Four-wall · Part 4 Play Regulations.
Rule 4.7 Dead-ball Hinders
Dead-ball hinders should be called when interference affects the play. (See Rule 4.6.F.3).
1) Court hinders. If, after the ball has been legally served, in the referee’s opinion, an erratic bounce is caused by a court obstruction or irregularity, a court hinder should be called. Players 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, or a ball that skids due to it being wet by any other means. This is the referee’s call, not the player’s.
Interpretation
Balls that skid on wet walls or floors are court hinders, assuming that the player was in position to make a return had the ball bounced truly. However, a house rule may prevail for courts that tend to be very humid, frequently causing the ball to skid on the walls. In such circumstances, hinders should not be called for balls skidding on walls. The referee must inform the players before such a house rule will apply. Balls that skid on a wet floor will always be called hinders, regardless of the condition of the court, again assuming that the player was in position to make a return had the ball bounced truly.
2) Ball hits opponent. When a returned ball touches an opponent on the fly before hitting the front wall, and the shot obviously would not have reached the front wall on the fly, the player who is hit by the shot will be awarded the rally. If the ball had any chance of reaching the wall, or if there is any doubt in the official’s mind as to whether the ball would have reached the front wall, 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/her back-swing, physical contact is not an automatic hinder. Any other time an offensive player may immediately stop play and call contact, however, this is not an automatic hinder and the player stops play at his/her own risk. It is the judgment of the referee as to whether the contact impeded the play.
4) Screen ball. Any ball rebounding from the front wall so close to the body of a defensive player that it interferes with or prevents the offensive player from having a clear view of the ball. The referee should be careful not to make the screen call so quickly that it takes away an offensive advantage.
5) Straddle ball. When a ball passes between the legs of a player on the side that just returned the ball, if there is no fair chance for the opposing player to see or return the ball. This is not automatic.
6) Back-swing hinder. A player may not stop play, except on physical contact during his/her back-swing. He/she may immediately say “Contact” if he/she wants a contact hinder. If he/she elects to hit the ball, no contact call will be permitted. The defensive player may not stop play if contact occurs during his/her opponent’s back-swing.
7) Safety holdup. Any player about to execute a return who believes he/she will strike his/her opponent with his/her hand, arm, or the ball 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/she 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.
Interpretation
This situation comes about when the offensive player finds himself/herself unable to execute a swing without immediately hitting the opponent with his/her hand, arm or the ball. This rule is designed to increase the safety of all players and is not meant to create additional opportunities for players to stop play. Players who call for a safety hold-up and stop play may find the referee in disagreement, in which case the referee’s call prevails.
8) Other interference. Any other unavoidable interference that prevents a player from having a fair chance to see or return the ball.
While attempting to return the ball, the offensive player is entitled to fair access to see and return the ball. It is the duty of the defensive side that has just served or returned the ball to yield position so the offensive side will not be required to go around an opponent. In the judgment of the referee, however, the offensive player must make a reasonable effort to move toward the ball and have a reasonable chance to return the ball before a hinder is called. The referee should be liberal in calling hinders to discourage playing the ball in such a way that an opponent cannot see it or swing at it until it is too late. When a player attempts a killshot in front of himself/herself and his/her position interferes with his/her opponent’s attempt to retrieve the ball, the referee should give the benefit of any doubt as to whether the ball was retrievable to the defensive player. It is not a hinder when a player hinders his/her partner.
Interpretation
If the ball is judged to be un-retrievable, a hinder should not be called no matter what kind of interference takes place. However, if the referee is in doubt, the benefit of that doubt should go to the player attempting to retrieve the ball and the hinder should be called.
Both players on a side are entitled to a fair and unobstructed chance at the ball. Either one could have been entitled to a hinder even though it naturally would be his/her partner’s ball and even though the 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/her 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 sideout. The only hinders a player may call are specified in Rules 4.7 A. 6., and 4.7. A.7., 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.