Thank You So Much for your kind words!

The Lord Provides! I could not do anything without HIM!!!

LONDON OG was another great experience (all 4 being very special, in different ways)!

Please send me your e-mail address, if you would like me to send you my entire daily blog (that for some reason, never got printed)!?!

Hope all is well with you!

Count Them All Blessings!!!

Patty

Ok… now that we’ve got the “square” rule figured out for doubles… let’s look at this rule, as played in Triples and Quads competition.

Background:
The rules are written first by the FIVB, for sand doubles. That’s the formal text that governs our sport.

In our USA version of the rule-book, we add some special modifications that we feel will help US domestic and developmental play. We try to stay very close to the FIVB rules… and we only write modifications where there’s an important reason. (see “Soapbox,” below)

“Quads” is a great example. Since 4′s is not played internationally, the FIVB hasn’t offered a specific rule-set for that game. So here in the US we’ve written some guidelines for quads play. (the same holds true for triples, sixes, coed, reverse, etc)

To save everyone a trip to the rule-book, here’s the text of what we’re discussing:

FORMAL language:
(It is an attack-hit fault when…)
17.2.5 A player completes an attack-hit using an overhand
pass, which has a trajectory not perpendicular to the
line of the shoulders, except when setting his or her
teammate;

GRAY BOX:
The following appears in a gray box, meaning it’s USAV-specific info.

USAV 17.2.5: For Doubles and Triples Competition only:
(It is an attack-hit fault when a player…)
intentionally completes an attack-hit using an overhand
set that gives the ball a trajectory not perpendicular to
the line of the player’s shoulders except when setting
his or her teammate;

Now… to answer your question

Note that the gray-box rule specified doubles and triples only. That means that doubles and triples (but not 4′s) must play by the “hands over must be square” restriction.

In quads (and sixes), there is NOT a restriction that requires “hands over” to be played “square.”

I guess the idea is that with four or more players per side, there’s plenty of opportunity for the defending team to block the dump, or to gobble up that free ball and turn a strong transition!

Having said all that… I encourage your league director to offer a brief “ruling” that makes clear to everyone that your league does (or does not) play by this USA rule. That helps everyone get on the same page, and short-cuts all those on-court arguments.

If for some reason, your league opts out of this (or any other) USA rule, then I encourage you to all “formally” recognize that you’re playing under a LOCAL GROUND RULE. That way, when your teams travel to compete in other parts of the country, they’ll know to expect a different style of play.

I hope this helps!

Keith

MY SOAP BOX

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all just get along? If the rules were the same for you, whether you play at home.. across town… or anywhere?

That’s the idea behind having ONE rule set, nation-wide.

It’s why we keep the USA rules so close to the FIVB rules… and why we hope that local events play under the USAV rules.

Players and league directors should all work hard to distinguish between the “real” rules, and any local ground-rules that might be in use.

Local ground rules should only be used when really necessary. (safety concerns, space or time restraints… that type of thing)

Players should be carefully advised that a LOCAL ruling is in play… and players should recognize that they will have to “change up” when they travel…

Enjoy the game!

First of all, great topic and a very detailed response!

Second, can you explain the differences in this rule – 17.2.5 that you explain above- between doubles/triples and quads? I am in a quads league locally and this has come up multiple times this season.

Jake

1) We see blocks of blocks all the time, if you think about it. The back row blocker that was jousting with a blocker at the net is a prime example.

2) The blocker’s hands do not have to be reaching above the net. ANY body part can be above the net. In the men’s game, it’s not uncommon at all to see a head above the net. Even with hands pulled down, you can still have a block in this scenario.

3) “Reaching” doesn’t have to mean “sticking arms up and trying to touch as high as possible. You can reach the summit of a mountain top without sticking your arms up.