Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Illegal Attack - Listen

A volleyball scenario for you today:

A back-row player attacks the ball from in front of the attack line and the ball is higher than the net. Is this allowed?

Sort of.

Simply being a back-row player and contacting the ball higher than the net in front of the attack line is not illegal. 

Completing the attack makes it illegal.

An attack is considered complete when the ball either crosses the net completely or is legally contacted by the opponent.

The referee should wait until the attack is completed before making the call.

If this happens, the play is whistled dead for an illegal attack.

Previous 2026-27 editions

Nov. 3: Pass Interference - Listen
Oct. 27: Field Hockey Substitutions - Listen
Oct. 20: Foot Save in Volleyball - Listen
Oct. 13: Soccer Advantage - Listen
Oct. 6: Defensive Holding - Listen
Sept. 29: Minimum Number of Volleyball Players - Listen
Sept 22: Soccer Changes - Listen
Sept: 15: Dead Ball Penalty - Listen
Sept. 8: Libero Ejected - Listen
Sept. 1: Soccer Foul After Shot on Goal - Listen
Aug. 25: Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen