Where do line judges stand, and what do they signal?
Rule- South Africa
- Volleyball South Africa
- FIVB Official Volleyball Rules
- Indoor volleyball
- Open
- Line judges
- 2025-28
- Referees
Position (Rule 29.1):
- With two line judges: they stand at the corners of the court nearest each referee's right hand, diagonally 1 to 2 m from the corner. Each controls both the end line and the side line on their side.
- With four line judges (FIVB, World and Official competitions): they stand in the free zone 1 to 3 m from each corner, on the imaginary extension of the line they control.
What they signal (Rule 29.2), using 40 x 40 cm flags:
- ball "in" or "out" whenever it lands near their line(s);
- touches of "out" balls by the team receiving the ball;
- the ball touching the antenna, or the serve or the team's 2nd or 3rd hit crossing the net outside the crossing space;
- any player other than the server standing outside their court at the moment of the serve;
- the server's foot faults;
- any player contact with the top 80 cm of the antenna on their side while playing the ball or interfering with play;
- the ball crossing the net outside the crossing space into the opponent's court, or touching the antenna on their side.
A line judge must repeat the signal if the 1st referee asks. Line judges use the official flag signals and hold each signal for a moment (Rule 30.2). Only the 1st and 2nd referees may blow a whistle.
Added 22 Oct 2026