About John Crutchfield Expertise 15 years coaching experience: United States National Team and High Performance National Team; high school (men`s and women`s); Club (Belmont Shore and Asics/Nova: boys` 16s and 18). Played volleyball competitively since 1970 including Junior Olympics; University of Southern California; Beach; U.S. Nationals (40 and over) and Long Beach recreational adult leagues (8 time city champions)I have joined the staff as an assistant coach for the men`s
volleyball program at California State University at Long Beach and am now
entering my second season with the program. In addition I am one of the
original coaches of the newly formed LBC Volleyball Club for the last two
years. I have coached 12, 13, 16 and 18 year old teams and coached our 13
year olds to the National Championship at the Junior Olympics in July, 2002
at Louisville, Kentucky.
Experience I've played volleyball all my life (since the age of 13 and before most people even knew it was a sport). I've been coaching for the last 18 years, even while I was practicing law full time. Recently I have changed to an education career partly to allow me more time to coach and to coach at a higher level.
Expert: John Crutchfield Date: 3/7/2000 Subject: Contact with Feet
Question Until recently, I had been a high school and collegiate referee for women`s VB (20 years). I now teach a co-ed Power Volleyball class, and I am often confronted by male students who have questions regarding contact with the feet. I know for women, inadvertent contact is allowed (at least the last I knew). What are the male rules regarding the feet (ie. can contact be intended) and what are the generally accepted rules for coed play. I have spent over 20 years saying "DO NOT KICK the volleyball !!!!" and I find I may have to change my ways. Is it acceptable in beach volleyball, but not in hardcourt ball? I have already checked some links (Todd`s Website) but I would like some individual interpretation from someone experienced in both genders. Any good links would be appreciated too.
Answer Dear Chris:
The correct answer to your question, as is too often the case, depends upon the level and organization for which you are coaching/playing. At the NCAA, AAU, SCVA (Junior Club) and Olympic levels contact below the waist (i.e. the feet) is now legal, regardless of intent; it simply counts as a single contact. I specifically remember two years ago in the NCAA finals when Mark Presho of Hawaii fulfilled a lifetime goal of actually setting a ball with his feet (he had been a lifetime soccer player before coming to the sport of volleyball relatively late) He was covering a quick attack and was able to kick the ball straight up with his foot whereupon the middle attacker alertly put the ball away giving Mark the first recorded "foot assist".
In High School (at least in CIF, Southern California Section) contact below the waist is allowed only if inadvertent (i. e. there is no conscious or obvious attempt to play the ball with the lower body), otherwise it is a violation and will result in a whistle and side out or point.
As always, however, the rules are constantly evolving (can you say "libero") and I wouldn't be surprised to see the high school rule changed in the very near future.
Hope this has been helpful. Please feel free to contact me again if I can be of any further assistance.
-Crutch
