Rule Submission TitleBall that bounce back into the net
USAP Board VoteDisapproved
USAP Board Vote ReasonThere is no need to change the intent of the current rule. The committee disagrees with the submitter's premise. The horizontal bar or other net support can interfere with a return anytime the ball hits it, regardless of whether the ball has bounced yet.
Existing Rule #11.L.5.b
Proposed Rule Change

11.L.5.b. Except on the serve, a replay will occur if the ball goes over the net and:
- hits the center base prior to bouncing once on the court surface
- hits any part of the horizontal bar prior to bouncing once on the court surface
- the ball gets caught between the net and the horizontal bar
- hists a deflecting net
- hits a draping net on the ground
Except on the serve, if the ball goes over the net, bounces on the court, and then performs any of the above listed actions, a replay shall occur.

11.L.5.c. Except on the serve, a fault on the receiving player will occur if the ball goes over the net and:
- hits the center base after bouncing once on the court surface
- hits any part of the horizontal bar after bouncing once on the court surface

Original Rule Text

11.L.5.b. Except on the serve, a replay will occur if the ball goes over the net and:
- hits the center base
- hits any part of the horizontal bar
- the ball gets caught between the net and the horizontal bar
- hits a deflecting net
- hits a draping net on the ground
Except on the serve, if the ball goes over the net, bounces on the court, and then performs any of the above listed actions, a replay shall occur.

Reasoning Behind Suggested Change

Eliminate second paragraph of 11.L.5.b to remove redundancy.

A ball that goes over the net and hits the center base or horizontal bar prior to bouncing does not afford the receiving player / team a legal opportunity to make a legal play on the ball (doing so would be an NVZ fault.) Therefore, this scenario should result in a replay, and the rule is written to allow for that. However, a ball that bounces on the playing surface and then hits the horizontal crossbar or center base before bouncing a second time is not unplayable.

Add new section 11.L.5.c to clarify that a ball that hits the center base or horizontal support after bouncing once and without being returned by the receiving player is a fault on the receiving player.

The phrase "deflecting net" does not exist anywhere else in the rulebook and is not defined. If this is to stay within the rules, it should be properly defined elsewhere.

Eliminate unnecessary excuses for a replay.

Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies

A ball goes over the net, bounces once, then bounces back into the net, where it hits the center base or horizontal support prior to bouncing a second time or being returned by the receiving player / team. On a permanent net (no center base or horizontal crossbar,) a ball that bounces back into the net is nearly impossible to return, resulting in a fault on the receiving team nearly 100% of the time. The current rule provides the opportunity of a "free replay" for the receiving team in that scenario when playing on a portable net. This change would produce the same result (fault on the receiving team) regardless of whether the game is played on a permanent net or a portable net.

Rule Book Year2026
Rule Change ID2088
Date CreatedApril 8, 2025
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