Ask (R)uffda! (not so dated)

Ask (R)uffda!

It’s a brand new season and we all know what that means. Time to reach into the old mailbag and answer a question or two, questions you may not even know you asked, let alone wanted answered.

Dear (R)uffda!,

I always look forward to finding out what the NCAA rule changes are for the upcoming season. I also like to sort paper clips and watch ice cubes melt. So what’s new for 2014?

Need a life, desperately

Dear Need a Life, Desperately,

I’m going to make an assumption here and guess that you’re more interested in major changes than you are in the usual reffing minutiae. Or do you want to know that it is no longer required that a libero’s shorts be identical to her teammates’? Or that the team mascot on the uniform sleeve is OK, as long as it does not exceed 3”x5” or 4”x4”?

Let’s see. Timeouts have been changed from 60 seconds to 75 seconds. Apparently, the coaches made it clear that they needed 15 more seconds if they were going to be including a joke. However, the coaches, by mutual consent, can shorten this to 60 seconds or extend it to 90 seconds -- for a specific match.

Other than that, the only one you might actually notice is that contact with the net outside the antennae is now legal, provided the player does not interfere with the other team or use the net for support while playing the ball.

(R)uffda!

Dear (R)uffda!

What? That’s it?! I waited nine months for THAT?

Need a life, desperately

Dear Need a Life, Desperately,

Wow. That was quick. It’s almost as if you wrote me back before I even answered you. Weird.

Yes, that is it. But, because you obviously seem disappointed, there are also some points of emphasis for the refs this year you might find intriguing. This, for instance, are their Ball Handling Directive Guidelines*:

Goals of the Ball Handling Directive

Consistency in ball handling judgment

ü  Only the contact point should be considered when judging legality. Just because a player is wearing mittens does not automatically mean she cannot set cleanly.

ü  Outside influences such as player technique, spin, coaches’ expectations or crowd reaction should not be considered when judging the legality of the contact. However, the guy in the premium seats with the gopher ears? He knows what’s what. Listen to him.

ü  There is no body/ball position or playing technique that automatically results in illegal contact. If the setter insists on setting with her feet? Well, call THAT. That’s just ridiculous. NO ONE can set that way. And, on second thought, call the mitten-setter, too.

An increase in continuation of play when judging second ball contacts that are directed to a teammate

ü  A player in good position must play the ball without discernible double contact. In short, even Lauren Carlini can double her set. Maybe.

ü  Less severe judgment is applied to a contact by a player who makes a challenging or spectacular play. Seriously. This sounds like a joke, but it isn’t. But try to keep the unicycles off the court.

ü  Mishandled balls resulting in a blatant fault should still be called, regardless of the challenging or spectacular nature of the play. In other words, good luck with all of this. We realize these guidelines are impossible to follow.

*These goals have been slightly edited. See http://www.ncaapublications.com/p-4321-2014-and-2015-volleyball-rules.aspx for the real thing.

(R)uffda!

Should be a great season. Be sure to write!

Another experiment

It almost appears as if a person could post a blog entry here if a person were so inclined. I had no idea this was once again, as it were, blogable. (Two "g"s in "blogable"? Spellchecker is not fond of either option.)

The 2014 season is off to a rip-snorting start. And if you have ever snorted rip, you'll know what that means. I sure as hell don't. The biggest news? Stanford sweeps Nebrasky in Lincoln. Something may have happened on TV, too. But that may just be a rumor. I can't find any discussion about it.

Minnesota has responded to Lauren Carlini mania by signing a kid from Switzerland named Laura Caluori. So far, no one else has seen the humor in this. Perhaps the humor is buried.

But, to tell you the truth, I haven't really been paying attention. I'm more interested in whether this entry will actually post or not.

Remember: It is better to have loved and lost than never to have eaten liver.