Using Your Hands to Receive a Serve

From Coach Houser

An answer to the debate on serve-receive using your hands.

Long ago in volleyball history, using your hands to make first contact after the serve was voodoo bad. However, these days the rules have changed and using your hands is an effective and allowable way to return a serve. But, is using your hands the most effective way to receive the ball?

Here is the new rule paraphrased: "Multiple contacts are now legal on all first contacts, whether it is on serve receive, digging, passing frees, etc."

It is a change, but make a note that lifts are still just as illegal as they always have been.

Also note, there is no change in the rules for 2nd and 3rd contacts. So a 2nd contact double or lift will still be called by the referee! A 3rd hit slamma-jamma may still be called a lift!

So, what will the referees consider illegal? Most referees here in Virginia have adopted the following philosophy: If the 1st contact isn't an obvious, no-doubt, back hard throw, then there will be no whistle.

So encourage your girls to use their hands as often as possible.

I really like my players to use their hands when passing a free ball and I ESPECIALLY encourage my players to use their hands when passing a floater, where hands are much superior to arms.

Before you say, "Why teach arms at all?" consider this:
What would you expect your players to do with the spike that ripped at their shoes? And how will your girls pass the tough spinner serve? So even though hands on 1st contact is becoming more and more prevalent, probably 70% of all first contacts are still with a players’ forearms.

A question that’ll come to mind is, "Why was the rule even implemented?" The intent of the new rule was to allow more rallying, to make ball control a little easier to learn, thus making the game more exciting. And it SURE HAS!!! Allowing players to double-contact first hits has made the game more interesting, made rallies last longer, and made passing and digging easier to learn.

Volleyball Basic Rules

THE SERVE ( A ) Server must serve from behind the restraining line ( end line ) until after contact. ( B ) Ball may be served underhand or overhand. ( C ) Ball must be clearly visible to opponents before serve. ( D ) Served ball may graze the net and drop to the other side for point. ( E ) First game serve is determined by a volley, each subsequent game shall be served by the previous game loser. ( F ) Serve must be returned by a bump only. no setting or attacking a serve. SCORING Rally scoring will be used. There will be a point scored on every score of the ball. Offense will score on a defense miss or out of bounds hit. Defense will score on an offensive miss, out of bounds hit, or serve into the net. Game will be played to 25 pts. Must win by 2 points. ROTATION ( A ) Team will rotate each time they win the serve. ( B ) Players shall rotate in a clockwise manner. ( C ) There shall be 4-6 players on each side. PLAYING THE GAME ( VOLLEY ) ( A ) Maximum of three hits per side. ( B ) Player may not hit the ball twice in succession ( A block is not considered a hit ). ( C ) Ball may be played off the net during a volley and on serve. ( D ) A ball touching a boundary line is good. ( E ) A legal hit is contact with the ball by a player body above and including the waist which does not allow the ball to visibly come to a rest. ( F ) If two or more players contact the ball simultaneously, it is considered one play and the players involved may not participate in the next play. ( G ) A player must not block or attack a serve. ( H ) Switching positions will be allowed only between front line players. ( After the serve only ). BASIC VIOLATIONS ( A ) Stepping on or over the line on a serve. ( B ) Failure to serve the ball over the net successfully. ( C ) Hitting the ball illegally ( Carrying, Palming, Throwing, etc. ). ( D ) Touches of the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play. If the ball is driven into the net with such force that it causes the net to contact an opposing player, no foul will be called, and the ball shall continue to be in play. ( E ) Reaching over the net, except under these conditions: 1 - When executing a follow-through. 2 - When blocking a ball which is in the opponents court but is being returned ( the blocker must not contact the ball until after the opponent who is attempting to return the ball makes contact). Except to block the third play. ( F ) Reaches under the net ( if it interferes with the ball or opposing player ). ( G ) Failure to serve in the correct order. ( H ) Blocks or spikes from a position which is clearly not behind the 10-foot line while in a back row position. THE COURT PLAYING AREA Both indoor and outdoor courts are 18 m x 9mi (29'6" x 59'). Indoor courts also include an attack area designated by a line 3 m (9'10") back from the center line. Lines on the court are 5cm (2" wide). NET HEIGHT Net height for men, co-ed mixed 6, & outdoor is 2.43 meters or 7'11-5/8". Net height for women, 7'4-1/8". The height of the net shall be 8'. BALL The ball weighs between 9 and 10 ounces. Ball pressure is between 4.5 and 6.0 pounds Volleyball Lingo Translation "Ace" When the ball is served to the other team, and no one touches it. "Sideout" When the team that served the ball makes a mistake, causing the ball to go to the other team. "Roof" When a player jumps above the height of the net, and blocks the ball. "Stuff" When a player jumps about the height of the net, blocks the ball, and the ball goes back at the person who attacked(spiked) the ball. "Dig" When a player makes a save from a very difficult spike. "Kill" When a team spikes the ball and it either ends in a point or a sideout.