Re: Screening

[Todd <tdh@vbref.org>]

[original cancelled, editted follow-up]
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waterboy@my-dejanews.com writes:
> 
> Even if a player was screened unintentionally is it a play that is
> to be re- played?  

If a screen occurs, the penalty is a loss of rally (side out).  A
replay is not issued.

> Does the ref have to make that call or if a player calls it is that
> enough?  Last season the ref said the player had to verbally call it
> and this season a new ref says it is the refs call and it wasn't
> intentional so it didn't matter that the player was screened.
> 
> TIA

Your questions can't be answered without knowing if you are playing
indoors or outdoors.  As it turns out, this makes a huge difference
w.r.t. the screening rules.  In my usual style (and thanks to more
insomnia), however, a Swiss-Army-Knife of an answer is provided below.

Your new referee appears to be misinformed, at least under USA
Volleyball rules.  Intent is irrelevant to screening both indoors and
out.



OUTDOORS/BEACH
---------------
Outdoor rules are very strict w.r.t. screening, and give the receiving
team all the power they need to get a clear view of the server and
serve.  

Under USAV outdoor rules: "The server's teammates must not prevent the
opponents, through screening, from seeing the server or the path of
the ball.  On an opponent's request, a player must move sideways or
bend over or down."

The key here is "On an opponent's request."  If you as a receiver
don't ask the serving team to move, you forfeited your right to a
clear view.  In that way, your previous referee was correct in saying
"you have to ask."

If you get courtside to pro-beach twos, you'll often hear the
receiving players asking the serving team's blocker to move one way or
the other.  If the server is in a polite mood, he may even be
pro-active and tell his own partner to move to remove any screening
possibilities.

Since players have are so empowered to prevent screening in the
outdoor screening rules, the referee should never have to get
involved, and a screen should never occur.  However, if the serving
team ignored the receiver's request to move, and the referee judges
that screening did occur, the referee should blow his whistle to end
the rally, and award a sideout.



INDOORS
-------
It's a lot harder to screen indoors.  The receiving team has
relatively few rights.

There are a number of requirements that have to come together to cause
a screen to occur.  As a result, experienced referees very seldom make
such a call.  Preventive officiating works best here.

Here are a few things to keep in mind w.r.t. indoor screening.

First, intent is irrelevant.

Second, for a screen to occur, the ball has to be served over the
player(s) in question.  The referee won't blow the whistle for a
screening violation until after the ball is served.

Third, according to current USAV practices/teachings, the receiver
needs only to be able to see the __contact__ of the service, which is
often well above the server's head/body.  For a screen to occur, the
__service contact__ has to be obscured.

As a result, screening is seldom called.  If a problem occurs, the
receiving captain should approach the referee and notify her of the
potential for a screen.  An experienced referee will use preventive
officiating, alerting the serving team captain of the receiving team's
request to break up the potential screen.

Indoor Individual Screen---
With all that being said, an individual player on the serving team
won't be called for a screen unless they're being quite a poophead.
Poophead-like tendencies are more precisely defined as waving arms,
jumping or moving side to side as a receiver changes their position.
Even then, screening would only be called if the serve travels over
the player's (poop)head.

Indoor Collective Screen----
A collective screen is what you're most likely to see indoors,
especially in light of the expanded service zone along the entire
endline.  Any two players on the serving court who are standing
upright can potentially cause a collective screen.  There is no
requriement that these two players be physically close to each other.

For example, the middle back and middle front can easily combine to
obscure the server, and comprise a collective screen if the ball is
served from a low toss, for instance.

Other things referees consider in this case include the speed and
trajectory of the serve.  If the serve is a high, lofting underhand,
you're unlikely to get a screening call, regardless of player
position.


I'm sure this is more answer than you were looking for, but it should
answer your question.  :-)

Best Regards,
--
                  Todd H.   tdh@vbref.org
USAV Regional Referee, Great Lakes Region, Palatine, IL
Todd's Volleyball Referee Page http://www.io.com/~tdh/vball/
"So you're a Ref and an engineer? Oh that explains it...."