November - December 2003 Vol. 14, No. 6 | Contents
OFFICIATING What's the Call? by Otto Dietrich National Rules Commissioner	Bob Hirko from Groton, CT, asked: Is it illegal for the offensive player to fake a swing at the ball to catch the defensive player off guard and out of position? If this maneuver would create a situation where the ball passes the offensive player, but still could be played off the back wall, but instead strikes the defensive player, what is the ruling? Would the ruling be the same as if the offensive player, with the defensive player standing directly behind, actually swings and misses the ball and the ball strikes the defender? Some good questions, Bob, that I'm sure others may have as well! First, the only time that a player cannot take a "fake swing" at the ball is during the service motion. Thereafter, the person whose turn it is to hit the ball is entitled to swing at and miss the ball — either intentionally or accidentally — and then continue to try to hit the ball until the ball touches the floor a second time. He can also be "hindered" in making other attempts to hit the ball. But, of course, once the person trying to hit the ball touches it at all, they cannot touch (or hit) it again.  So, what is the effect of a missed ball hitting the other player? The player who is hit immediately loses the rally without exception! Thus, he must not let the ball touch him at all while it is still in play. And that is true even if the offensive player had no chance of getting to the ball or if the player who was hit by the ball was "screened"! Only the player on offense can be screened. Juan Sanchez, from Miami, Florida, also asked: When serving the ball, is an overhand serve, like in tennis, allowed? Well, as long as the ball is bounced on the floor one time before it is struck, an overhand serve (like tennis) is okay. However, this type of serve usually produces a set-up for an alert receiver. But sometimes the element of surprise can offset that factor and the serve might become a winner. Also, the average player can generally hit this type of serve a bit harder, thus providing another possible reason for using an overhand serve. Always "play by the rules" and, if you don't have a copy, you can find and review them online at usra.org (indexed in the sitemap, under “R”ulebook), or you can purchase a copy at www.usrastore.com. Do you have a rules/refereeing question? Be sure to email it to me at ottod@bellsouth.net and you might find it featured in a future issue.
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