In volleyball, leg touches **are allowed** and count towards a team's total hits on the ball during a rally. Based on the provided reference, teams can utilize their legs for contact with the ball.
The exact answer to how many leg touches are allowed aligns with the general rule for a team's contacts:
* According to the reference, "Leg touches are allowed in the game, but only **up to three leg touches**."
This statement should be understood within the fundamental rule of volleyball that a team is allowed a maximum of three touches (excluding a block) to return the ball over the net. A touch made with the leg is simply one of these allowed contacts. Therefore, you can use a leg for any of the three touches your team makes.
## Understanding Touches in Volleyball
Volleyball rules permit players to touch the ball with **any part of the body**, including legs, feet, hands, arms, head, etc. Each time a player on a team contacts the ball, it counts as one touch for that team.
**Key Rules on Touches:**
* A team gets **up to three touches** to return the ball over the net.
* A block **does not** count as one of the three touches. If a player blocks the ball, they are allowed to make the next touch immediately.
* Consecutive touches by the same player are **not allowed** (except after a block).
* Simultaneous touches by two or more players on the same team count as **one touch**.
## How Leg Touches Fit In
Since a leg touch is a valid contact, it consumes one of the team's allowed three touches.
* **Example 1:** Player 1 uses their hands (1st touch), Player 2 uses their leg (2nd touch), Player 3 uses their hands to send it over (3rd touch). This is a valid sequence.
* **Example 2:** Player 1 uses their leg to keep the ball alive (1st touch), Player 2 sets with hands (2nd touch), Player 3 attacks with hands (3rd touch). This is valid.
* **Example 3:** Player 1 uses their leg (1st touch), Player 2 uses their leg (2nd touch), Player 3 uses their leg to send it over (3rd touch). While uncommon, this sequence using only leg touches is technically valid as long as the touches are distinct and by different players (or the same player after a block). This illustrates why "up to three leg touches" is allowed within the context of the team's total touches.
## Summary of Allowed Touches
| Contact Type | Allowed? | Counts Towards 3 Touches? |
| :----------- | :------- | :------------------------ |
| Hand Touch | Yes | Yes |
| Arm Touch | Yes | Yes |
| Leg Touch | Yes | Yes |
| Foot Touch | Yes | Yes |
| Head Touch | Yes | Yes |
| Any Body Part| Yes | Yes |
| Block | Yes | No (allows a 4th contact) |
Understanding these rules, including that any body part like a leg can make a valid touch, is crucial for effective play, as highlighted by the reference which notes that "Knowing the volleyball rules and regulations can help you derive better results during play."
Leg touches often occur when a player is trying to make a difficult save on a low ball, demonstrating agility and effort to keep the rally going.
