Playing the ball and counting touches

Three team hits, with a separate allowance for a block

Any contact by a player in play counts as a hit. A team may use up to 3 hits to return the ball, in addition to a block contact. Using another hit is a four-hits fault. Players normally play in their own area and space, with the specific external-space retrieval exception. They may nevertheless chase a ball beyond their own free zone, including over the full length of the scorer’s table.

If 2 or 3 teammates touch the ball simultaneously, that counts as 2 or 3 hits unless it is a block. If several reach for it but only one makes contact, only one hit counts. Their collision alone is not a fault. When opponents touch simultaneously above the net and the ball stays in play, the team receiving it has 3 fresh hits. If it goes out, the team on the opposite side from where it goes out is at fault. An extended simultaneous contact between opponents does not stop play, even if it finishes above the opponent’s court.

Body contact is allowed; carrying the ball is not

The ball may contact any part of the body and rebound in any direction. It must not be caught or thrown. Simultaneous contact with several body parts is allowed. Consecutive contacts by the same player normally constitute a double-contact fault, but the team’s first hit may touch several body parts consecutively during one action. A block also permits quick consecutive contacts during one action. The player who touches a block may play the next team hit. These exceptions do not permit catching or throwing the ball.

Support and assisted hits

Inside the playing area, a player cannot use a teammate, structure or object as support to hit the ball. That is an assisted-hit fault. A teammate may, however, hold back a player who is about to commit a fault, for example by touching the net or crossing the centre line illegally. Preventing such a fault is different from lifting or supporting someone to reach the ball.