One-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. (See Rule 3.4 A.4 and 4.3 A.1)
Interpretation
Balls that skid on wet floors are court hinders, 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 wall, and the shot obviously would not have been fair, the player who was hit by the shot will be awarded the rally . If there is any doubt in the official’s mind, a dead ball hinder shall 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.) Moving on service. If the server or his/her partner moves out of the way of a legally served ball. (See Rule 4.3.B.1)
5.) Back-swing hinder. A player may not stop play, except on physical contact during his/her backswing. 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.
6.) Safety holdup. Any player about to execute a return who believes he/she will strike his/her opponent with his/her hand, arm, or 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. (See Rule 4.9 G) This does not affect the rules on legal hinders. (See Rule 4.7.B.1)
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.
7.) Other interference. Any other unavoidable 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. 12)
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.
Interpretation
The referee must remember that 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 out. The only hinders a player may call are specified in Rules 4.7 A. 5., and 4.7 A.6., 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.