Key differences between indoor and outdoor rules - Articles

Now that we have reached July 1, we're officially in outdoor mid-season. No more excuses for not knowing the outdoor rules. We consulted with international beach referee Tony Chan on the differences between indoor and outdoor play. Court size: indoor is 9 x 9 meters (29 feet, 6 inches for the metrically challenged), while outdoor is 8 x 8 meters (26’-3) Centerline: There is no centerline outdoors, so players may cross into an opponent's playing area, but may not interfere with an opponent's play. Blocking: Indoors, a block does not count as a touch, but a block is one of the allowable three contacts outdoors. Attack hits: Indoors, players may open hand tip, but outdoors, a player is not allowed to use an open-handed finger action unless the fingertips are rigid and together, as in a cobra. Open-handed tipping and dinking are not allowed outdoors. Indoors, a setter may set the ball into the opponent's court in any direction, but outdoors, any set over the net that is offensive in nature must be perpendicular to a setter's shoulders, either forwards or backwards. A ball that is intended as a set for a teammate that inadvertently drifts over the net is allowed. Double contact on first team hits: Indoors, players may double-hit any first team contact, including overhand finger action, as long as it is one attempt to play the ball. Outdoors, if overhand finger action is used on a first team contact, the contact must be judged "clean", unless the ball is a hard-driven attack hit....

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