6.1 Playing the Ball

It is important that the focus is on the actual contact of the ball, not the actions beforehand or after the contact. The ball can be played with any part of the body, except for the service which has to be played with one hand or a part of the arm.

Overhead finger pass with fingers

The ball must not be caught and thrown. Pay particular attention when a player uses and overhead finger pass. In practice, if this error occurs, either a short halt or a prolonging vertical contact is noticeable. Furthermore, the ball has to be played with both hands simultaneously (unless it is the first team contact).

An exception can be made during a defensive action of a hard-driven ball.

It is not important whether a player moves while playing the ball, only the actual contact has to be judged!

Passing over the net

It is legal to attack the ball over the net with an overhead finger pass, if the ball is played in a trajectory perpendicular to the line of the shoulders, either forwards or backwards. Of course, the ball cannot be caught or double-contacted.

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Med. 1: Playing the ball to the opponent using an overhead finger pass

A player attacks the ball correctly over the net using an overhead finger pass.

Defense

In a defensive action, the ball can be played with several parts of the body consecutively, as long as it happens in one motion, except with an overhead finger pass.

Annotation

The myth that the hands of the defensive player have to be connection while playing the ball is not correct.

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Med. 2: Defensive with open hands

Defensive action with open hands that are not connected. The ball is not played with an overhead finger pass but only bounces back of the player's hands.

Defensive action of a hard-driven ball

If Balls are hit hard from a close distance and, therefore, the defensive player can only react, the defensive player is allowed to prolong the contact with the ball, or a double contact with finger action.

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Med. 3: Defensive action of a hard-driven ball

The player has hardly any time to react, therefore, the defensive action is legal.

Block

A block is an action of a player close to the net, trying to intercept the ball coming from the opponent. Certain criteria have to be met in order to judge a blocking action:

Reaching higher than the top of the net with some part of the body
Be close to the net
Ball coming from the opponent

After a block-touch, only two more hits within the team are permitted (either player can make the second team contact).