Expert: Tom Houser - 6/12/2009

Question
I play a lot of pick up volleyball on our local sand court as well as a couple league nights and a play came up last weekend that was intresting.  I was able to pancake a dig and get it up enough for a teammate to recover.  However, one of my opponents noticed that when I went down for the pancake, my hand slid under the sand ever so slightly.  As a result, there was a thin layer of sand on the back of my hand when the ball hit.  It was not a lot, but I would say my hand was mostly covered with maybe 1/8 inch of sand.  Was my play legal?  And if so, is there any standard for how much is too much for your hand to be buried during a pancake?  The ball definitely came off my hand much higher than it would have off the sand alone.  It is more of a curisity at this point as my opponents said that anyone who can pancake off sand enough for the ball to be hit again deserves it. But now we are all kind of dying to know.

Answer
Update:

One of my friends is a National referee.  He'll be at the Junior National tournament next week in Miami.  Here's his response to your question.  

"Coach Houser:
I'm sorry, but there is no black & white rule book answer. This is what I'm getting from my sand playing friends."

"It's a judgement call!  
Reasoning:  There is no rule regarding the amount of sand covering the hand. But what seems to be clear is, the deeper the hand is in the sand, the least height you're going to get off the pancake. So, more hand, more bounce. From the referee point of view, if the ball comes up with some height, play on, you got it up."

When I know/hear more, I'll pass it on!
Coach Houser

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Good afternoon Tom and welcome to www.allexperts.com!

I have heard most vball questions.  I don't get stumped often.  But you got me with this one.

I asked the former commissioner of referees from Lynchburg Va.  She answered, "I have read the beach rule book, and can't find an answer, but I wouldn’t be surprised if no pancakes were possible for this reason.  It’s an interesting question and  I don’t really have a good answer (although now I’m curious.....)"

I asked a ridiculously good outdoor player here in Roanoke.  His answer is, "Hey Tom, I looked through a set of beach volleyball rules I have and could not find any specific rule that covers this. My guess is the rule for beach is the same as indoors in that it's a judgment call by the ref as to whether it was a legal dig or not. If the hand is completely under the ball then the play should be legal. If the hand is only partially under the ball then it should be ruled that it hit the sand or court and is down. That's how I would look at it rather than going by this much sand or that much sand.  Yet, if the person dug down into the sand in order to get their hand under the ball that probably would not be legal. The hand needs to be on the sand under the ball before the ball gets there. Once again that would be a judgment call as to how much "digging" into the sand the person did to get under the ball."

I would add in my 2-cents worth, but (as in doing my 1040) what appears to be logical isn't always "the rule". So why take your time on what would only be my guess.

I have also asked several other people who I think would know.  I'm waiting for their response, and when I hear back from them, I'll send their answer to you.  

Hope you have a great weekend.  Please visit me at www.coachhouser.com!  The smiling faces will make you want to come visit me at the site camp that's coming to your area.

I hope to be back in touch soon!
Tom