Volleyball players hit the ball in five competitive scenarios: Serving, digging or passing, setting, attacking and blocking. Different hitting techniques are used in each situation, and volleyball rules govern this contact. Illegal hits may result in a stoppage of play and the opposing team gaining the point.
Serving
To serve the ball, the player in the right back position tosses the ball into the air and hits it with one hand or any part of that arm. Only one toss per serve is allowed. This hit must come from the serving zone. The server must not contact the playing area during the serve. On a jump serve, a player must take off in the serving zone. Players may step into or land in the playing area after hitting the serve. A serve must cross over the net within the antennas and land within the boundaries of the defensive court.
Digging or Passing
Playing the ball with any body part is allowed. Players may not catch or throw the ball. A team may hit the ball three times -- in addition to the initial block or defensive contact -- to get the ball over the net to the other court. Passers may not hit the ball twice in succession or allow the ball to hit two or more parts of their bodies in succession. Players may not use court equipment or a teammate for support while hitting the ball.
Setting
Setters set up the attackers, usually with the team's second touch on an offensive play. They typically use both hands to guide the ball to a certain area of the court at a certain height. They cannot catch or trap the ball before passing.
Attacking
An attack hit is any hit directed over the net, aside from serves and blocks. Front-row players may hit the ball while it is above the net, as long as they stay within their playing area. Back-row players can hit the ball while it is above the net, but they must do so from behind the front zone. They may land in the front zone after a hit, but they cannot take off from the front zone. Back-row players can hit balls below the net while in the front zone.
Attackers may guide the ball to a particular area of the court with a "tip," but controlling the ball with prolonged contact may be ruled a "push" and deemed a fault. Players may not attack the opposing serve while it is in the front zone and higher than the net.
Blocking
Blockers are allowed to reach over the top of the net to hit the ball if they don't interfere with the attacking player in the act of hitting. According to USA Volleyball rules, "at the first hit of the team, the ball may contact various parts of the body consecutively, provided that the contacts occur during one action." Blockers are allowed to hit the ball a second consecutive time to pass it.
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