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, if it is played with an 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.

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

Es ist unerheblich, ob der Spieler beim oberen Zuspiel steht, läuft oder springt, so lange die Ballberührung die bereits erwähnten Kriterien erfüllt.

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Passing over the net

It is legal to pass 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-touched.

 Med. : Regelkonformes Pritschen über das Netz

Der Spieler pritscht den Ball technisch sauber und in Körperachse über das Netz.

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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.

 Med. : 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.

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Defensive action of a hard-driven ball

If Balls are hit hard from a close distance and, therefore, allow the defensive player just to react, the defensive player is allowed to prolong the contact with the ball.

 Med. : Defensive action of a hard-driven ball

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

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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 make an action a blocking action:

• Reaching higher than the top of the net with on part of the body
• An action close to the net
• Ball coming from the opponent

After a block-touch, only two more hits within the team are permitted.