PLAYING THE BALL

NUMBER OF CONTACTS WITH THE BALL: Up to three (3) successive contacts with the ball are allowed each team in order to play the ball over the net and into an opponent’s court.  Contacting the wall does not count as a set or play.

CONTACTED BALL: Any player that makes contact with the ball shall be considered as having played the ball.

SUCCESSIVE CONTACT WITH THE BALL BY A PLAYER: A player shall not make successive contacts with the ball except when playing a hard driven spiked ball, provided there is no finger action used during the effort and the ball is not held or thrown.  Successive contact with the spiked ball shall count as one attempt to play the ball.  A hard driven spike can be played off the wall(s).

SIMULTANEOUS CONTACT WITH THE BALL BY BLOCKERS: A player who participates in a block and makes only one attempt to play the ball during the block, may make successive contact with the ball during such play even though it is not a hard driven spiked ball.  Players participating in a block may participate in the next play; this second contact shall count as the first of three (3) hits allowed a team.

SIMULTANEOUS BODY CONTACT WITH THE BALL: Any part of the body including or above the waist can hit the ball simultaneously so long as the ball rebounds quickly after such contact.

PLAYING TWO OR MORE WALLS: Contacting two (2) or more walls with the ball are allowed only by the team in possession of the ball on their own side provided a player on that team touches the ball first.  If the ball crosses the net after contacting two (2) or more walls without making contact with a player, a side-out of serve will be called.

CONSECUTIVE CONTACT: Each contact with the ball shall be made by a different member of the same team.  If consecutive hits are made by the same player, a fault will be called.

MISHANDLED OR HELD BALL: A ball coming to rest momentarily in the hands, arms or any other area above the player's waist, or against the wall(s), shall be considered as having been held.  The ball must be hit in such a manner that it rebounds cleanly after contact with a player. Scooping, lifting, pushing or carrying the ball with one or two hands or arms either underhand or overhand, shall be considered to be a form of holding and is a fault, and a side-out or loss of serve will be called.

SIMULTANEOUS HOLDING BY OPPONENTS: A double fault shall be called and the point replayed when the players from opposing teams simultaneously hold the ball.  If holding is not called, play shall continue.  Which ever side of the net the ball falls after simultaneous holding, that team shall be allowed up to three (3) contacts with the ball.

SIMULTANEOUS CONTACT BY TEAMMATES: If two (2) players on the same team hit the ball simultaneously, one contact with the ball will be called and either player may contact the ball on the next play.

TEAM OR PLAYER ASSISTANCE: Teammates shall not hold or assist one another while making a play.  It shall be legal for a player to hold a teammate not making a play on the ball in order to prevent a fault.

BLOCKING: Any player in 2 or 3 person team play may raise his hands above his shoulders close to the net and attempt to intercept the ball coming from an opponent's side by making contact with the ball before it crosses the net, as it crosses the net or immediately after it has crossed the net.  A block does not count as one of the three successive contacts allowed a team.  A block is good only if the ball is touched by the player attempting the block.  A blocked ball counts as having crossed over the net.  A team may attempt a block if:
a)  A player on the attacking team spikes the ball.
b)  The opponents have made three (3) contacts on the ball.
c)  The ball falls near the net but no player on the attacking team can reasonably make a play on the ball.

BLOCKING AND SPIKING THE SERVE:  It is Illegal for player to block  or spike a served ball.

CLIMBING THE WALL: No player shall climb the wall(s) to gain a height advantage while making a play on the ball.

MULTIPLE CONTACTS WITH THE BALL DURING A BLOCK: Multiple contact with the ball between players participating in a block is legal.  A player who participates in a block may contact the ball on the next play, since blocking is not considered one of the three (3) hits allowed a team.

DEFLECTION THE BALL OFF THE BACK WALL: If a player contacts the ball in such manner that the ball deflects off the back wall on his side of the court and goes over the net, the ball shall be considered good.

ATTACK SPIKING THE BALL: Any player may spike the ball in 2 or 3 person team play.  A player may not attack spike a ball on the opposite side of the net.  If the ball is hit above the spiker's side of the net and then the follow-through causes the spiker's hand and arm to cross the net without contacting an opponent, such action does not constitute a fault.

THE BALL SPINNING INTO THE OPPONENT’S COURT AND RETURNING: A ball that spins off the net into an opponent’s court and subsequently returns to the team originally in possession of the ball shall be good, provided it occurred on the first or second contact by the team.  If the ball spins off the net on the third hit allowed a team, a side-out will be called.  Any team member other than the last player to hit the ball can participate in the second or third hit after a ball  that is spinning, enters an opponent's court and returns.

DINKING: A player may dink the ball in any form except with an open hand with finger control of the ball.