Rules of Engagement: Part the Third

It's time for installation #3 of our official mockery of the history of rule changes in volleyball. There have been zillions of changes, and we'd like to make fun of each one, as well as tie them in to American society at the time. These are actual rule changes that have been made to the game.

The Serve Toss - During the late '60s - early '70s, volleyball couldn't make up its mind about the serve toss. In 1968, servers had to toss the ball in the air before serving. But a scant two years later, the powers that be decided no, you don't have to toss the ball in the air. Then finally, in 1976, the ball had "be released" before it was served. Is there something we're missing here? Is there a deadly ball-in-hand serve that we don't know about? Or were people just bored and thought,

"You know that ball toss rule? Let's change that."

"Why?"

"I dunno. I've got nothin' else."

1974 - Antennae were added on the net, one ball's width outside the sidelines: This rule came about because volleyball wanted to capitalize on the CB radio craze of the '70s. Rule makers thought that by adding antennae they could attract the young hip crowd they so desperately sought. "Convoy" became a hit song two years later.

1994 - Prosthetic limbs may be worn if the referee determines the player will gain no artificial advantage: Mick Haley is the first to try and gain that artificial advantage, as he attaches two extra arms to his middle blockers. When officials claim the prosthetics are illegal, Haley stands with his hands out at his sides, looks around confused and plaintively cries "Whaaat?"

Rules of Engagement: Second Installation

It's time for installation #2 of our official mockery of the history of rule changes in volleyball. There have been zillions of changes, and we'd like to make fun of each one, as well as tie them in to American society at the time. These are actual rule changes that have been made to the game.

1953 - Players were allowed to use any part of the body to play the ball: Long overdue repealing of above-the-knee rule, now that America was safe and free to injure themselves in any way they saw fit. It was an exciting time: the Corvette was introduced, a woman broke the sound barrier, and Lucy gives birth to Ricky Jr. as 68% of all TVs tune in to watch. Capitalizing on that newfound excitement, rulemakers say "Hey! Everything goes!"

1957 - Balls could be played off obstacles: Gyms were very small in the '50s. The term "crackerbox" originated in this decade. The Boston Garden was originally the size of today's mediocre middle school arenas. Most of America's raw materials were being used to build thousands of neighborhoods that all looked the same.

1960 - Gloves could be worn during play: Glove baron Clyde Isotoner exerted considerable influence upon American society at the beginning of the '60s, successfully persuading volleyball's governing board to adopt this odd rule. Some say that it was Clyde's glove designs that would later inspire artist Andy Warhol to do his greatest work.

1968 - Balls must be played above the waist: Upset with the Great Glove Debacle, volleyball developed a new no-nonsense attitude, which many believed to be a reaction to "dirty hippies" who many felt were ruining the game, what with their free love, which in the sport led to something called "free contacts." In response, nothing below the waist was talked about, nor permitted on the volleyball court. Players were encouraged to keep theirs eyes above the net.

1976 - Double hits were prohibited on any type of dig: This rule change can be directly linked to Watergate and it's extensive fallout. People were immensely distrustful of authority, of "the Establishment." Volleyball's governing board saw that they were being equated with that Establishment, and agreed to relax the rules of volleyball in order to gain the trust of its constituency: gymrats.

1984 - Player could make multiple contacts of a team's first hit if there was only one attempt and there was no "finger action" on the ball: "Finger action." One of the vaguest concepts to ever be introduced to the game, left open to the interpretation of all levels of referee across America. It's this rule that turned Andy Banachowski's hair gray. But the rule comes into effect just in time for USA setter Dusty Dvorak to mangle the ball just enough for USA to take the gold.

Rules of Engagement: The first installation

Presenting our first official mockery of the history of rule changes in volleyball. There have been zillions of changes, and we'd like to make fun of each one, as well as tie them in to American society at the time. Let's begin.

1916 - Balls could not be touched two consecutive times by one player: [snicker] OK, one rule change in and we're already transported back to a 5th grade level of humor.

1937 - Multiple contacts were allowed in receiving a hard-driven spike: With Hitler's Germany on the rise, a cry went out across this great land to give Americans every possible chance to defend themselves against an attack, whether it be from a runaway fascist state or a formidable leftside attacker. After a successful dig, it was not uncommon to hear a player exclaim "Jawohl!", a patriotic move that symbolized standing up to the Nazis.

1942 - Balls could be played with any part of the body from the knees up: This rule was an obvious progression from the 1937 stipulation. America was at war, and every able-bodied man was needed to help with the war effort. In order to prevent disabling lower leg injuries from happening to valued future soldiers, foot digs were outlawed.

1952 - Blockers must indicate whether or not they touched the ball: With the War to End All Wars at an end, and Baby Boomers on the rise, America was reinvigorated with a spirit of kinsmanship heretofore unseen. Looking to take advantage of this newfound goodwill, players were asked to maintain honesty above all. This lasted until that Jimi Hendrix asked "Are You Experienced?" and destroyed the fabric of our society.

Rules of Engagement: And so it begins

The rules of volleyball have changed more than any other sport with the possible exception of lawn darts. As we've documented a couple weeks' worth of inane volleyball news, we felt it was our duty to look back and mark the major rule changes in volleyball, so that future generations may have a better understanding of where we've been, where we are, and where we're going...

...plus it was just another opportunity to make fun of something.

Look for "Rules of Engagement" posts over the next few weeks, or however long we can drag it out. Might only be a couple of days. Here's an example to whet your appetite:

1925 - Balls could not cross the net completely outside the sidelines: It's the year The Great Gatsby was published. It was the height of the Roaring Twenties. And although speakeasies were doing bang-up business, Americans were extremely fastidious when it came to their athletic endeavors. Tennis was played in long pants, football games ended once anyone got dirt on their sweater, and it was customary for baseball infielders to ask permission before tagging out a runner.