Rule 10.1.2 Ball Crossing the Net (2023)
The ball that has crossed the net plane to the opponent’s free zone totally or partly through the external space, may be played back, within the team hits provided that:
10.1.2.1 the opponent’s court is not touched by the player.
10.1.2.2 the ball, when played back, crosses the net plane again totally or partly through the external space on the same side of the court. If not, the ball becomes out. The opponent team may not prevent such action.
Rule 10.1.2 Ball Crossing the Net (2024)
The ball, coming from the first hit of the team, that has crossed the net plane to the opponent’s free zone totally or partly through the external space, may be played back, within the team hits provided that:
10.1.2.1 the opponent’s court is not touched by the player (except Rule 11.2.2.1).
10.1.2.2 the ball, when played back, crosses the net plane again totally or partly through the external space on the same side of the court. If not, the ball becomes out. The opponent team may not prevent such action.
10.1.2.3 the ball, sent to the opponent’s free zone totally or partly through the external space, which has come from the second or third hit of the team, cannot be played back and will be judged as ball OUT the moment it crosses the net plane
Rule 12.5 Screening (2023)
Rule 12.5.1 (2023) The players of the serving team must not prevent their opponent, through individual or collective screening, from seeing the service hit and the flight path of the ball.
Rule 12.5.2 (2023) A player or group of players of the serving team make(s) a screen by waving arms, jumping, or moving sideways during the execution of the service, or by standing grouped, in order that both the service hit and the flight path of the ball are hidden until the ball reaches the vertical plane of the net. Should either be visible to the receiving team this is not a screen.
Rule 12.5.1 (2024) The players of the serving team must not prevent their opponent, through individual or collective screening, from seeing the service hit and the flight path of the ball.
Rule 12.5.2 (2024) Any player of the serving team is forbidden to raise hands above the head during service, until the ball has passed beyond the net. The 1 st referee is encouraged to educate (advise) a team through the game captain
Application and Interpretation
With respect to the change in language for Rule 12.5, it is imperative to also fully understand the language contained within the Referee Guidelines and use the two texts synonymously to properly interpret and apply the rule correctly.
The 1st referee should pay attention to screening during the execution of the service when a player or group of players of the serving team, (waving arms, jumping / moving sideways, or by standing grouped) prevent the opponent from seeing the service hit and flight path of the ball until the ball crosses the vertical plane of the net.
If the served ball can be seen clearly throughout its path, until it crosses the net to the opponent, it cannot be considered as a screen.
Service hit is the actual point of contact. Depending on the type of service methodology, the differential in height values will proportionately impact the probability and potential of a screen.
Referees must be more zealous in taking care of the teams’ intentions to create a screen and prevent from the beginning of the game that the teams abuse the screening rule with the excuse of ‘tactical strategy.’ Therefore, when a team is CLEARLY GROUPED with the intention of screening, or players are with hands above head height (they may, however, protect their heads for safety reasons but must not raise their hands above the head), the referee can indicate this to the serving team by:
1. Blowing his / her whistle to separate the players.
2. By verbally advising the team captain.
If the players do not adjust at the direction provided, the first referee MUST CALL THE SCREEN after the service. It is necessary that ALL referees apply these instructions from the beginning of the matches, to reverse this trend that affects fair play.
The technical metrics that determine the existence of a fault are only identified in 12.5.1 and have not changed:
• Prevent their opponent from seeing the service hit.
• Prevent their opponent from seeing the flight path of the ball.
If, in the judgment of the first referee, both criteria exist, the referee MUST CALL THE SCREEN.
