QuestionQUESTION: I understand blocking when the offensive team is attacking, but if a back row player lobs the ball over and the opposing team tries to finish the play at the net but misses, can that player call it a block and play it out of the net? Is there anything that describes when a block is a block and when it is a first contact if the defending team is at the net. I'm really thinking about freeballs coming over from the offensive team's back row.
ANSWER: Good morning!
Welcome to allexperts.com! It's great to hear from you. I'm sorry that I haven't answered quicker, but the 9 camps my staff and I are directing keeps me hopping.
Here's the answer to your question from a referee's standpoint: what was the girl at the net attempting to do?
If she attempting to hit/tip the ball, then, in my judgement, that would count as one of her team's three hits.... regardless of how the ball was given to her by her opponents. Now, if the ball was bumped over, and the blocker touched it, I am imagining she would be trying a "hit," and not a block. So, no, if she tries to play the ball out of the net, the whistle will blow, and the ref will hold up 2 fingers.
Did that make sense? When I'm on the ref stand, I ask myself, "Was she trying to block the ball?" A block is (a) a movement to try to put up a "wall," an attempt to try to keep the ball from passing over the not onto the blocker's side. It may also be (b) an attempt to flush the ball with wrist action. In either (a) or (b), the ball glanced off the blocker's fingers, and her teammates can play it as it goes behind her, I would probably allow her teammates three contacts after the blocker touch.
If you have any other questions, please choose "follow up," or email me at
[email protected].
And if you have a moment, please visit us at www.coachhouser.com! You will see all the pictures from this summer's 8 camps!! One more to go. Maybe your coach at your school would enjoy seeing them as well.
Hope you are having a wonderful summer!
I sure am!
Coach Houser
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Follow up on this part "Did that make sense? When I'm on the ref stand, I ask myself, "Was she trying to block the ball?" A block is (a) a movement to try to put up a "wall," an attempt to try to keep the ball from passing over the not onto the blocker's side. It may also be (b) an attempt to flush the ball with wrist action. In either (a) or (b), the ball glanced off the blocker's fingers, and her teammates can play it as it goes behind her, I would probably allow her teammates three contacts after the blocker touch."
Ball from the deep corner passed over as the third hit. Opposite team player tries to "flush the ball with wrist action" and hits it into the net. Then plays it again from the net. Is that okay?
AnswerGood evening Jon!
If I'm on the stand: Legal. Odd. Unusual. But legal. :)
Her first touch was obviously a block attempt. It was not a "hit". A "hit" is a spike/bump/pass/set/poke, etc. What she did was none of those.
Please contact me again anytime!
Or email me at
[email protected].
Coach Houser
www.coachhouser.com
