Be the Referee: Volleyball Back-Row Block
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
October 28, 2021
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 – Volleyball Back-Row Block – Listen
We’re on the volleyball court today where Team A’s back-row setter is in the front zone near the net and jumps to try to make the team’s second contact. The ball enters the plane of the net where Team A’s back-row setter and Team B’s front row player simultaneously touch the ball above the top of the net. What’s the call?
Illegal block on Team A’s back-row setter.
A back-row player attempting to play a ball in the space directly above the net is considered an illegal blocker if the ball is attacked or blocked by an opponent into the back-row player while reaching above the height of the net.
Team B receives a point and would be next to serve.
Previous editions
Oct. 21: Soccer Disallowed Goal – Listen
Sept 30: Field Goal Falls Short – Listen
Sept. 23: Volleyball Obstruction – Listen
Sept. 16: Catch or No Catch – Listen
Sept. 9: Intentional Grounding – Listen
Sept. 2: Pass Interference – Listen
Aug. 26: Protocols and Mechanics – Listen
What's My Why: Official Mike Pereira
August 13, 2026
Mike Pereira, Sacramento (Calif.)
Pereira is a former college and NFL football official who later became vice president of officiating for the National Football League. He is currently the head of officiating for the United Football League, and since 2010 has served as a rules analyst for Fox Sports and become one of the leading voices for officials, offering insight to TV audiences which had never been provided before his work.
He also is the founder of Battlefields to Ballfields, a national foundation that provides military veterans with scholarships, training, and mentorship to become sports officials, helping them reintegrate into their communities through the camaraderie of officiating. Pereira was the opening speaker at Officiate Michigan Day in July.
I didn’t want to officiate when they first came to me.
I said, “No.”
I said, “My dad had officiated. I don’t have any desire to.”
And they said, “Well why?”
And I said, “Because I don’t.”
“Because your dad officiated.”
“Maybe that’s it.”
I used to go to games and watch him get yelled at. And then they said, “It’s $10 a game. Three games. Thirty dollars, cash.”
I was a college student with no money. I said, “Yeah, I always thought I wanted to officiate.” And out I went. And it was kind of interesting, that first quarter of the first game, that first Pop Warner game, the parents are yelling at me, I didn’t know what I was doing, little kids running around.
And it was like somebody injected me with adrenaline. I found my passion in life.
As stupid as that maybe sounds, I found my passion in life. Thirty dollars is what I started to work for.
“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to director of officials Sam Davis at [email protected].
What's My Why
Aug. 5: Dino Paganelli, Wyoming - Watch
Aug. 3: Stacy Smith, Caledonia - Watch
July 22: Jason Nickleby, Lake Elmo, Minn. - Watch
July 15: Sam Davis, Lansing - Watch
July 9: Candace Cox, Quincy - Watch
July 1: Robert Williams, Redford - Watch
June 24: Will Godfrey, Jackson - Watch
June 19: Jarrett Skorup, Midland - Watch
June 12: Brady Driver, Sturgis - Watch
June 8: Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
June 3: Jeff Spedoske, DeWitt - Watch
June 1: Mike Carrier, Commerce Township - Watch
May 27: Stan Wright, Warren - Watch
May 26: Murray Rose, Zeeland - Watch
May 22: Mike VanLaan, Alto - Watch
May 18: Clint Abbott, Newaygo - Watch