Players Cheering

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by FMadera

If you deem it an attempt to distract the server, yes. If not, no. Teams are not necessarily required to be silent while the server serves.

And, what's the penalty? What if it's not *meant* to distract the server, but, because of the timing, *does* distract the server?

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

And, what's the penalty? What if it's not *meant* to distract the server, but, because of the timing, *does* distract the server?

It's an unsporting conduct violation. And if you feel it caused the server to miss the serve, then regardless of intent, you can replay the point.

I would try to nip it in the bud before it gets to that point, though. Remember the server can be 40 feet or more from people making noise, if you're gonna go there, make it obvious.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by FMadera

It's an unsporting conduct violation. And if you feel it caused the server to miss the serve, then regardless of intent, you can replay the point.

I would try to nip it in the bud before it gets to that point, though. Remember the server can be 40 feet or more from people making noise, if you're gonna go there, make it obvious.

Thanks.

This happened during a 7th-8th grade parochial league match. I admonished the team the first time, they got better, but did it again later in the match. The serve was out, so I called a replay, with no other penalty. The parents (behind me) seemed to get it (based on the comments), the coach seemed confused, and the team stopped doing the cheer altogether.

I did get with them after the match to explain more on the timing issue -- once I compared it to a basketball FT ("you wouldn't yell right when an opponent was shooting a FT"), they seemed to get it.

[chapmaja]

We had this issue addressed by the state association a couple years ago regarding "Ball UP" calls. Team would call ball up very loud every time the server tossed the ball for her serve.

The state ruling was that it should not be loud enough to district the opposing server. If it was, its unsporting conduct on the floor captain (if all doing it), or on the player if only 1 is doing it. If it is not loud enough to distract the server its nothing.