You Can Kick the Ball in Volleyball: Rules & Tips

Introduction

Have you ever wondered whether you can kick the ball in volleyball? Maybe you watched a dramatic rally where a player lunged and sent the ball skyward with their foot, or you saw a referee blow the whistle after a contact that looked harmless. The short answer is yes — in many situations you can use your feet — but the details matter. Understanding the volleyball rules, especially the FIVB rules and how referees interpret legal contact, will help you stay confident during play and avoid a fault.

Quick answer: When you can and cannot kick

In both indoor and beach volleyball, the laws of the game state that players may contact the ball with any part of their body, including the feet. That means you can kick the ball in volleyball when it’s advantageous or necessary. However, two important constraints apply:

• The contact must be a single, clean touch or part of a continuous action that is legal. Multiple consecutive contacts like an uncontrolled double contact can be called a double.
• Certain actions are judged as foot faults or other infractions in specific contexts (for example, serving or crossing center line), so kicking isn’t always safe.

Examples: a player can kick a dig to keep the ball alive, a libero can use their foot to make a save, and in beach volleyball, players often use their feet on desperate plays. But kicking the ball during a serve is different — stepping over the serving line or touching the net can still be faults.

Understanding the official rules: FIVB and legal contact

The FIVB rules and most national federations agree that the ball may touch any part of the player’s body. Wording like “players may touch the ball with any part of the body” means feet are allowed. What the rulebook really focuses on is the quality of contact:

• Clean contact: The ball should rebound fairly and predictably from the body, not spin excessively or be caught and thrown.
• Double contact: When a single player contacts the ball more than once in succession (except during a blocking action), it is typically a fault. A kick followed immediately by another uncontrolled touch may be judged a double.
• Carrying or lifting: If the ball is caught on the foot or trapped in a player’s clothing and then released, a referee might call a carry or held ball.

Tip: referees consider intent and control. A deliberate, controlled kick that launches the ball cleanly is usually legal; a sloppy touch that creates an unnatural trajectory may draw attention.

When kicking is advantageous: defensive and offensive examples

Kicking can be a practical tool when executed correctly. Below are situations where you can kick the ball in volleyball and why it helps:

• Desperate digs: When a player dives and the ball is low and out of reach of hands, a foot can keep the rally alive. This is common in high-level indoor matches.
• Below-the-net saves: On plays where the body is turned and hands aren’t available, a well-timed kick can send the ball back to a teammate for a set.
• Beach volleyball adjustments: Sand restricts quick body movement. Players sometimes use feet to adjust the trajectory or to volley when a hand contact would be awkward.
• Transition plays: An unexpected foot touch can change the rally’s pace and give attackers time to reset for a counter-attack.

Example scenario: A libero sprints for a sharply driven spike, dives, and the ball caroms off their thigh then the foot, sending it upward where a teammate can set. As long as the contacts are part of one motion and the ball isn’t carried, it’s legal.

When kicking becomes a fault: common pitfalls

Knowing that you can kick the ball in volleyball doesn’t mean all kicks are safe. Here are the common reasons a kick could be ruled a fault:

• Double contact: If a player’s kick is followed by another touch from the same player that isn’t part of a single action, a double may be called.
• Carrying or throwing: If the ball is momentarily held on the foot or foot traps the ball (for example, under the arch) and the referee perceives a push or a throw, that can be a carry.
• Serve foot faults: While the ball can be kicked after the serve, stepping on or over the end line during the serve is a fault; likewise, if the server uses an illegal motion that includes kicking in an unusual way, it may draw scrutiny.
• Net and center line violations: Kicking the ball across the net with the foot while touching the opponent’s space or interfering with play may be a fault, especially if a part of the player’s body crosses the center line.

Tip: Practice controlled foot contacts during training so the ball doesn’t spin unpredictably or settle against the body.

Indoor vs beach: differences in how kicking is treated

Indoor and beach volleyball share the same basic principle that the ball may touch any part of the body, but there are practical differences:

• Surface and movement: Sand reduces traction, so beach players sometimes rely on feet to regain balance or adjust the ball’s path. Indoor players move faster and often use diving techniques that can result in foot contacts.
• Rules enforcement: At elite levels, referees closely watch for double contacts and carries regardless of surface. However, recreational referees may vary in how strictly they call subtle foot touches.
• Footwear: Indoor players often wear shoes, which can produce a sharper, cleaner contact than bare feet. Bare feet may produce less spin and look more like a soft controlled touch.

Example: In beach doubles, a player might flick the ball with their toes to change direction and surprise opponents. In indoor sixes, that same toe flick may be used as an emergency save when hands are unreachable.

Training tips: improving legal foot contact and avoiding faults

If you want to use kicking strategically, practice is essential. Here are practical drills, tips, and safety points:

• Wall kicks: Stand a few feet from a wall and practice kicking the ball upward so it rebounds predictably into your hands. Focus on a quick, single contact.
• Partner drills: Have a partner toss low balls that you must keep in play using any body part. Alternate between hands and feet to build coordination.
• Control over power: Aim for a soft, upward arch rather than a hard spike with your foot. Controlled touches reduce the chance of a double contact or carry.
• Foot position: Use the top of the foot (instep) for longer, controlled touches and the toes for small, corrective nudges. Train both.
• Video review: Record practice and matches to see how referees might interpret your contact. Analyze spins and hold times on foot touches.
• Coach feedback: Ask coaches to watch for hidden carries or repeated double-like actions that look unnatural to referees.

Safety tip: When diving or lunging, protect yourself—kicking in motion can sometimes cause ankle or knee strain. Proper warm-up and progressive drills reduce injury risk.

Referees, line judges, and how calls are made

Referees rely on visual cues and experience. When they judge a potential fault involving a kick, they look for:

• Whether the contact was single and clean
• If the ball was carried, trapped, or thrown
• Sequence of touches (double contact)
• Context, such as interference with the opponent or crossing the center line

Line judges won’t typically judge carries or double contacts—that’s the main referee’s job. However, line judges can signal if the ball was out or touched the floor, which matters after a foot contact that sends the ball across the net.

Tip: When playing in competitions, stay composed after a controversial call. Sportsmanship matters, and arguing often doesn’t change subjective judgments about a kick.

Common myths and clarifications

• Myth: “Feet are always illegal in volleyball.” Fact: Feet are allowed; it’s the quality of contact that matters.
• Myth: “A kick is always a double.” Fact: A single controlled kick is legal; a double is multiple consecutive contacts by the same player.
• Myth: “Libero can’t use feet.” Fact: Liberos can use any part of the body; their restrictions are about attacking above net height or setting from certain zones, not body part usage.

FAQ

Conclusion

So, can you can kick the ball in volleyball? Yes — but wisely. Knowing the volleyball rules, training for controlled foot contacts, and understanding what referees look for (double contact, carrying, foot faults) will let you use kicks as a legitimate and sometimes game-changing tool. Whether you play indoor or beach volleyball, practice the techniques, respect sportsmanship, and use kicking only when it improves the team’s play.

Final tip: Work with teammates and coaches to rehearse emergency scenarios where a foot touch is the best option. The more predictable your contact, the less likely a referee will call a fault and the more likely you are to turn a desperate moment into a winning play.