The NBC Olympics website's article on "Cracking the Code" turned out to be just "bum coverage" (pun intended) because they completely failed to explain what the hand signals of the players mean. Several titillating photos from Getty displaying nothing but the derrieres of bikini-clad female players were offered instead of explaining the code!
A case of utter distraction?
Here is a brief explanation NBC forgot. The players signal behind their backs to their partners to indicate intended moves without their opponents seeing the signals. Both hands are used - each refers to the type of defensive block to the corresponding sides of the court. Usually the signaler will carry out the block.
Some common hand signals include the closed fist which indicates no blocking. One finger means the blocker should spike the ball straight ahead of the hitter. Two fingers mean it should be an angled/diagonal block. Wiggling or "flashing" fingers on one hand indicates where the server is to direct the ball. Sometimes, one finger on one hand and two on the other hand simply indicates which half of the court the partner is supposed concentrate on.
Got that?
