This article by Bruce E. Brown and Rob Miller of Proactive Coaching tells the story of a college volleyball match between Wayland Baptist University and Tarleton State University that was played without referees when the officials failed to show up. It describes how the players from both teams agreed to make their own calls and accept their opponents' calls, and challenges coaches to ask whether their own team culture and leadership would allow the same.
Introduction
Bruce E. Brown & Rob Miller, Proactive Coaching LLC
A few years ago, Wayland Baptist University, an NAIA school in Plainview Texas was scheduled to play NCAA Division II Tarleton State University in a volleyball match. The two schools have had a good rivalry in the past; playing some good matches despite the obvious difference in the sizes of the schools.
As it got closer to the 7 PM start time everything was in place to begin, except for one complication. "It got to be about 6:30 and there were no referees," said WBU Athletic Director, Dr. Greg Feris. The two referees who were commissioned from Amarillo about 80 miles away were not coming. It was the first time in eight years that referees failed to show up to a WBU athletic event.