Can The Volleyball Hit the Net On a Serve?

If you’re as old as me or older, you probably remember the days when it was called a let serve if you hit the net. You may find yourself questioning if that’s really a legal serve in today’s volleyball world.

In modern volleyball, it’s completely legal for the ball to hit the net during a serve or at any other time during play. As long as the ball crosses to the other team’s side and stays in bounds, it’s a fair serve.

When the ball hits the net, if it drops on the server’s side it’s a serving fault and loss of point. If it hits the net and crosses to the other side, it’s a live ball that’s in play.

Can You Hit the Net on a Serve in Beach Volleyball?

You certainly can legally hit the net in beach volleyball, the rule is the same as in indoor volleyball. If the ball hits the net and crosses to the opponent’s side, it’s a live ball.

**It’s SO hard to defend a net serve that makes it over in beach volleyball!**

Why Can The Serve Hit The Net in Volleyball?

When the scoring system was changed from side-out serving to rally point serving, it made sense for the rule to change about serves that hit the net. In rally point serving every single play is worth a point to one team or the other.

Although some felt like this rule was unfair when it was first changed, it has become very well-accepted. This actually rewards servers for being aggressive and increases the likelihood that a serve that barely makes it over the net will score an ace.

Would you like to learn more about the rally point scoring system?

Controversy Over Serves Hitting the Net

In some rare cases, you can see controversy when someone is able to reach above the net while standing on the floor (not jumping), and attempts to block the serve. Blocking the serve is illegal and the serving team should be awarded the point, but in some cases it may not be clear if the ball would have crossed the net successfully.

Controversial Net Serve Block – Was it legal? You decide!

What is it Called When the Ball Hits the Net on a Serve in Volleyball?

Just like in tennis, if the ball hits the net but falls on the opponent’s side, it used to be called a let. In tennis, a let is a serving fault and the server has 2 chances to put the ball in play. In today’s volleyball, it is no longer called a let because it’s a valid serve and a live ball.

In volleyball, prior to 2001, if you served a let you lost your serve, regardless of where the ball fell. Remember, back then your team only scored points when they served, so this would have been a loss of serve possession with no resulting point for either team.

The term let has the idea of getting a “do-over.” In tennis, you get 1 chance at a do-over, but then after that, you would lose the point. In old volleyball rules, you would lose possession of your serve.

The more accurate way to think about a let is that something has happened that does not count and must be replayed.

What Other Sports Have “Lets”?

Volleyball doesn’t really call it a let anymore, but it’s interesting to notice the other sports who still use that term:

Tennis is the most common sport where we hear the term “let” when a serve fails to cross the net.
Pickleball – very similar to tennis, a serving fault that means you must re-serve.
Table Tennis (ping pong) same as above.
Racquetball uses the term “let” when one player impedes another, the point must be replayed.
Squash – exactly the same use for “let” as racquetball.
Badminton uses it, but not only for serving faults:
- If a server serves before their opponent is ready
- If the shuttlecock gets caught in the net and suspended during play
- If the shuttlecock is destroyed during play (for instance the head separates from the shuttle)
- If a player on each team simultaneously commit a fault
- If the referee did not have line of sight and can’t tell if it was in or out

**“Lets” are most commonly found in racket sports.**

What is a Net Fault in Volleyball?

If it’s legal to hit the net with the serve, you may be asking yourself what a net fault is. This usually refers to just touching the net. In general, volleyball players are not allowed to touch the net.

Some very minor incidental contact may be allowed at the discretion of the referee, but it must be incidental, unintentional, and not affect the ball or the play.

Do you have other questions about the net rules in volleyball? Check out our easy-to-read explanations about 23 Net Violations in Volleyball.