Block...or not....

[refnrev]

Jan,
I'm not arguing so don't think I'm being a jackass here. I do some really good schools and it's a sincere question with which I am wrestling and want to "own" this rule next season to be the best official I can be. Three scenarios are running through my head:

1. Girl's hands are above the net in blocking position. Ball is below the tape on top of net. She reaches down and contacts the ball below the tape. Block or 1st hit or great possibilty of illegal hit?

2. Ball crosses net as front row player is near the net. Contact is made after the cross and ball is below the tape. Block... or first hit?

3.Quoting Felix: "However, a blocker is also defined as being "close to the net...'" She's close to the net but feet on floor with (A) arms extended over her head or (B) Arms not extended ... when contact is made. Ball is below the top of the net when contacted. Block... or 1st hit?

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by refnrev

Jan,
1. Girl's hands are above the net in blocking position. Ball is below the tape on top of net. She reaches down and contacts the ball below the tape. Block or 1st hit or great possibilty of illegal hit?

First, THERE IS NO ILLEGAL HIT UNLESS YOU *SEE* AN ILLEGAL HIT. Don't get suckered into an automatic call. That said...

It is not where the ball is contacted, it is solely whether any part of the blocker is above the net during the blocking action.

If no part of the blocker is above the net, it's not a block. If part of the blocker (hands or head) is above the net, there's a blocking action, and there's contact, it's a block. Even if the contact is made below the net.

2. Ball crosses net as front row player is near the net. Contact is made after the cross and ball is below the tape. Block... or first hit?

Again, where the ball is doesn't matter, it's whether the blocker is above the net. If the blocker's hands are above the net and the ball is hit into a shoulder below the net, we have a block. Period.[/quote]

3.Quoting Felix: "However, a blocker is also defined as being "close to the net...'" She's close to the net but feet on floor with (A) arms extended over her head or (B) Arms not extended ... when contact is made. Ball is below the top of the net when contacted. Block... or 1st hit?

a) depends on if she's reaching above the net. If so, block. If not, no block.
b) see a)

Ball position means NOTHING when determining a block in these cases.

[Back In The Saddle]

From a purely logical point of view...

The blocker can only control his/her position. The blocker cannot control where the hitter "puts" the ball. Therefore the rule quite logically concerns itself only with the blocker's position, and not the location of the ball.

[MCBear]

Thanks, Felix! Your responses are what I would have told refnrev also.

[REFANDUMP]

I learned something today from this forum. I have been miscalling this play.

Thanks