GTCCVO High School Officials: This is being posted to hopefully CLEAR-UP any misinterpretation regarding an ILLEGAL serve versus a service FAULT.
Per Rule 8, Section 2, Article 5: A serve is ILLEGAL and the ball REMAINS DEAD [these are the operative words] if the server:
six (6) things can happen which defines an ILLEGAL serve from hitting the ball illegally (using two hands for example, etc.) to releasing the ball for service, then catching it or letting it hit the floor more than once during ONE TERM of service.
PLEASE GO TO YOUR RULE BOOK, pages 32 and 33, TO REVIEW THESE 6 THINGS
When any of those 6 things happen, loss of rally/point is awarded to the RECEIVNG TEAM (irrespective if the RECEIVING TEAM is out of position).
Per Rule 8, Section 2, Article 6: A (legally) served ball is a SERVICE FAULT and BECOMES DEAD (operative words) when the ball:
four (4) things can happen, all which mention the flight of the served ball or the toss of the service ball hitting a backboard or support hanging in a verticle position over the serving area.
For the RECEIVING TEAM being out of position when there is a SERVICE FAULT, a point is awarded to the SERVING TEAM
Article 7 is pretty clear:……….When a Receiving Team player is out of position on the service and:
a. The ball is served ILLEGALLY [ see Article 5] , the serving team is penalized
b. A SERVICE FAULT [ see Article 6 ] occurs, the receiving team is penalized
If you remember that the serving team has to serve legally before it can get a point, you’re ahead of the game!