9 Myth Busters

Touch or no touch? Replay!

If a ball lands out of bounds and a referee has not seen a touch of the blocking/defending player, the ball has to be called out since no other fault has been identified. Referees can only call faults they can see. A replay should only be given if either two faults occur at the same moment or no call can be made by the referees.

The rotation of the ball is crucial for a double-call

Often, a rotating ball is automatically called as a double-hit. Keep in mind that rotation doesn’t always equal a double hit. Referees are asked to pay close attention to the players’ hands in order to be able to detect a double-hit fault.


A reception can never be played with an overhead finger pass

Both, reception and defense, can be played with an overhead finger pass. Nevertheless, a distinction has to be made: Reception and defense of a not hard-driven ball must be played with both hands at the same time and the contact has to be short. In case of a hard-driven ball the contact may be prolonged slightly and the contact of both hands does not have to be simultaneously.


Hands must be connected during a reception or defensive action

Players often complain about the ball being played with two fists by a defensive player and it not being called a fault. One has to keep in mind, that simultaneous contact is required only if a ball is played in an overhand finger pass.

Law

9.2.3 The ball may touch various parts of the body, provided that the contacts take place simultaneously.

Exceptions:

9.2.3.1 at blocking, consecutive contacts may be made by one or more players,provided that they occur during one action; 9.2.3.2 at the first hit of the team, unless it is played overhand using fingers, the ball may contact various parts of the body consecutively, provided that the contacts occur during one action.


Every ball can be played double if it is within one action

The rules clearly state that this sentence is only valid for the first team hit, unless it is played overhead using fingers.

Law

9.2.3 The ball may touch various parts of the body, provided that the contacts take place simultaneously.

Exceptions: (...)

9.2.3.2 at the first hit of the team, unless it is played overhand using fingers, the ball may contact various parts of the body consecutively, provided that the contacts occur during one action.



A ball may not be redirected by a block

When blocking, it is crucial that the ball is not held or caught and thrown. Redirecting the ball with a short contact, the ball bouncing back, is not a fault.


Ball under the net

A ball under the net can be played as long as it hasn’t crossed the vertical plane of the net. If the ball crosses the lower space under the net completely it has to be called “out”. If this fault occurs, it doesn’t matter whether an opponent catches the ball on his side of the court.

Law

8.4.5 The ball is ”out” when it: (...) crosses completely the lower space under the net.


The touch of an opponent under the net is a fault

The touch of an opponent under the net is only to be called a fault if the opponent is prevented from playing the ball or his play is interfered with.

Law

Casebook 5.5.1
(...) Interference by the attacker is a fault if the player is not able to continue playing the next ball. So much depends on where the ball is and who is attempting to play it.



The referee is against me / my team

Teams are often unhappy if there are decision against it, which mead lead to the impression, that the referee is calling faults unbalanced. Every referee is asked to call faults as he sees them. Depending on different angles, the point of view of a referee can lead to different perceptions in contrast to players.

Derek Thompson has written about this issue in his blog: What People Don't Get About My Job (Derek Thompson).