USAV Florida Region - Outdoor: The Ref's Chair
The first topic we will touch today is first ball contact. Any first ball over (exception serve) on the pro tour may now be doubled as long as it is a reaction and not a decision to play the ball. If a player has time to decide to throw their hands up and and hand set the ball, it must be sweet nectar, perfect no spin no nothing. If a player is reacting to a ball being driven down their throats we let them use any force they need outside of holding the ball to get it up. Reason for this rule was to provide longer rallies. The pro players on the AVP Tour are ok with this and it’s time we all follow the lead. Recently I was at the Hess Express/Zephyrhills Pro-Am Beach Volleyball event in Siesta Key. Players were saying that you are not allowed to contact the serve open handed. That is not a written rule anywhere. It is said that if you decide to play a serve that way as I described above the ball must be clean, no spin perfect set.
Next we will go over the joust. If one player hits the ball at the same time as a defender blocks it - known as a joust - this is not a hit or contact and a team may have three more contacts. If a player attacking the ball hits it at the same time as the blocker or defender and the ball goes out of bounds off the block whatever side it goes out on loses the ball.
I was very pleased to see at the Siesta Key event teams in co-ed were a bit looser on calls on hands. Remember, as always, watch the right to left ( vice- versa) and contact to the ball. That, and only that, will determine double contact where most refs have trouble with calls and players. When in doubt, let play go.
Questions??? Ask the ref !!!
Outdoor Coordinator
Dave Carstenson
9290 Westlinks Terrace
Seminole, FL 33777
dcars@verizon.net
727-397-5253
Juniors Beach Schedules...click here
Dave Carstenson
9290 Westlinks Terrace
Seminole, FL 33777
dcars@verizon.net
727-397-5253
Juniors Beach Schedules...click here