Line Judge: In, Out and Touched with a Flag
Students train as volleyball line judges: positioning in the corner, reading the bounce near the line, and official flag signals. They discover a specific officiating role that is in high demand in youth competition, and train focus and quick decisions.
How to play
- Official signals: ball in, flag pointed down; ball out, flag raised straight up; ball touched by the receiving team, flag up with the other hand covering the tip; serving foot fault or ball outside the antenna, wave the flag and point to the line or antenna (4 min).
- Reading drill: one student tosses high balls that land near the end line, and two judges in opposite corners signal at the same time while a third records agreement (6 min).
- Real 4v4 game with four line judges rotating every 5 points; the head referee checks with the line judge when in doubt (8 min).
- Review: which plays caused disagreement, and from which spot they were easiest to see (2 min).
Rules
- Line judges stand off the court in the corner and step away if the ball comes at them.
- Always signal, even when the call looks obvious.
- Players don't argue with line judges: only the captain asks the referee.
- Tossers wait until the court is clear.
Variations
Easier
In and out only, no touch or antenna calls.
Standard
All four signals in a real game.
Harder
One judge per court covering two lines, moving between corners.
Adaptations
- Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: an ideal role since everything is gestural; agree on a visual signal for the referee to check in.
- Limited mobility: judge from a chair in the corner with no movement needed.
- Lower-body injury: be a line judge for the whole game.
Learning goals
- Learn and use the official volleyball line judge signals.
- Sharpen selective attention and decision-making under pressure.
- Explore officiating as a job and volunteer path.
Equipment for a class of 25
- volleyballs: 6
- flags: 8
- volleyball net: 2
- cones: 16
Teacher tip
No flags? Tie a piece of cloth to half a pole. The usual mistake is signaling late or watching the player instead of the line: have their eyes on the line before the ball lands.
PatioLab has "Line Judge: In, Out and Touched with a Flag" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More main activities for High School
"Switch!": Talking Defense Against Screens in 3v3
3v3 games where the offense uses ball screens and the defense must decide out loud whether to switch or stay with their player.
“Throw Like a Girl”: Your Other Arm Explains It
In pairs, each student throws with their dominant arm and their other arm while their partner checks technique.
1 vs. 1 Channel Duel: Dodge and Score
In narrow channels, an attacker with the ball tries to reach the line without the defender pulling a tag.