Volleyball Rules for a Double Hit

The rules governing volleyball have undergone changes. It was once a fault for a served ball to hit the net, even if it went over and into the opponent's court. Today, such a ball is in play. Another example of a recent change is the double-hit rule, which has been adapted to allow for a faster, more offense-oriented game.

  1. Definition

    • USA Volleyball, the governing body of the sport in the United States, defines a double hit, or double contact, as occurring when "a player hits the ball twice in succession or the ball contacts various parts of his/her body in succession."

    When It's Allowed

    • Under normal circumstances, the ball can touch more than one point on a player only if it happens at the same moment. However, when a defensive team first receives the ball, the ball can hit more than one point on a player consecutively as long as it occurs in one action. This exception, identified as rule 9.2.3.2, was instituted to allow play to continue when a defensive player is forced to receive a hard-driven serve or spike, which can often rebound off of one point on her body to another, almost instantaneously. Under other circumstances, this would be considered double contact.
      Two or three players can make contact with the ball at the same time without being called for a double hit. However, if two players make contact at the same time, it is considered two hits, and if three players make contact, it is counted as three hits and therefore the ball must be sent over the net during the contact or else it is a fault.
      Under normal circumstances, a setter can be called for double contact if he does not make contact with the ball with both hands at the same time. However, under extremely difficult conditions, such as attempting to hand set while off-balance, a double hit call is up to the discretion of the referee.

    When It's Disallowed

    • Except for those instances already stated, when a player hits the ball twice in succession, it is considered a double hit and a loss of point and serve, if the player's team is serving.
      When a defensive player attempts to block an attack by the offense, he lifts both hands up and over the net, with the goal of blocking the spike back into the offensive player's court. A block is not counted as a hit. However, if a player makes successive contact with the ball while blocking, it is considered double contact.