Rule 4.7 Dead-ball Hinders

Dead-ball hinders should be called when interference affects the play.

1) Court hinders. If, in the referee's opinion, an erratic bounce is caused by a court obstruction, a court hinder should be called. The player should not stop play at any time in anticipation of a call. Included in court hinders is the ball that hits a wet spot on the floor, causing it to skid. This is the referee's call, not the player's (See Interpretation No. 10).

2) Ball hits opponent. When a returned ball touches an opponent on the fly before hitting the wall, and the shot obviously would not have been fair, the player who is hit by the shot will be awarded the rally. If there is any doubt in the official's mind, a dead-ball hinder will be called.

3) Body contact. If body contact occurs and the referee believes it was sufficient to stop the rally, either to prevent injury or because the contact distracted or prevented a player from being able to make a reasonable return, a hinder will be called. Except for the offensive player stopping play during his backswing, physical contact is not an automatic hinder. It is the judgment of the referee as to whether or not the contact impeded the play.

4) Moving on service. If the server or his partner moves out of the way of a legally served ball (See Rule 4.3A1).

5) Backswing hinder. A player may not stop play, except on physical contact during his backswing. He may immediately call "Contact" if he wants a contact hinder. If he elects to hit the ball, no contact call will be permitted. The defensive player may not stop play if contact occurs during his opponent's backswing.

6) Safety holdup. Any player about to execute a return who believes he will strike his opponent with his hand or arm, may immediately stop play and request a dead-ball hinder. This call must be made immediately and is subject to approval by the referee. The referee must grant the hinder if he believes the holdup was reasonable and the player otherwise might have been able to return the shot. The referee might also call an avoidable hinder if warranted (See Rule 4.8G). This does not affect the rules on legal hinders (See Rule 4.7B1).

7) Other interference. Any other unintentional interference that prevents a player from having a fair chance to see or return the ball.

1) Standing still. If a player attempting to play a ball is interfered with by an opponent, who, after his side has played the ball, was perfectly still in front of or aside the player, it is NOT a hinder. This "legal" hinder is the essence of the one-wall game. However, if a player of the side that has just hit the ball stands perfectly still, but his opponent moves back into him in trying to play the ball, not necessarily making contact, and is thus kept from having a fair chance to play the ball, it is a hinder. It is the duty of the player farther from the wall to get out of the way (See Interpretation No. 11).

2) Being moved into the ball. If a player on the side that has just hit the ball is moved or pushed unintentionally into the ball, or prevented from getting out of the way of a ball, by an opponent trying to play the ball, it is a dead ball hinder.

Both players on a side are entitled to a fair chance at the ball. Either one could be entitled to a hinder even though it naturally would be his partner's ball and even though his partner may have attempted to play the ball and has already missed (not touched) it.

A hinder call stops the play and usually voids any situation that follows, such as the ball hitting a player who stopped playing because of the call. However, if, in the opinion of the referee, his call was not responsible for the player being hit by the ball, the referee may overrule the hinder call and declare either a point or handout. The only hinders a player may call are specified in Rules 4.7A6, and 4.7A7, and are subject to approval by the referee. Whenever a dead-ball hinder is called, the rally is replayed and any previous fault on the server is voided.