Can you reach over the net in volleyball? This is a question that many people ask when they are playing and want to know if it’s allowed.
The answer is yes, but there are some rules about how and when you can do this. In this article, we will discuss the rules of reaching over the net in volleyball so that players can easily understand what they should do.
What Does Reaching Over The Net Mean In Volleyball?
Reaching over the net in volleyball is when a player touches any part of their body above and past the top outside edge of the net. This also includes reaching down to touch your kneecap while standing on another surface.
The ball must be completely over the net and not touching any part of your opponent’s court. The player can’t touch their side either, which means it is illegal to reach out with one hand/arm and drawback to hit a shot that would’ve gone into the other court otherwise. You also cannot “punch” the ball and send it over the net.
There is no penalty for an illegal reach, but if you touch your side of the court, your opponent gets a point. This means that reaching out to hit a shot isn’t always beneficial, even though it may look like extra momentum might help carry you into scoring range.
Can You Reach Over The Net In Volleyball?
The rules for this vary between different leagues, but the short answer is yes. Some say that once your feet touch the floor on the other side of the net, then it’s a violation, and you are out.
There is also an option to switch hands when hitting or blocking, but only before contact with another player occurs (before the ball is spiked). If you switch sides before contact with another player, make sure it’s a clean hit and not something that would lead to hitting an opponent or diving.
When Can You Legally Reach Over The Net In Volleyball?
When you can legally reach over the net in volleyball depends on two things. The first question is, how high are the nets? These should be no higher than seven feet at their highest point. If they are any higher or obstacles near them that might get in your way when trying to spike a ball, reaching over may not be allowed.
The second question is whether or not you are playing in a co-ed game, which means there are boys and girls on both teams. If this is the case, it may be illegal to reach over the net for any reason because of the increased risk of injury when trying to make contact with someone whose gender may differ from your own.
The rules will vary depending on the level of play and what exactly is going on. If you are playing in a tournament against experienced players, chances are they know all the rules.
Reaching over the net can be dangerous if done incorrectly because it could injure someone trying to block or spike a ball.
In some cases reaching over the net is illegal even if the nets are short enough. Players who break these rules will be given a violation, and the opposing team will be rewarded with one point. In some cases reaching over could result in an out, which means that player is removed from the game entirely.
Situations When You Can Legally Reach Over And Block In Volleyball
- If the ball is coming from your side when you are in the front zone.
- When a player on each team is about to hit at the same time, and both players reach over and contact with opposite hands, but only one ball contacts their respective court or touches any part of that player’s body while still in play. This is also known as simultaneous.
- If the ball is coming from your side when you are in the rear zone or halfway between the front and rear zones, but only if both teams have players beyond the halfway line with a possibility of being struck by an opponent’s play. The backline for this purpose will be considered to extend indefinitely backward from that line.
- If the opposing team’s play causes you to reach over, contact with any part of your body or uniform is legal.
To get better at volleyball, reach over the net more often during practice. Getting comfortable on both sides of the net leads to increased confidence during game time. If you’re a beginner, go slow and take your time! There’s no need to rush when learning this skill.
What Are Some Other Rules Of Volleyball?
There are plenty more rules for volleyball, but these are some of the most important ones for players to remember:
No running with the ball
The point of passing, setting, or hitting is that you can’t run with it. If somebody does, then they are not allowed to play until somebody from their side retrieves the ball and puts it back on the ground where they were beforehand. After this, there will be a re-serve.
No blocking the serve
Blocking is not allowed in volleyball, if somebody does, it’s considered a fault, and their side loses that point. Blocking will also result in your team losing two points for each attempt to block instead of one point for each time you let the ball go over the net without trying to stop it.
No illegal serves
Serves need to hit the net first before hitting the ground on your opponent’s side of the court. If they do not, then it’s considered a fault, and you lose one point. If somebody does this twice consecutively (in games with only two attempts per serve), then that team will also lose another point each time they do this.
No carrying or double hits in volleyball
You can’t carry the ball by hitting it with any part of your body. You cannot hit the ball twice even if you bounce it off your hand and another player on your team standing close to where the first bounce was made before passing it back over the net.
No kicking or slamming the ball in volleyball
If somebody kicks the ball, it’s considered a fault, and they lose one point. If somebody slams the ball, their side loses two points for each attempt to slam instead of one, like blocking attempts.
No lift on serves in volleyball
A ‘lift’ is when a player uses their hands to raise the ball up and over the net instead of making a regular serve. This is also considered a fault, and you lose one point for each attempt at this.
No double contact in volleyball
If somebody makes two contacts with the ball when trying to set it, pass or hit it, they are not allowed to play for the next two points, and it is considered a fault.
No pushing in volleyball
You cannot push another player either on your team or on the other team (though this rule tends to be more like an unwritten one). If somebody does, they lose that point automatically, and there will not be any re-serves afterward.
No intentional net touches in volleyball
If somebody intentionally jumps to hit the ball before it’s over the net, then that’s an automatic fault, and their side loses a point for each attempt at this move. If they do this twice consecutively (in games with only two attempts per serve), then that person will be ejected from play until the next re-serve.
No coaching during a volleyball match
You cannot coach players on your team or the opposing team at any point of a game, and it is considered an automatic fault if you do so, but this rule does not apply to substitutes who can receive instruction from their coaches while they sit out for part of the game.
No spiking in volleyball
You cannot spike the ball, which means that it must be set before being hit over the net rather than spiked like a football/soccer ball. This rule is usually more of an unwritten one, but if somebody does violate this, then they lose that point and will not have any reserves afterward.
Conclusion
In volleyball, you can reach over the net when it is legal to do so. When on defense, a player may only touch the ball that has been passed or hit across the net after crossing back from their opponent’s court.
On offense, this rule doesn’t apply, and players are allowed to cross into your side of play in order to make contact with the ball. We hope that this information about reaching over the net has been helpful to you.
