Santa Cruz Volleyball Forum

Though I've never done it, nor ever plan to, what is the rule for open handed handling of a non-hard driven ball? I assume it is legal if it is clean, but does the rule apply like that of a 1 or 2 over (shoulders square to where ball goes, simultaneous contact) or just that it is of a "good set" (just simul. contact)....curious.....comes up often when indoor players hit the beach and make a "fairly" clean first contact.

Jim,

Until we hear from CBVA director, Mark Hull, here's the interpretation I use for the No Attitudes Allowed Beach Tournaments.

I do not allow any open-handed first contacts unless a player is receiving a hard-driven attack (hit from about the net at a high rate of speed) or blocking. I require hands to be together. This interpretation works very well in my tournaments with a lot less arguing and confusion. Unfortunately as you have mentioned, the CBVA rules are ambiguous on first contacts.

Phil

That first contact on a "non driven" ball must be handled without double contact or the ball coming to any visible "resting place"(as in a lift)..... Although in Europe and around the rest of the Voliball World, the pollution of the indoor game has spread and taking the first ball with open hands ( w/setting motion) has become accepted yet still limited to more of the non professional level of play. The FIVB has continued to hold it's ground with setting standards with the International game but the setting that we saw in the Olympics was much more liberal than anything WE WOULD TOLERATE AT MAIN STREET!!!!
It is not an automatic call if some one takes that first ball with open hands but it has to come out without SPIN. really "CLEAN" and a great indicator of a double contact is a ball that has rotation.
The way that the rules have been modified for the indoor game to create more action by allowing the setter to re-direct the ball without regard to HOW they re-direct it has truly blurred the standards. That along with the anything goes first contact rule has made the job of reffing pretty interesting to say the least!
The indoor game has had an influence on the new crop of outdoor players. When I run a Youth event I just make the general rule NO FIRST BALL CONTACTS with open hands. BUMP everything. But some of those kids have GREAT hands and might get away it , but it saves the parents screaming from the sidelines "You can't do that!"

Summer of 09 .....just around the corner. mhullo (mark hull) CBVA tournament director Santa Cruz