What signal should the referee show after a play where the attacker hits the ball into a blocker and it goes out of bounds?

In volleyball, when an attacker hits the ball into a blocker and the ball subsequently goes out of bounds, the correct signal from the referee is to indicate a "touch" by the blocker. This is because the ball made contact with the blocker's hands or arms before going out of bounds, which is considered a play on the ball.

The touch signal not only acknowledges that the blocker made a successful attempt to intercept the ball but also clarifies that the ball's trajectory has been altered by that interaction. Therefore, since the ball was touched by the blocker, it validates the play, allowing the rally to continue unless the ball lands out of bounds or another fault occurs.

This is essential for accurate game management as the teams need to understand how the play developed. The touch signal also helps players and coaches know that the loss of ball control was the result of a legitimate defensive action rather than an unforced error by the attacker.