Double Contact
The ball hits you twice in a row, or leaves your hands in two separate motions, on one play. On your team's first contact, a serve receive or a dig, a double hit is allowed if it is one try to play the ball. On the second or third contact, especially a set, the referee expects one clean touch. A ball that visibly rests in your hands is a carry, which is a different call.
Example
The setter's hands spin the ball on the second contact, and the referee calls two hits. The same messy contact on a first-touch dig would have been allowed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a double contact in volleyball?
The ball touches two parts of you in sequence, or comes off your hands as two separate hits. That is legal on the first contact of a rally for your team. It is a fault on the second or third contact.
Can you double contact on the first touch in volleyball?
Yes. FIVB and NCAA rules allow a double contact on the first team hit, as long as it is one action and the ball does not rest in your hands. A hard serve or a hard attack is judged more loosely than a set.