
referee will not show touch above the net because
the referee may have no block OR the referee has
yet to make a decision.  The referee has until the
ball lands or is next touched to decide. Each official
has his/her own approach to whether you have to
see the touch or assume no touch or assume the
block got it unless it was a clear no touch.
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Informal Signals
4 hits – Scenario 3
 Discussion: If the umpire does not provide rallyending information, the officials have to partner
based on what happens next. If the ball clearly
lands in, no problem. Signal ball in. However, if the
ball lands out, the referee will now award the ball
to the attacking team because the ball was blocked
out (touch on the block, ball stayed on attacking
teams side). On this play, line judges should have
been instructed to call in or out and not try to offer
information about the block.
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Informal Signals
Umpire Leads Referee, Part 1
“Tape shot”

Ball attacked into the tape sometimes produces
the deer-in-the-headlights look on the part of the
referee, at which time the umpire – recognizing this
has occurred – literally leads the referee in making
the call. If the umpire has no touch on the block,
the umpire steps out big to the side of the attacking
team with the 4-hits call in the chest area.
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Informal Signals
Umpire Leads Referee, Part 1
“Tape shot”

The umpire showing 4-hits on the side of the
attacking team clearly tells the referee that the
umpire is on the side of the team that lost the rally
and that the 4-hits call should be shown if the
attacking team touches the ball again OR that if
the ball lands out, the blocking team has won the
rally. Referee shows “out” signal, gestures to the
attacking team and then awards the point with the
new loss of rally signal.
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Informal Signals
Umpire Leads Referee, Part 2
“Tape Shot”

If umpire scans and sees referee needs help and
umpire had a touch on the block, umpire steps out
big to the side of the blocking team with a head
nod to tell the referee that the umpire is on the side
of the team that lost the rally if the ball lands out or
that the umpire is on the blocking teams side if the
attacking team digs the ball and runs its offense.
The referee shows “out,” gestures to blocking
team, then awards point with new loss of rally
signal.
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Informal Signals
“Double hits and multiple contacts”
 A pre-match discuss of how to handle double hit
or multiple contacts out of the view of the
referee is important.
 This should include multiple contacts that – from
the umpire’s angle - are outside the range that
the referee has been using in calling a 2-hit
fault.
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Informal Signals
“Double hits and multiple contacts”
Umpire Action

Umpire shows 2-hit signal in the chest area to
offer help to the referee regarding a fault call. This
is also used if – from the umpire’s angle – there is
a double hit on the type of play that the umpire
believes the referee has called previously – this
can bail out the referee.
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Informal Signals
“Double hits and multiple contacts”
Referee Action

Referee whistles the fault. Umpire sells call to
affected coach. “Coach, he took my call on that
one. He was screened.” This shows that
partnering is occurring. If referee fails to make eye
contact and umpire is sure, umpire may whistle
the fault. But, if eye contact occurs, and the
referee shakes off the help/call, it’s play on – the
umpire would not whistle the fault.
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Informal Signals
“Illegal hit not seen by referee”
 What to do if there is an illegal hit outside the
view of the referee such as prolonged contact,
below-the-waist contact, assisted hit or ball
rolling on the arm or body.
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Informal Signals
“Illegal hit not see by referee”
Umpire Action

Show the illegal hit signal in the chest area using
the hand on the side of the team that committed the
fault. Step out big to be visible to the referee.
Referee Action

Referee whistles the fault. If referee fails to make
eye contact, and the umpire is sure that a violation
occurred, the umpire may whistle the fault. But, if
eye contact occurs, and the referee shakes off the
help/call, it’s play on – the umpire would not whistle
the fault.
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Informal Signals
“Ball touched out”
 The umpire will not show the touch call while the
ball is in play. When a ball has landed out or
near a line and the umpire has a touch on the
ball, the umpire should step out and be very
visible with the touch signal, stepping to the side
of the team that had the touch.
 If the referee has the ball landing out or takes a
line judge call to this effect, the “touch” signal
shown by the umpire should be picked up by the
referee’s scan before signaling the result of the
rally.
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Informal Signals
“Possible back-row block”
 If a back-row blocker is near the net, reaching
higher than the net and contacting the ball, the
umpire should step out and show the illegal block
signal in the chest area. The umpire may whistle the
fault if the referee does not see the signal and
misses the back-row block. If the referee gives a
head shake “no,” the umpire will not whistle the
fault.
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Informal Signals
“Possible collective back-row block, completed”
 If a back-row blocker is near the net, reaching higher
than the net and is part of a collective block, it is an
illegal back-row block if the ball touches any of the
blockers. To be a blocker, a player must be reaching
above net height. The umpire should step out and
show the illegal block signal in the chest area. The
umpire may whistle the fault if the referee does not
see the signal and misses the ball touching a player
in the collective block. If the referee gives a head
shake “no,” the umpire will not whistle the fault.
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Informal Signals
“Blocking the serve”
 No one can block the serve. If a player is near the
net (meeting the definition of a blocker), is reaching
above net height and contacts the ball in what can
be construed as blocking action (action that deflects
or intercepts the ball), the referee should whistle an
illegal block. If the referee does not see the play or
does not wave it off as legal, below the net contact,
the umpire should step out and show the illegal
block signal in the chest area, then whistle the fault
if the referee does not see the signal.
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Informal Signals
“Possible illegal back-row attack”
 If the ball is clearly totally above net height
and the ball then crosses the net or is legally
contacted by the opponent, the umpire may
show a strong attack signal and may whistle
the fault if the referee doesn’t see the signal.
 This requires the umpire to have been
effectively tracking back-row players for both
teams, especially the setters but not limited to
the setters.
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Informal Signals
“Possible illegal back-row attack”
 If a back-row player whose last position on the
floor was in the attack zone contacts the ball when
the ball is entirely above net height, it is an illegal
back-row attack if the attack is completed (legally
contacted by opponents or crosses untouched to
the opponent’s side). The umpire may step out
and be very visible while showing the illegal attack
signal in the chest area and then may gesture if
the referee hasn’t seen the signal. The umpire
may whistle the fault if the referee doesn’t see the
signal but not if the referee shows the legal attack
signal.
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Informal Signals
“Possible illegal attack off the libero pass – 1”
 If the libero’s current contact with the floor is in
the attack zone and the libero plays the ball with
finger action/setting, then the next contact with
the ball by a teammate cannot be a completed
from totally above the height of the net.
 The umpire looks at the foot position of the libero
to determine the possibility of an illegal attack
and may give an immediate safe signal to the
referee if the libero is close to but not in the
attack zone.
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Informal Signals
“Possible illegal attack off the libero pass – 2”
 The referee looks at both the hand position of the
libero and tries to also pick up foot position on the
court to determine the possibility of an illegal
attack. If the referee sees the libero make any
pass other than a set, there is no problem.
 If the referee sees the libero set the ball and sees
the libero in the attack zone or sees the umpire
giving the informal illegal attack signal in the chest
area, the referee waits until the next contact to
determine ball height. If the next contact is a
completed attack, the referee signals legal attack
or illegal attack based on ball height.
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Informal Signals
“Possible illegal attack off the libero pass – 3”
 The referee and umpire must partner on this
play and make eye contact to get the call right.
An active libero will step up and set the first ball
or the second ball. If it’s the first ball, the setter
(back-row or front-row) can’t dump the ball over
the net on the next contact if the ball is totally
above net height.
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Informal Signals
“Possible illegal attack off the libero pass – 4”
 If the referee does not acknowledge with a legal
attack signal that the libero set the ball in the
attack zone and the ball is then attacked above
net height on the next play with the attack
completed, the umpire may step out big and give
two pumps of the arm to show the attack. The
umpire may whistle the fault if the referee missed
the call. In calling the fault, the officials signal
illegal attack and then gesture toward the libero.
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Informal Signals
“Possible illegal attack of a served ball”
 If any player attacks a serve from anywhere on the
court when the ball is totally above net height, this
becomes illegal when the attack is completed. The
referee may use the legal attack signal to show
that part of the ball was below net height. If the
ball is played by a teammate before crossing the
net (or being contacted by the opponents), play
on. If the ball is hit into the net and dug out, play
on. The umpire can help inform the coach why
such a play was legal.
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Informal Signals
“Over the net”
 If a player reaches over the net and contacts the
ball which has not been attacked while the ball
is totally on the opponent’s side of the net, the
umpire should step out and show the over-thenet signal in the chest area. The referee should
pick up the help and will make the call.
 Over the net includes an attack on the other
side of the net as well as a block contact which
takes a play away from the opponents on a ball
that was not going over the net and/or is not an
attack. However, any ball that has already been
contacted three times may be blocked on the
opponent’s side.
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Informal Signals
Ball in/down
 The umpire may have a great angle plus with
ability to adjust position to see a ball down/in and
may step out to signal the referee to assist with
making the call. If the referee waves off the
umpire (indicating the referee saw the ball “up,”
the umpire should pull the call back and play
continues.
 However, if the referee fails to see the call
despite the step out and “sell” job, the umpire –
being 105% certain that the ball touched the
court, is empowered to whistle the fault.
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Informal Signals
“Out”
 The umpire may also have an informal “out” call to
offer on a play where the umpire’s focus did not
have to stay with the net and center line, just in
case the referee is left with a no-call on the part of
a line judge.
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Informal Signals
“Possible position switch on serving team”
 The umpire may show a possible illegal
alignment on the serving team picked up
during the umpire’s court scan. Such a
situation typically involves a player position
switch. This is part of the pre-match
discussion and may involve an informal signal.
 The referee has responsibility for observing
the serving team and should have this call but
may use help from an umpire who has kept
track of both team’s rotations on the court.
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Informal Signals
“Possible screening”

Possible screening can be detected by the
umpire based on the umpire’s scan when
viewing signs that the receiving team is
struggling to see the serve.
Umpire Action

Show screen signal in the chest area to alert the
referee to possible screening. Address possible
screening with umpire while referee warns
captain. Referee shows screening signal to alert
umpire that this is being discussed.
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals
 The illegal attack due to a back-row player
taking off from behind the attack line when there
is contact totally above net height should be
used sparingly by the umpire, typically only
when the player’s take off was close to the
attack line or the ball was near the top of the net
and the referee has not made the signal.
 The safe signal may also be used to show the
libero was making a finger-tip setting action
from outside the attack zone or that the next
contact off the libero set from the attack zone
was on a ball that was not totally above the
height of the net.
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals
 There is one legal play signal (Signal 7)
shown under NFHS Official Volleyball Signals.
The description reads “Legal Back Row
Attack” but should include legal libero attack,
legal attack of a libero set in the attack zone
and a variety of other attacks where a signal
represents helpful communication of the
official’s awareness and that a decision was
made that play was legal.
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals
 The description for “Legal Back Row Attack” is:
“Arm on attacker’s side is extended, parallel to
the floor at chest level, palm down. Make one
slight horizontal sweeping motion.”
 This signal does nothing for an official wishes to
communicate why a play wasn’t called for a
back-row block, when a contact by a player
near the net might result in first contact rather
than a block, attack off a libero set from the
attack zone where the next contact is a
completed attack but at least part of the ball
was below net height, legal attack of the serve,
serve was not blocked, etc.
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals”
 Last year, the NFHS was sent a proposal to use
standardized signaling of player numbers.
 This year the NFHS will be asked to consider
adopting two legal play signals to more clearly
convey judgment of officials regarding ball
position in relationship to the height of the net;
whether a player near the net is reaching higher
than the top of the net or not, libero not in the
attack zone while setting the ball, and other
information not clearly conveyed by the current
signal.
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals”
 Officials need to be able to communicate more
information to coaches, players and fans than is
currently communicated clearly by the current signal.
 Two signals would be used. Signal 1 would be “play
on, legal attack, player behind the attack line” while
Signal 2 would be “play on, legal play – either legal
attack based on ball height or first contact/not a block
based on a player not reaching above net height or
position not near the net or the play.”
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals”
Signal 1 (play on, legal attack)
 The sweeping arm extension would be on the side
of the team attacking the ball; horizontal; parallel
to the floor; and at chest level. However, instead of
palm down, the palm would face the attack line to
show that:
a) the position of a back-row player was not in the
attack zone or
b) if the next contact that occurs is a completed
attack from above net height off a libero finger-tip
set, the play is legal because the libero was
behind the attack line.
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals”

Signal 1 (play on, legal attack) would be shown as
a wave-off motion with the palm of the hand on the
attacking team extended toward the attack line in a
similar sweeping gesture to the current signal. By
the nature of the signal, it conveys that a play is
legal based on player position in relationship to the
attack line (including imaginary extension of the
attack line).
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals”
Signal 1 (play on, legal attack)
 The wave off toward the attack line for Signal 1 would
more clearly show that a play is continuing on an
attack of a ball that is contacted while the ball is
totally above net height by a back-row player.
 This would not address an attack by the libero since
ball height is the only judgment factor on such a play.
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals”
 Signal 2 (play on, legal play: either legal
attack based on ball height or not a block/first
contact) would have the official's arm initially
extended but not in as much of a sweeping
motion and not quite as far out to the side in the
direction of the team in question.
 The extended arm would be parallel to the floor,
still at chest level although possibly a little lower
down, and with the palm of the hand down and
parallel to the court. The official would make a
couple of soft downward motions as if lightly
patting a small child on the head.
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals”

Signal 2 (play on, legal play: either legal
attack or first contact/not a block) would be
shown to convey different information
regarding why play is continuing. It could
show:
a) position of the ball in relationship to the top
of the net;
b) that a player near the net was not consider
a legal or an illegal blocker because the player
was not reaching above net height when
contact was made with the ball;
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals” (continued)
c) that the libero was not reaching above net
height and therefore cannot be considered as
attempting to block;
d) that a contact was not a back-row block and
should be treated as first contact;
This change would help take into account NFHS
libero playing rules and limitations.
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Informal Signals
“Legal Play/Safe Signals” (continued)

There is a good reason why Signal 2 is currently used in
officiating under PAVO/NCAA and USA Volleyball
rulesets. An advantage to this signal is that it can be
also used by the umpire on a play where the umpire
attempts to make eye contact with the referee and the
referee doesn't look at the umpire. If the referee is
playing on but does not make the informal signal and a
question is being raised by the opposing head coach,
the umpire wave off is at least one visible sign if the
referee doesn't do anything.
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Informal Signals
“Umpire signals”
 When a team has a legal back-row attack because a
back-row player left the floor from behind the attack
line or a back-row player played a ball when the ball
was not entirely above the height of the net, the
umpire may show an informal signal of legal backrow attack off to the side on the side of the court
where the play occurred. This may help the referee if
the referee’s view was screened.
 To indicate a legal attack by a back-row player, the
umpire can make a vertical signal with the arm on
the side of the attack. Some officials already use the
light patting down signal to show the ball was not
totally above net height, but this is not yet an
“official” informal signal for NFHS.
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Informal Signals
“Time-outs taken”
 Number of time-outs taken by each team is
shown by the umpire at the beginning of the
time-out at the end of the time-out. The scorer
typically confirms number of time-outs used by
each team to the umpire and signals the
number to the referee during the time-out, then
both umpire and scorer show this at the end of
the time-out. The umpire informs the two
coaches as well.
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Informal Signals
“Support for partner”
 A good call by either official may be responded
to by the partner with a thumbs up signal as
part of offering support. Eye contact, head nod
and a smile go a long way toward offering
support.
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Informal Signals
“Leading the referee”

There are times where an informal signal by the
umpire will not be sufficient. Part of effective
partnering is recognizing when your partner needs
help and leading the call. A bang-bang play at the
net, ball played tight to the net, attack-blockantenna and who the fault was on, etc. can all
necessitate the umpire leading the referee.

Recognizing that “deer-in-the-headlights” look and
need for help can be a partnership-defining
moment! Get the call right!
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Informal Signals
“Game point”
 After confirming the serving team has game point,
the umpire will show this with an index finger on
the shoulder of the team that has game point. So
should the scorer. The referee will acknowledge
the signal with a nod but will not signal back in
return.
 The informal signal of game point is repeated only
as necessary and not while the other team is
continuing to serve and the receiving team has
repeated game points. However, if the score
becomes tied, game point will be shown each
time either team has a game point through the
end of the game.
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Informal Signals
“Warnings and sanctions”
 Warnings and sanctions are never informal
signals for high school volleyball. The purpose of
a warning is to call sufficient attention to the
inappropriate behavior as to prevent an
escalation and the need for a formal
warning/yellow card. The issuance of a yellow
card may be requested by the umpire or directly
by the referee.
 Sanctions in the form of a penalty (red card) or
disqualification (red and yellow cards held in
separate hands) may be requested by the
umpire. The referee may issue these cards
directly as well.
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Informal Signals
“Request to cross the court to the referee stand”
 There are times when the umpire needs to come
across the court after a play for a private
discussion with the referee regarding something
that simply can’t be signaled. Typically, the
partners pre-arrange that when the umpire
moves to the court with toes to the sideline, the
referee should call the umpire across the court.
 The above scenario is to be used only for matters
that merit special concern.
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