Ball-handling faults
Volleyball faults for catching, carrying or double-contacting the ball rather than cleanly hitting it.
Overview
The ball must be struck cleanly, not caught, held or thrown. A carry or lift is called when the ball comes to rest against a player's hands, and a double contact is called when it touches a player twice in one action, except on the first team touch or a block.
These faults keep rallies fast and skilful by preventing players from controlling the ball for too long. A ball-handling fault ends the rally and awards the point to the opposition.
Key points
- The ball must be hit cleanly, not caught or thrown.
- Letting the ball rest in the hands is a carry or lift.
- Two touches in a single action is a double contact.
- Exceptions apply on the first team touch and on a block.
Where it’s used
Sports that use ball-handling faults:
Related rules
Out of bounds
The rule that a ball or player leaving the marked playing area is out of play and possession is decided at the boundary.
Volleyball rotation
The rule that players rotate one position clockwise each time their team wins back the serve.
Three-hit rule
The volleyball rule that a team may contact the ball at most three times before it must cross the net.
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Ball-handling faults in the wider knowledge graph — each one with the reason it exists.
Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- Out of boundsBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- Volleyball rotationBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- Three-hit ruleBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- Touching the netBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- Volleyball scoringBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Ball-handling faults to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Positions
Skills
- CatchingThe skill of cleanly securing a ball travelling through the air or off the ground.
- SettingThe volleyball skill of accurately placing the ball for a teammate to attack.
- DiggingThe volleyball skill of controlling a hard-driven ball low to keep it in play.
- SpikingThe volleyball skill of jumping and striking the ball forcefully down into the opponent’s court.
- JumpingThe skill of leaping powerfully and with timing to reach or contest the ball in the air.
Techniques
- Volleyball DigA defensive contact that keeps a hard-driven ball in play by passing it up off the forearms, usually from a low position.
- VolleyA shot played near the net by blocking the ball out of the air before it bounces, using a short, firm punch rather than a full swing.
- Free ThrowAn unguarded basketball shot taken from the free-throw line, relying on a calm, repeatable routine rather than power.
- Volleyball SetAn overhead pass using the fingertips of both hands to place the ball accurately for a teammate to attack.
- One-Handed BackhandA backhand groundstroke struck with a single hand on the grip, driving through the ball with a full extension of the hitting arm.
Movement patterns
- CatchReceiving a moving object and securing it under control, absorbing its momentum by yielding along its path so kinetic energy is dissipated rather than rebounded away.
- LandingThe controlled absorption of force at ground contact that ends an airborne phase, dissipating impact through eccentric triple flexion of the ankle, knee and hip.
- StrikeA ballistic, whole-body hitting action that channels ground-generated force through a proximal-to-distal kinetic chain to deliver momentum to a target via the hand, an implement or a body part at the moment of contact.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Rule
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-07-09
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