Potential Solutions for Ear Damage in Volleyball

So–it’s possible you’re here without having read my initial post. Facebook banned it because it is a cyberthreat. Uh-huh. Really. It’s important to read first so you understand the scope of the problem.

Now–it is inevitably easier to complain or identify problems than it is to help solve them. I realize that–so where possible, I try and come up with solutions…partial or whole. This post is about small things that can make a big difference. It’s a list and it is in no particular order.

• Eliminate whistles that aren’t actually necessary.
  • Calling for captains
  • 15-second warning that a warmup is almost over
  • 15-second warning that a timeout is almost over
    • Whistle signaling end-of-TO if both teams are already out on the court.
  • Whistles on plays that are obviously dead.
    • Balls hit wayyyy out of bounds
    • Balls that aren’t close to clearing the net.
    • Balls that hit the court without a play being made on it
  • Whistle to serve
    • This can be replaced with eye contact between R1+server

So right here, we’re eliminating a few pre-match whistles and then 70-80 whistles per set…which is 150-ish/match, likely 1,000/club pool.

• Gyms hosting with more than 4 courts should be required to have sound baffling on the ceiling
• Gyms hosting with 4+ courts should have soundproofing on walls on the facility’s internal exterior.
• Ear plugs should be mandated for players and coaches, in addition to referees
  • Sets can be issued at larger tournaments to coaches. Cost/team will be about $2.00 *total*
  • NOTE: Plugs don’t eliminate all sounds–you are still able to hear people around you, but the plugs reduce the ambient noise and decibel level of whistles to lower, safer levels.
• Review whistle usage and substitute visual cues for the audio ones currently used (ie. whistles)
• All facilities should have easy-to-access ‘quiet areas’ where noise is kept below 80-85dB.

I fear that without making changes, we’re looking at a generational issue of hearing damage and then, just like with stuff like secondhand smoke, there WILL be lawsuits. It is better to get ahead of a serious health issue than wait for the heavy hand of government to intervene (or the expensive hand of money-grubbing lawyers)