A volleyball team may touch the ball three times before it must cross the net.

The longer version

A team is allowed three contacts before the ball must go over, and a block at the net does not count as one of them. The usual pattern is receive, set, attack, and the limit exists to stop a side from holding the ball and passing it around until the defence is out of position.

Two contacts by the same player in a row are forbidden, although the first contact after a hard attack is often judged more forgivingly than a clean set. Modern refereeing permits brief double contact on the first touch in some competitions, a change that rewards digging hard spikes. The three-touch limit is also why defensive systems are built around one designated setter.

Where this entry sits

Facts here look at the rules, equipment and odd histories behind familiar sports and games, from balls and rackets to cards, boards and playing fields. Expect small details about scoring quirks, stadium design and the long story of the Olympic Games. The full list sits on the Sports and Games page, where every entry is listed in order.