Back Row Blocker

[Brian Watson]

Originally posted by Andy
I agree with Brian.

If a back row player is within arms length of the net, puts her hands over her head with palms facing the net as the ball is coming over the net, I've got a back row blocker violation in FED play.

I would also like a definition of "soft block".

And just out of curiosity, since I do not do college or USA, why is this action legal in those rulesets?

In NCAA and USA a player is not blocking unless they contact the ball with at least some part of their body above the net. If you go up, then pull your hands down below the net, you're good.

With the soft block definition, I always sell that as a protective "defensive" move, and do count it as the first hit.