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Multiple Contact
I’ve read that a player can have multiple contacts without penalty if it’s the team’s first contact and it was just one attempt to play the ball. Rule 9.4.8
Can someone expound on what it means for a player to have only attempted to play the ball once but contacts the ball more than once? And does this apply every time the ball comes over the net or just on the serve?
Yes, and this can be confusing for new officials and fans. When the Rules Book speaks of “an attempt” to play the ball it is talking about a player trying to play the ball (hit the ball) in all scenarios except a block. A block does not constitute an “attempt” or “hit”.
When a player “attempts” to play a ball, it is speaking of a single action. For instance, a hard driven ball over the net hits a player’s shoulder, into her head and off to another player. Those are “multiple contacts” but a single “attempt” to play a ball. However, let’s suppose the ball hits her shoulder and bounces up in the air and then she strikes the ball with her hand to hit it to another player or in an attempt to send it back over the net. These are two separate actions or “attempts” and would be ruled a “double contact” with the ball.
Likewise, a ball is sent over the net and a player positions herself under the ball and attempts to set it back up with two hands. She doesn’t set it “cleanly” and commits a “double contact” with the ball. Since it is the “first contact” with the ball upon crossing the net it is considered a “legal” play. If it were the team’s second attempt to play the ball (a back row player bumps the ball to the front row and the setter receives the ball and commits a “double contact”) then it is a violation.
This is the protocol for every time the ball crosses the net, not just on the serve. If you call a “double-contact ” on a “first ball” over it is an automatic replay.
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