2026
VOLLEYBALL REFEREE STAND SAFETY: PREVENT DISASTER WITH STANDARD CHECKS
by Brad Tittrington
Volleyball referee stand safety must be part of every prematch routine to ensure a secure officiating environment.
Referees have a tough job. They have to make hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions every match. It can be draining to have to figure out the legality of every single touch of the ball as well as in/out decisions, rotations, alignments and a slew of other decisions.
However, there are a couple of decisions referees must make in the prematch that can ultimately decide the fate of the match. This is a volleyball referee stand safety priority that can’t be skipped. These decisions have to do with the volleyball net standards and I would bet the majority of us take those for granted. Normally, the net is set up before we ever enter the gym. And in a lot of cases, the net is set to the right height, the antennas are in place and the net stand is attached properly. However, it would behoove all referees to take a few minutes to check the referee stand prematch to make sure it is properly attached, it is safe to climb up onto and the base of it is secure to hold your weight for the match. Otherwise, the results could be tragic. If you have worked long enough, you have most likely either climbed up on a ladder and had it sway or give out or even worse, you have fallen off a ladder during play. This is extremely dangerous and has led to some serious accidents. This is why referees are instructed to check equipment before each match, even if you have been to a school a multitude of times. While we would like to think the schools are doing everything in their power to keep us safe, ultimately it is our responsibility to check the stands and standards to make sure they are safe and secure not only for the participants, but also for us.
