Situations
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.