Rules question: Carries / Lifts

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I know that on first contact, doubles are allowed but not lifts.  I am curious how you would categorize these two behaviors on serve receive.  In case this makes a difference, I'm talking about indoor 6's using standard USAV fules.

1. A player tries to set the served ball, the ball goes through his hands and continues out the other side (e.g. this may happen if you try to set a hard driven serve and it just ends up slipping through your fingers).  I assume this is legal?

2. A player tries to bump a serve and it rolls off of his arm (say, starting at the wrist and then ending contact at his forearm).  Is this legal?  I assume not, but is the call a double hit or carry?

ANSWER: Hello again!

The game is still evolving with this rule change that occurred about 5 years ago.  Some referees call it really tight, but the majority almost never call a lift on a 1st contact.  

1.  I call it legal.  Now, if the ball doesn't go through, but it "thrown" forward, I may be tempted to call a lift, but most refs won't call anything unless it is blatant.  

I ref high school ball using the NFHS rule book.  Each year, we go to ref clinics, and most years the head person speaks of the (1) above and says, "Of course, that's a lift."  I sit there and say to myself, "Really?  How are you drawing that line that separates a lift and legal contact?  WOW!"  

2.  No, not a double.  You said earlier that a double cannot be called.  If the ball rolls up her arm, it's a lift.  But, if the ball boink, boink, boinks her wrist, bicep and head (each being an obviously "bounce" off a body part), then play continues.  To me, this call is more cut-and-dried.  If the ball rolls, it's a lift.  If the ball bounces, play on.  

Anything else I can do for you?  If these answers are useful to you, then wait until you see my staff direct a camp!  They girls love it!  

Have a great week!  
Coach Houser


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Great, thanks so much for the clarification.  One additional question then, and sorry it's so basic:
"But, if the ball boink, boink, boinks her wrist, bicep and head (each being an obviously "bounce" off a body part), then play continues."

My understanding was that you're allowed 2 contacts on the first ball over, but no more, but now I think I'm incorrect -- what you're saying from your reply is that the ball can bounce several times (i.e. more than 2 times) off of your body and it's legal (assuming it's from a single attempt on the pass).  That changes my interpretation of this rule, I just wanted to make sure that that's what you're actually saying.

Thanks again!  

Answer
Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying.  The boink, boink, boink is legal.  This doesn't happen very often, so that's probably why you thought what you thought.

The "double contact" 1st contact rule could be called the "multiple contact" rule.  It doesn't matter how many times the 1st contact is contacted, as long as no lift/carry/throw is involved.

I'm very sorry it took so long for me to answer this.  As a school teacher, club coach, and father of a college athlete, I had no time until just now.  

Coach Houser