Spring-97 Now that the weather is nice... (I personally like the weather all the time, but the damn media is dissatisfied with any climate so we base our concept of "nice" weather on what the androids on the TV/radio say it should be.) Oh, wait... this was going to be about volleyball rules. OK, the latest controversy at some recent tournaments has been the "crossing space," specifically whether or not the post acts as the antenna.

IT STATES: Outdoor - Rule 14.1.1.2 A ball directed to the opponent's court must go over the net within the crossing space. The "crossing space" is the part of the vertical plane of the net limited as follows: ...at the sides-by the antennas (posts) and their imaginary extensions. IT MEANS: The crossing space is defined as the space above the net (14.1.1.1) and is limited at the sides by the posts. If the ball must cross within the crossing space, the rule states that the antennae (posts) are the limit and consequently the ball must not cross over the posts. In other words, the posts are "out." However, those of you that have ever run down a ball on the other side of the court OUTSIDE of the posts, keep doing it. Just bring the ball back outside the posts as well...

IT STATES: Outdoor - Rule 15.1.4 Within the limits of the three team contacts, a player may contact a ball that has crossed the net completely outside the posts in order to direct the ball to a teammate, so long as the ball has not been contacted by the opponents. The recovered ball must cross the net completely outside the posts. IT MEANS: You can go after a ball that your partner shanked outside of the court across the net as long as you bring it back outside the posts and s/he hits it over the crossing space (see above).

Since the Club season is still dragging on, I'll throw in another indoor myth. It is a relatively new change with regard to crossing the center line. IT STATES: Indoor - Rule 16.3.2.1 Penetration into the opponent's court, beyond the center line to touch the opponent's court with (a) hand(s), foot, or feet is permitted, provided some part of the penetrating hand(s)/foot/feet remains either in contact with or directly above the center line. IT MEANS: The ENTIRE foot or (now) HAND must be across the entire center line for it to be a fault. A little helpful hint I used when I knew the 2nd official was clueless was to ask him/her what the foot (and now hand) looked like. When s/he showed me some part of it on the line, I would nod to the 1st official and get a replay. If the down ref shows you the entire hand/foot across the line, say, "Nice call" and go play. And don't even bother arguing about any other body part -- anything else (except hair) in the opponent's court is illegal. I needed to clarify the "hand" thing though since it is new.

Finally, back to outdoor doubles: IT STATES: Outdoor - Rule 16.3.1.1 If a player is discovered serving out of order, that player continues to serve with no loss of points. The opposing team will remain in their service order, but the offending team will reverse their original order of service to ensure that no player will serve three consecutive terms of service. IT MEANS: If you have been following Gertrude and somehow you mistakenly served after Matilda, just keep following Matilda. No penalty. That's it for this time. If you've noticed I don't even mention High School Rules -- I wouldn't compare a Mustang to a Gremlin either. If you have any rules that you would like clarified or pointed out to others, please write to "Cobra man" Steve Eberhard (vballguy@cobravolleyball.com) and he will forward them to me, or just mention it to me if you are at a tournament in Northern Cal (apparently my anonymity is no longer...)

Comments welcome. Thanks, Paul. Previous Rules

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