Beach Hand Set
Rules for Setting

Beach hand set rules are different than indoor hand setting rules. Here are some common questions about hand setting on the beach.

Is it Possible to Legally Beach Hand Set the Serve?

However, the answer is YES! The rules for hand setting the serve on the beach are different than indoor. On the beach, when you play the first ball using “finger action” to direct the ball, you must not double contact the ball. For indoor volleyball, you could legally double contact in this situation. On the beach, the hand setting should be called evenly on the first, second, and third team contact. 

What is a Lift?

How long can you hold on to the ball before it’s considered a carry or a lift? 

In USAV, there isn’t a rule for lifting the ball. However, there is a rule for a “caught” or “thrown” ball. Catching or throwing the ball is obviously a judgement call. If you have a referee, then the referee’s job is to decide how they are going to judge what is a “caught” or “thrown” ball. 

If you don’t have a referee, then players need to make their own judgement. What’s important is being consistent. To avoid controversy, decide early on how “tight” you’re going to call it. If you anticipate this being a problem, it’s a good idea to talk to everyone before the match about how “tight” ball handling should be called. 

What is a Double?

When setting, a double contact is when one hand/finger contacts ball followed by another hand/finger. If the ball spins after you set the ball, this may a clue there was a double contact. However, spin isn’t necessarily a fault. If the ball doesn’t spin, it’s more likely there wasn’t a double contact. So, when you beach hand set, you want there to be as less spin (ball rotation) as possible. The less ball rotation, the less likely the referee will call a violation. 

When Can You Hand Set the Ball Over the Net?

When you set over the net, you need to be facing where you are setting the ball. So basically, the shoulders need to be square to where you are setting. Side-setting over the net is illegal. 

If you are setting your partner, it’s legal for the set ball to go over the net. 

What About Finger Action on Digs?

The rules are different for digging are hard-driven ball. If the ball is judged to be hard-driven, then there can be multiple contacts by the fingers. Also, in defensive action of a hard driven ball, the ball contact can be extended momentarily even if an overhand finger action is used. This means the ball could be slightly held when taking it with the hands on a hard-driven hit. This is obviously a judgement call. 

When determining whether or not a ball is hard-driven, here are some things to consider.

Was the ball hit so hard the defensive player had to react quickly? If the ball was an off-speed hit and the player had time to decide on how to play the ball, then this likely wasn’t a hard driven ball. What was the trajectory of the ball? Did the ball go up and then down over the net? Was the play on the ball reactive in nature?

If you enjoyed these tips and would like to keep it close to you at any time, just save this pin to your Pinterest Volleyball Training Board.