Santa Cruz Volleyball Forum

Hi all,

My question has to do with the beach volleyball rule about receiving a serve open handed, or using “finger action”. This is a rule that is in section 13.4 of the USAV outdoor rules, and also spelled out here by Phil on the scvolleyball site.

With the exception of the hard-driven spike or block, you can never double-hit the first contact. If you receive the serve open handed (the serve is never considered a hard-driven spike regardless of its velocity), expect it to be called illegal. The tradition of the beach game does not allow the double hit on the first contact as does the indoor game.

I am not really looking for any clarification on this rule, although it does seem to be a cause for confusion for many. What I really want to know is – WHY does this rule exist? What is it that this rule is in place to prevent? What is it about playing a serve open handed that is so bad? Or maybe a better way to ask is - what scenario was happening in games that necessitated the USAV putting this rule into effect, when it is not a rule in indoor play? Everyone I know follows this rule, but no one seems to know why the rule exists. It seems strange to me that “the tradition of the beach game” allows for me to return a serve with a kick, but not with a set?

Thanks in advance everyone for your help,

Troy

Hey Troy,

I think it has to do with the fact that beach volleyball has always tried to hold to the "ideal" of how volleyball was really meant to be played. It is much easier to receive the serve open-handed. Just take a look at picnic volleyball. The indoor game continues to be influenced by "marketing" to the masses rather than the perfection of execution of skills. Beach volleyball, on the other hand, still requires a player to be have skills in all areas of the game to be successful. Indoor changes are creeping into beach volleyball but I, for one, hope the beach game stays "traditional". That's my two cents and others may disagree. I hope they will chime in too.

Take care Bro,

Mikey

Troy,

I agree with Mikey. As a whole, I think people prefer beach volleyball stay more of a "purist" game and keep it from deteriorating just to appeal to those unknowledgeable about the game.

Andrew

On the other hand, open-handed serve receive increases the potential for more rallies which makes the game more FUN!

So you guys are saying this has always been a rule in beach volleyball? it wasn't added at some point? i just can't help wondering if there was some scenario happening in games that necessitated this rule being added. there has got to be more to this rule than "it makes the game easier to play so we don't allow it" - right?

in any case, thanks everyone for the help,

troy

Yes, Troy, "tight" rule interpretations have always been the tradition of beach volleyball. I do think you are misunderstanding the point, though. It doesn't make the game easier to play by not allowing open-handed serve receive. In many ways, It requires more skill to be a beach player than an indoor player. The game emphasizes the perfection of skills in the way the game was designed to be played rather than selling out to TV and making the game easier for spectators to understand.

Andrew

Well.. I have watched as a served ball has been taken "openhanded" in a setting motion and come out of the passer's hands "clean" I mean "dead calm", "you can read the small print under the valve" frozen in space....there was NO double contact nor lift involved . The fingers of the passer contacted the ball in one motion and the ball left in one motion. I hesitate to call that as mishandled ball. I'm in awe that someone has that great of ball handling skills.
The indoor game has made a real mess of this area of ball handling and I really do hope the FIVB ,in what they describe as "visionary wisdom", keeps the outdoor game free from that degradation of skills.
Subjective rules keep this game ALIVE... it is all part of the mystic.. mhullo
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