Some questions from tonight

[MCBear]

scrapper,

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Mechanics question:

Is there a preferred "posture" on the stand as R1? I generally rest my hands in front of me on the stand. But I saw pictures of an official I respect a lot, and he stands with his hands at his sides during the rally. Any thoughts on presentation?

Preferred is either as you do or as the official you respect does. Just be aware of the message that your body language conveys.

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Player moves toward the net to play the ball. She completes the attack hit well below the height of the net, but can't stop her momentum and continues to run and contacts the net. Is this a net fault? Or is it considered to be no longer playing the ball? For full disclosure, my partner at R2 did not call it, and I called the net fault from the R1 position. But I'm questioning it now.

Since you play by NCAA Rules, refer to 15.2.1:

15.2.1 Player Contact with Net or Antennas
Contact with the net by a player is not a fault, unless it is made during an action of playing the ball, or it interferes with the play. Playing the ball may include actions in which the player(s) does not actually touch the ball.

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

What has to happen for a screen to be called? Is it a screen if the serve just happens to go over the player(s) at the net? Do the players at the net have to have their arms raised or anything? Do they have to be standing right next to each other?

Not necessarily. If the serve goes over them low, fast and hard, they could be guilty of a screen. But if the serve is a "lollipop", it is unlikely that a screen actually occurred. As pavbref indicated, if the receiving team can move and see the contact of the serve or the trajectory of the serve, no screen has occurred.

If I see a potential screen situation, I call the captain over and give her a warning, "There is a potential screen. If the serve goes directly over it low and fast, I will call it, so you might want to have your players do something - move apart, duck down, put their arms down - to avoid a call."

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

...when the serve goes into the net and does not go over, when does the fault actually occur? IOW, should I blow the whistle when it's obvious that it's not going over, or do I wait until the ball hits the floor or another player?

Wait until the ball hits the floor or another player.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by MCBear

scrapper,

Preferred is either as you do or as the official you respect does. Just be aware of the message that your body language conveys.

Not trying to be a smart-@$$, but I'm not aware of what either posture conveys. I want to convey competent and relaxed. Not nervous or rigid, but not lazy either.

Since you play by NCAA Rules, refer to 15.2.1:

Right. I actually knew that rule. I guess, then, my real question is whether "not being able to stop your momentum" after playing the ball is the same as "while playing the ball". She clearly did not interfere with the play of her opponent after the ball crossed the net. So the question is whether her net contact occurred while she was playing the ball.

Thanks to both of you for the other answers. Any further help is appreciated.

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Right. I actually knew that rule. I guess, then, my real question is whether "not being able to stop your momentum" after playing the ball is the same as "while playing the ball". She clearly did not interfere with the play of her opponent after the ball crossed the net. So the question is whether her net contact occurred while she was playing the ball.

The NCAA interpretation is once an attacker/blocker returns to the floor in a situation like this, they are considered to no longer be playing the ball.

In this case, she has returned to the floor, then contacted the net after that. Therefore, unless you deem the contact to have interfered with play, no violation has occurred.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by FMadera

The NCAA interpretation is once an attacker/blocker returns to the floor in a situation like this, they are considered to no longer be playing the ball.

In this case, she has returned to the floor, then contacted the net after that. Therefore, unless you deem the contact to have interfered with play, no violation has occurred.

Crap