A Spin on the Game: The NCAA approved double contacts in volleyball this year which could affect how high school games are played 

The National Collegiate Athletic Association approved double contacts in women’s volleyball allowing players to contact the ball with any part of the body twice in succession on Feb. 20.

Before the original rule was withdrawn, if a player did not hit the ball with both hands consecutively, a double contact foul would be called, causing the play to stop and the opposing team to be given a point. This foul was most often called on setters — one of the main offensive players on the court —  as they are the only players to make a hit with both hands according to former East volleyball coach Alexander Henton.

The double-contact foul was made based on the referee’s judgment of how the play went. Eliminating double-contact fouls will make plays more continuous and smooth not interrupted by the foul, allowing for a more entertaining game, according to Henton. 

“As a coach, there’s a lot of instances where you see a great play being made by a defender, maybe they make a great save, or you have a long rally that is disrupted because somebody mishandled the ball,” Henton said. “I think overall, [the change] will be good”

While this rule change hasn’t yet made its way to Kansas high school volleyball games, if it proves successful in the college atmosphere, the Kansas State High School Activities Association could implement it, according to Henton.

“[KSHSAA] wants to try and bridge that gap as much as possible between high school and college,” Henton said. “They want as many kids getting to that college level so a lot of the rules that you see at the college level, will eventually get down to the high school level.”

East varsity volleyball setter Rebekah Slaughter, believes if this addition to the rulebook is added to high school games, it will work to her advantage. While she has been training to avoid these accidental double touches her whole volleyball career, this added flexibility will accommodate longer plays unaffected if a double contact is performed.

“As setters it is really frustrating when you miss-hit the ball and the play is just over,” Slaughter said. “Just giving us the leeway of an accidental double is nice.”