Quote:
Originally posted by DaveASA/FED
I have a question. The other night team A made a bad hit and a girl went after it near the bleachers behind me (I am up official) I follow the ball and see the girl hit the ball prior to it reaching dead ball territory. Following the hit I follow the ball back to the court. The player that hit the ball for hit #2 after hitting the ball continued on into the bleachers. Coach from team B wanted me to call it out as the player continued into the bleachers after hitting the ball. I thought that as long as you hit the ball prior to entering dead ball territory that you were ok. Is this true or did I blow this one? Also I did not see the girl hit the bleachers but I did hear what sounded like her continuing into them.
|
Assuming the bleachers are in the nonplayable area [i.e, more than 6 feet from the sidelines], the ball is dead and a fault is committed whenever the ball OR a player "breaks the plane of a nonplayble area" - Rule 9-3-3.j
So assuming the bleachers were nonplayable and she did either enter the bleachers, touch the bleachers, or break the plane of the bleachers, it should have been a fault and point for the other team - regardless of where she contacted the ball.
OTOH, if you didn't see it and no one on your officiating team saw it, that's the breaks of the game ["Sorry, coach!"]
- you can't call what you don't see. This is the sort of situation where you can get help from your down official however - a situation "clearly out of the referee's view" where the umpire's assistance in getting the call right is permitted.
I'd have at least consulted my umpire and ask if s/he saw the player going into the bleachers. But iffen neither of you saw it, it didn't happen!