When the ball touches a wall, what is the ruling?

When the ball touches a wall, the ruling is that the ball is out of bounds. In volleyball, the playing area is defined by the boundaries set by the court. Any object that is not part of the playing area, such as a wall or a ceiling, indicates that the ball has gone out of play. According to the official rules of volleyball, if the ball contacts any structure outside the boundaries of the court, it is deemed to be out of bounds. This ruling is important as it helps maintain the integrity of the game by ensuring that only legitimate plays within the court boundaries are counted.

The other options do not align with the established volleyball regulations. The ball being in play suggests the action continues, which is not accurate if a wall is hit. Resuming play with a free serve does not apply in this situation, as the point is lost rather than allowing a serve. Lastly, the idea that the game continues regardless misinterprets the defined boundaries of play in volleyball. Thus, when the ball touches a wall, it clearly rules as out of bounds.