What is the primary responsibility of a line judge during a volleyball match?

The primary responsibility of a line judge during a volleyball match is to maintain their designated position relative to the court throughout the match. This consistent positioning enables line judges to have a clear and unobstructed view of plays that occur near the sidelines, which is critical for accurately calling out-of-bounds hits and determining whether the ball has touched the ground inside or outside the court boundaries.

This responsibility is essential for the integrity of the game, as line judges help ensure that all plays are fairly evaluated and that any illegal or borderline plays are correctly identified. By remaining in the same position throughout the match, line judges develop a familiarity with the dynamics of the game as well as the players’ tendencies, which supports effective officiating.

While assisting with illegal alignment calls, signaling illegal plays by back-row players, and notifying players of their serve order are important functions of the officiating team, these tasks are primarily the responsibility of the first referee and second referee, rather than the line judge.