AboutTom Houser Expertise I can answer any type of volleyball question: school, college, club, coaching, playing, etc. (I am not, however, a athletic trainer! haha)
Experience 23 years coaching varsity, JV, club.
You can see all about me at www.coachhouser.com
Publications www.active.com
www.volleyball.about.com
www.yesIcansports.com
Education/Credentials BS degree from Va Tech in Math Education. MS degree from Va Tech in Secondary Administration. 28 years teaching high school math!
The Picture! The picture that you see is my team after winning the 52-team Capitol Hill Classic in February 2008 in Washington DC. We were the only undefeated team in the 15's division. However, they presented our awards to the team that won the SILVER division! haha So the tournament directors had to reorder our medals and our player's MVP trophy, then mail them all to us later!
Expert: Tom Houser Date: 7/9/2008 Subject: Reaching Over Net
Question I was playing in a competitive 4's sand volleyball league and a situation came up where the setter set the ball to the outside hitter but the ball went completely over the net. The outside hitter reached over the next and tipped the ball down. There was no one there to play the ball or block the hitter from the other team. Is this a legal hit?
Answer Good morning!
I have coached under the National Federation rule book (which is what most high school play by) since 1985. Now I'm refereeing high school matches using that rule book. I've been coaching club ball under the USAV rule book since 1991. I've just researched your question in both rule books.
Both rule books say what you have described is illegal. A player is never allowed to attack a set from a teammate when the set has passed completely onto the opponent's side of the net. (NF Rule 9-5-2, USAV Rule 13-3-1) I can find no instance where a person can do what you described. Neither rule book says the play your described is legal "as long as the ball would have fallen anyway".
However, if you had been describing a block, then what you described would be legal in all three rule books, as long as the referee is 100% sure that there isn't a defender around to make the play. Not even someone there to attempt a pancake. And let's say that someone was starting to go for the ball, but when you reached over to block they hesitated, thus you touched the ball down. The referee would call you "over," and award a point for the opponent.
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Have a great summer! I've completed 4 volleyball camps and have 3 more to go. I can't wait for the next one to start on Monday.
