Referee & Setter Hand Signals

Volleyball uses hand signals so play is clear without words. Referees signal the reason for each whistle — which team serves, whether the ball was in or out, and what fault occurred — while setters signal their hitters before the serve to call which set to expect.

Who signals: Referees & setters
Referee shows: Serve, in/out, the fault
Setter shows: The planned set (number system)
When: Setter signals before the serve

Five common referee signals: direction of service (arm toward the serving team), ball in (arm pointing down), ball out (both forearms raised), double contact (two fingers) and four hits (four fingers).

Common referee signals

Direction of service: the referee extends an arm toward the team that will serve.
Ball "in": the arm and fingers point down toward the court.
Ball "out": both forearms are raised vertically, hands open, palms toward the body.
Ball touched: one hand, held vertically, is brushed with the palm of the other — the ball was touched by a player (for example off the block).
Four hits: four fingers are held up — the team contacted the ball more than three times.
Double contact: two fingers are held up — a player contacted the ball twice in succession.
Catch / lifted ball: the forearm is raised slowly, palm up — the ball was held or thrown rather than cleanly hit.
Net touch: the referee touches the top of the net on the side of the team at fault.
Reaching beyond the net: a hand is placed above the net, palm facing down.
Positional / rotational fault: the forefinger makes a circular motion — players were out of their correct order at the serve (an overlap).

After signalling the fault, the referee indicates the team that wins the point by extending an arm toward their side.

Setter hand signals

Before each serve, the setter tells the hitters which set to expect using hand signals held behind their back, so the other team can't see them. Most teams use a number system — different numbers stand for the tempo or location of each set (for example a fast ball in front of the setter, a higher ball to the outside, a back-row set, and so on). The exact numbers are a team convention, so there is no single universal code; a new player learns their own team's system.

Deep dive: why signals matter

Referee signals keep play clear

Because rallies are fast and often silent, the referee's signal is how everyone — players, the second referee, scorers and spectators — learns instantly what happened: which fault was called and who won the point. The signals are standardised in the rules so they mean the same thing everywhere.

Setter signals run the offense

The setter is the playmaker, and their pre-serve signals let each hitter prepare the right approach before the ball is even served. Combined with the serve-receive plan, this is how a team turns a good first pass into a fast, varied attack.

Learning the signals

Referee signals are worth knowing even as a player, so you understand every call. Setter signals are specific to your team — ask your setter or coach for the number system they use. If any term here is new, the glossary can help.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main volleyball referee signals?

Common referee signals include the direction of service, ball in (point down to the court), ball out (both forearms raised), ball touched, four hits (four fingers), double contact (two fingers), net touch, reaching beyond the net, and a circular finger motion for a positional fault.

How does a referee signal that the ball is out?

To signal a ball out, the referee raises both forearms vertically with the hands open and palms toward the body. A ball in is shown by pointing the arm and fingers down toward the court.

What is the signal for a double contact?

The referee holds up two fingers to signal a double contact, meaning one player contacted the ball twice in succession. Four fingers signals four hits by the team.

What do setter hand signals mean?

Before the serve, the setter uses hand signals behind their back to tell each hitter which set to expect, usually with a number system for the tempo or location of the set. The exact numbers vary by team, so there is no single universal code.

Why do setters signal behind their back?

Setters signal behind their back so the opposing team cannot see which set is being called, keeping the planned attack hidden until the ball is in play.