Rule 4.8 Avoidable hinders

Interpretation

The legal position a player can assume when the opponent is hitting the ball from behind that player is at an angle to the left or right side of the ball being hit, as long as that position is assumed before the opponent begins his/her stroke. A player must move out of the way of the opponent even though it may mean moving to an undesirable court position. It is no excuse that the player claims he/she did not know where the opponent was. He/she must move. This is also the case when a player gives the opponent a back wall setup. It is the obligation of the defensive player to look over his/her shoulder and, if necessary, move out of the way. A player cannot line up directly in front of the opponent’s shot on a straight path to the front wall, parallel to the side walls. If a player assumes such a position and there is a collision, or if the player is struck by the ball, the hinder is avoidable.

Interpretation

This call is just the opposite of the “failure to move” avoidable hinder. When a player “creates” a hinder by his/her movement, it is also avoidable. Sometimes a player, in the effort to get into a better court position, will cause contact with an opponent who is about to hit the ball, or a player will move in so close to an opponent who is hitting the ball as to cause a possibility of body contact. In either case, an avoidable hinder should be called. It is also an avoidable hinder if one player, just as his/her partner is hitting the ball, moves directly in front of an opponent creating a hinder.

Interpretation

This avoidable hinder may occur almost anywhere on the court, but it usually happens in two particular areas:

1. A player is hitting a back-wall shot and, just as he/she hits the ball, the opponent moves into the path of the ball and is struck by it. This is avoidable. In this case, the referee must use judgment and not call an avoidable if he/she feels the ball was “mis-hit” and that the defensive player was moving into a non-hindering position in which he/she would not have been hit if the ball had been hit truly.

2. A player has an offensive setup and the opponent is trapped close to a side wall. In the effort to get into a more favorable position, the defensive player moves into the path of the ball and is hit. This is avoidable.

Interpretation

This avoidable hinder may occur when a player pushes a player, no matter how slightly, who is about to hit the ball, or when a player forcefully pushes a player in the attempt to get into position for his/her shot. An incidental push of a slight nature by an offensive player should not be called avoidable. See Rule 4.7.A.3.

Interpretation

Generally, this type of avoidable hinder occurs after a player has hit the ball and finds himself/herself out of position or pinned against a side wall. In the effort to move into a better court position, he/she crosses the eventual path of the ball just before the ball reaches the opponent, thereby obstructing the opponent’s view of the ball.

Interpretation

This avoidable hinder should be called against a player who attempts to move in very close to an opponent in an attempt to cause a distraction.

1) Talking During the Rally. Aside from appeals and rally ending calls, there is no need for talking during a rally except in doubles, when the team on the offense is allowed to briefly communicate which partner is to hit, or not to hit, the ball.

Interpretation

In doubles, allowable “brief communication” shall be construed to be any reasonable variation of “yours,” “mine,” or “leave it,” consisting of very few syllables.

Any other talking during the rally by any player frequently affects the play of the opponent(s). If the referee determines that such talking is a distraction, an avoidable hinder shall be assessed. In order to deter unnecessary conflict between opponents on this issue, referees should be liberal in assessing this avoidable hinder.

Sometimes an offensive player may make a call that is otherwise reserved for the referee, such as “short serve” “out,” or “hinder.” Play shall immediately be stopped and the referee shall consider this to be an appeal for concurrence. If the appeal is upheld, the player’s call shall stand. Otherwise, the player shall be assessed an avoidable distraction hinder and lose the rally.

Under no circumstances may a player say anything while an opponent is playing the ball.

Interpretation

A player hitting the ball is entitled to stroke the ball without being in danger of contacting an opponent during the stroke. The stroke includes the back-swing as well as the follow-through of the arm. If a player is contacted during any part of the stroke by the player hitting the ball, an avoidable hinder should be called, assuming the player who was hit could have avoided the interference with reasonable effort. This interference might not have affected the shot, but it doesn’t matter if the ball reaches the front wall or not. This avoidable hinder must be called for safety reasons. Playing too close can cause serious injury, and the referee should forfeit the offending player if this type of positioning continues.

Interpretation

Improperly worn equipment includes eye protection that requires some type of strap in order to stay on the head. Failure to wear such a strap could be considered improperly worn equipment. Gloves that are not snugly attached might also be improperly worn equipment. Equipment not required could be items such as a baseball cap or jewelry.