What do you do if a contact occurs without the ball being touched?

In the context of volleyball, if a contact occurs without the ball being touched, the appropriate course of action is to allow play to continue. This is because a contact that does not involve the ball typically does not constitute a foul or an infringement under the rules of the game. The essence of officiating in volleyball relies on observing interactions that directly affect the play, particularly those that involve the ball.

If an incident occurs, such as a player making physical contact with another player, but the ball is not part of that contact, the officials must determine if that contact is pertinent to the play. In most scenarios, as long as the contact does not interfere with the play or violate any specific rules (for instance, regarding obstruction or player positioning), the game should proceed without interruption. Understanding that the focal point of the game is the ball and the actions surrounding it is key to effective officiating.

In this situation, stopping the game or issuing a warning would imply a violation has occurred, which is not the case when no action has affected play or the ball itself. Additionally, calling it a foul would misinterpret the rules that govern player interactions in the absence of the ball being in play.