“Strategic what?” you ask. A replay, like most officiating calls in volleyball, is subjective. Usually, the ref calls a replay if no one on the officiating team sees the play, a disagreement between R1 and R2 or a ball interrupts play. In games without a neutral officiating team (recreational or most club tournaments), replays occur more often.

And, of course, I’m writing about this because it recently happened to me (and because it happens all the time in recreational volleyball).  Any arguable play can be a replay because technically we’re officiating ourselves.

In club, another team – that you either already beat or you will play next – officiates your match. Is that neutral? (USAV likes to think so). In rec, one player can usually coerce the opposing team to agree on a replay.

For example, it’s game point and I hit a (smart) deep shot that bounces right on the end line (I have witnesses who are willing to testify to that). My team (knowing it was in) starts cheering. Then one lady on the other team yells, “Out!” and tosses the volleyball to their next server. Wait a minute, wait. a. minute. That ball was in. So we state our dissent. The lady quickly suggests a “compromise,” “How about a replay?” DOH! We begrudgingly agree. No sense in arguing (we’re adults, right?). Her team went on to win that set.

Strategic? Sure, one play does not make a game but it can change the momentum. We had it in the bag before that replay. I may be slightly cynical but I believe that she was thinking “strategically” in calling that ball out. She had a good case and she knew we wouldn’t argue.

1. She was the closest to the action.
2. She yelled out pretty confidently before the ball landed.
3. She tossed the ball to next server assuming we’d agree with her call.
4. Allegedly, no one else on her team saw the play. (this is easy to claim after one person takes the lead on the strategic replay)

The replay may or may not have changed the game for us. But it did pause our momentum, stop the flow and create a little more tension.

Why do people do that? Desperate measures? I’ve heard of tying your shoe and walking slowly back to serve, etc., to slow the other team’s momentum. But strategic replays can be a key game-changer in rec or club volleyball. Other strategic replays?

– net or center line violations

– touches

– doubles

– lifts

– back row attack

– ball enters the court

– pretty much anything an official would be responsible for calling

Is it illegal? Of course not. Is it unethical?

I think it’s taking advantage of another team’s desire to play fair. There are teams out there who just want a fair game and there are teams who just want to win. I think it’s totally unethical to resort to a tactic like this. But some keep in their back pocket as a desperate measure for game point situations.

It’s 22-24 in a match against a team that always beats you. You finally have chance to change the game. Do you take it?