Rules for Newbies

Worse than being upset with the officiating is being upset AND not knowing the rules. It takes awhile. 

When I started watching in 2002, I didn’t know a lot of the rules. Here are a few to know:

1. A ball hitting the line is IN.

2. Once the official whistles the ball in play, the server has eight seconds to serve. 

3. A ball going outside the antenna and landing in the court is out of play. It happens but is still OUT.  

4. A player cannot touch or pass the service line with her foot when serving.

5. A ball hitting the ceiling/rafters is in play unless it goes over the net.

6. A blocker cannot contact the ball until it has broken the plane of the net or it's a foul of going over the net. 

7. Officials decide whether a ball is set cleanly depending on the spin out of the hands (double hit). 

8. An attack blocked that lands out of bounds is scored a point for the attacking team (wiping the block).

9. A ball striking the antenna is OUT of play.

10.A ball that strikes the net and rolls down the net untouched is scored depending on its landing point.

11.Defenders can play the ball with their feet and it can be advantageous to do so.

12. Officials can signal a “replay” or “do-over” if they cannot determine whether a ball landed inbounds.

Knowing these rules gives you a leg up on other newcomers.