Screening in volleyball

Before the serve is executed the teamplayers at the net can raise their arms and move in between the server and the receiver to take position at the net. They cannot move to get in the way when the server starts serving.

It's a fine line, I think it depends on the referee.

In earlier times players used to put the hands up in a rather static manner near the net while their team is servicing. this shades the server from opposition. But according to the changed rule you cant keep a fully stretched stationary arms above your head while you are in the 3m box and your team is serving. But still a semi stretched or moving arm is allowed. it might be the referees' will, but most of them agree to it this way.

It is a really fine line. I would say that if all of the front row players are standing close together that can potentially be really close to screening. Many of these professional guys are already really big and if they were standing by themselves they would already be screening a bit.

Generally they are not intentionally screening. I think the front row players raise their arms as a way to prepare for blocking. At least that's what our coach use to train us to do. It may be more of a psychological thing for us and an intimidation thing for the opponents.

The front row players can half-stretch their arms during the serve, without moving them. They can move and shift their position only after the ball has crossed the net into the opponent court. Since the players are quite tall, stretching the arms above the net's height is considered a screening foul.

In practice, the trajectory of the ball is taken in consideration as well, i.e. both the ball and the serving player must be blocked before action is taken. And considering that the ball trajectory starts quite high wit a jump serve, most referees will not interpret this as the ball being blocked from sight.

So only when...

• the service is not a jump service
• the ball goes straight over the screening (front) players
• the front players seem to deliberately construct a screen (e.g. are moving along with the receivers)

...will most referees consider a screening, but as this is all very hard to see/judge from his position, most will also wait for complaints from the receiving team, and most likely solve it with a verbal warning to the screening team instead of a penalty.

The Guidelines for International referees don't mention all these points, but might give some clarification:

12.7: The 1st referee should pay attention to screening during the execution of the service when a player or group of players of the serving team, waving arms, jumping or moving sideways or by standing grouped, prevent their opponent from seeing the server and flight path of the ball (i.e. both criteria need to be satisfied for player actions/positions to be judged as a screen).So if the served ball can be seen clearly throughout its path, until it crosses the net to the opponent, it cannot be considered as a screen.

Players on the serving team can take any legal position on the court they want, but they cannot jump around, wave their arms, or move laterally during the execution of the service.

If a player on the receiving team can't see the server, it's his/her responsibility to move.

A screening call would only be whistled a fault if the trajectory of the ball's flight passes from the server, over the player/players and to the other side. So, if you have 2-3 guys bunched at the net near position III, but the service goes straight down the sideline, a screening fault would not be whistled, because the ball didn't travel over the people at the net.

In practice, since neither the 1st or 2nd ref have a good enough angle to see the trajectory of the ball - especially at the higher levels of competition - screening is rarely whistled.

It's a rule without teeth.

As a ref of 40yrs. I have never given a card for screening. As mentioned a verbal acknowledgment of the possible infraction usually take care of any concerns. The receiving team needs to bring this concern to the R1. The defense is allowed to take their position on the court as stated in the rules. The receiving team needs to find a spot on the floor to see the server and the flight if the ball. If the serving team lines up in such a way to impede this a screening call could be concised. In reality, since the receiving front line can basically set up to take up the visual space of one person. I my view when player line up shoulder in the middle of the court. Back row player standing middle back, and server, serving from the middle of the court. This is a blatant attempt at creating an visual interference, and is a taught my a coach that is unethical or ignorant

I was just watching film where the screening action occurs. Most players who switch line up in the middle near the net ready to switch. This typically is not considered screening even if the server is serving from the middle of the service line because even if the server serves from behind right back position the front row girls are still lined up in the middle.

When watching film, I noticed the 3 front row players would move from side to side depending on where the server would line up. In one rotation, all three girls were beside each other on the far front left when a girl was serving from behind left back position AND the girls didn't switch either.

This is a true definition of setting a screen.