Reaching under the net

[Scrapper1]

Did a high school game tonight with FED rules. S1 serves the ball which is clearly falling short of the net. R1 reaches under the net and catches the ball while it's still on the serving team's side of the net and before it hits the floor.

Is this anything? I didn't call anything. But it just made me think.

[Robert Goodman]

Would you want to do anything that discourages the players from saving a little time?

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Did a high school game tonight with FED rules. S1 serves the ball which is clearly falling short of the net. R1 reaches under the net and catches the ball while it's still on the serving team's side of the net and before it hits the floor.

Is this anything? I didn't call anything. But it just made me think.

Missed serve. Tell them not to do that again.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by FMadera

Missed serve. Tell them not to do that again.

Why, is the ball infected?

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Why, is the ball infected?

Because they're inevitably going to touch the net before the serve is officially missed, and that would be a shame to have to call. So save them from themselves.

Telling people what possible consequences (not sanctions, btw) might occur from something goes a LONG way toward getting them to understand why they shouldn't engage in a particular action. I normally get thank yous for explaining what they're doing, why I'm asking them to stop, and how I *really* don't want to have to make that call.

[timasdf]

I saw this happen the other day (for the first time can I recall) after the third hit bump failed to clear the net.
The would-be receiving team reached completely under (without contacting the net) and grabbed the ball as it cleared the bottom of the net, before it hit the floor.

Yes, I know the play wasn't over, but didn't want to be that ref.