From: robp@landru.network.com (Rob Peglar)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.volleyball
Subject: Re: Japan vs. USA
Date: 28 Jul 92 19:34:20 GMT
Reply-To: robp@landru.network.com
Organization: Network Systems Corporation


I just have to comment on this :-)

General observations about the match:
Japan played somewhat over its head, the USA played somewhat badly.
Both USA passers had poor games (Fortune and Ctvrtlik).  Stork
had a mediocre game.  The hitters were OK, except for Fortune (too
many errors, e.g. at 16-15, set 4).  The defense was OK.  The blocking
was a mystery.  The Japanese blocked better than normal.  They also
had the advantage of being the underdog, i.e. nothing to lose.  They
were expected to lose.  The loss of Kiraly is showing.  The fact that
the ruling meant Japan 3, USA 1 is important (3-2 would have been
better for the USA).  A 3-1 score is large now when considering advancement
to the medal round.

As for the brouhaha, I am ashamed for the FIVB and for international
volleyball in general.  There were many who believed that volleyball
was 'above' all the ruckus, e.g. basketball and the infamous USA-USSR
match.  Not so.

Samedov is (was?) well respected by all, rated in the top 10 in the
world going into Barcelona.  He is from Azerbaijian, the 2nd was
from Brazil.  I have seen the 2nd ref before.  Samedov lost his
train of thought when issuing the 2nd yellow to Samuelson.  Here's
some points about that:
	.  He should have remembered the 1st yellow card.  This
	is debatable, since (at least after the fact) he said (in
	his letter to the FIVB) that he didn't want to end the
	game on a red.  I don't believe he didn't remember.  In all
	my experience (10 years USA national, 4 international
	matches) I have never forgotten whom I gave cards to and
	when.  
	.  He should have given Samuelson an expulsion (red-yellow,
	same hand) instead.  This eliminates the source of the
	problem (Samuelson clearly deserved both sanctions) and
	saves Samedov face because there is no point involved.
	.  He was not ' in sync' with the 2nd referee.  There were
	at least two times he called the 2nd ref over.  This is a clear
	sign of indecision and lack of control.  At that level, you
	should never have to call your 2nd ref over;  signals and
	visual clues suffice.
	.  As for the bad calls (e.g. backrow attack on Timmons on
	set point), bad calls happen.  Samedov made this call.  A
	previous poster said the 2nd ref called it; not so.
	.  To conclude, Samedov is a good referee who had a bad match.

The jury decided the match, of course.  This is why Japan had recourse
after the match play was complete.  I have served on the jury before,
during the 1990 Olympic Festival, and it is usually very boring.  The
FIVB structure, however, allows the jury to make the final decision.  The
match is not official until the jury says it is.  I am very surprised
the Japan delegation did not protest the match at the point of
violation.  The dynamics of the situation, though (Japan had the
serve coming up) played a part (they just wanted to serve and score,
forget the ref).  

This is shaping up to be a _very_ interesting pool!

Rob Peglar
USA National Referee

 
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.volleyball