Have you ever watched a volleyball match and seen a player desperately dive to save a ball with their foot? Maybe you have wondered is that even allowed? Can you kick the ball in volleyball? The short answer is yes kicking the ball in volleyball is completely legal under modern rules. Most people think volleyball is strictly a hands-and-arms sport, but the current rules tell a very different story. Since 1999, the FIVB updated its rules to allow players to contact the ball with any part of the body, including the feet. So that dramatic foot save you saw? Totally legal.
This complete guide covers everything you need to know about feet in volleyball, from official rules to different levels of play, so you always know exactly what is and is not allowed on the court.
Can You Kick the Ball in Volleyball? The Direct Answer
Yes you can kick the ball in volleyball, and it is completely legal under modern rules. According to the official rules set by FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, also known as the International Volleyball Federation), a player may contact the ball with any part of the body. That includes the feet, knees, chest, head, and even the back.
This was not always the case. For most of volleyball’s early history, only contacts above the waist were legal. But in 1999, the FIVB updated its rulebook to allow full-body contact. This was a huge shift for the sport and changed how players approach low emergency saves.
Key Fact: The FIVB rule change in 1999 officially made it legal to contact the ball with any part of the body, including the feet.
So if the ball comes flying at your ankles and you kick it back up to keep the rally alive, that is a perfectly legal play as long as you follow the other standard contact rules.
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What the Official Volleyball Rules Actually Say
According to the official rules, a player is allowed to play the ball with any part of the body. The FIVB rules state clearly that:
- The ball may be hit, not carried or thrown
- The ball must leave the body cleanly without prolonged contact
- A player cannot hit the ball twice in a row (the double contact rule)
- Each team gets a maximum of three hits to send the ball back over the net
- Players must not touch the net during play
The key phrase here is any part of the body. This means that when you use your feet in volleyball, you are following the same contact rules that apply to every other body part. The foot is not treated differently what matters is whether the contact was clean and legal, not which part of your body made it.
Here is a quick reference table showing the key contact rules:
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legal body contacts | Any part of the body |
| Ball handling | Must be clean no lift or carry |
| Consecutive touches | One player cannot hit the ball twice |
| Team maximum | Three hits to return the ball back |
| Double contact | Illegal except on the first team touch |
| Prolonged contact | Not allowed ball must leave quickly |
Rules Across Different Levels of Play
One of the most common points of confusion is that volleyball rules can vary slightly depending on your level of play. Here is how the rules apply at each level:
Recreational and Club Volleyball
At the recreational level, the rules are generally relaxed and follow USA Volleyball guidelines. Foot contacts are legal, and referees at this level tend to be lenient on borderline plays. Most casual players still prefer to use their hands and arms for better control, but a foot save in an emergency is perfectly fine.
High School Volleyball
NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) governs high school volleyball in the United States. Their contact rules closely mirror FIVB and allow full-body contact. A referee in a high school game will not call a fault simply because a player used their foot. The rules still apply in full meaning the contact must still be clean, and the three-hit rule still counts.
College Volleyball
NCAA volleyball follows rules that are very closely aligned with FIVB standards. In college volleyball, a volleyball player is fully allowed to use their feet. NCAA officials are trained to judge the quality of the contact, not which body part made it. The ball can touch the foot and it counts as one of the team’s three allowed contacts.
Professional and International Volleyball
At the professional and international volleyball level, FIVB rules are the gold standard. Whether it is the Olympics, the FIVB World Championship, or a top domestic league, the rules allow full-body contact. Professional players rarely kick the ball on purpose, but emergency foot saves are seen regularly in top-level matches.
Beach Volleyball : Same Rules, Different Surface
Beach volleyball follows its own set of FIVB rules, but the body contact rules are essentially the same. A player can still legally touch the ball with their feet. In fact, because beach volleyball is played on sand and the ball can drop very low, foot saves are actually more common outdoors than in indoor volleyball.
The key differences in beach volleyball involve team size (2 players per side), scoring format, and net height, but when it comes to whether you can kick the ball, the answer is the same — yes, you can.
When Is a Foot Contact Illegal in Volleyball?
Just because you can use your feet does not mean every foot contact is automatically legal. The same contact rules that govern hands and arms apply to the feet too. Here are the situations where a foot contact will get called as a fault:
- Carrying or lifting the ball with your foot instead of cleanly striking it
- Directing the ball with a scooping motion using your foot
- Double contact if the ball touches your foot and then another part of your body in the same action
- Net contact if your foot hits the ball and causes you to touch the net
- Ball twice if you already touched the ball and then kick it again on the same play
A good referee will watch the path of the ball and how it leaves the player’s body. If the ball must be redirected cleanly and it pops off the foot naturally, it is legal. If the foot wraps around the ball or the contact is prolonged, that is when a fault gets called.
Why Players Prefer Hands Over Feet
Even though rules allow players to use their feet, almost every volleyball player chooses to use your hands whenever possible. Here is why:
- Better control Arms and hands allow for much more precise directing of the ball
- Consistency It is easier to pass, set, or attack the ball with your hands
- Speed Hand contacts are generally quicker and more accurate
- Positioning Players are trained to move their feet so they can contact the ball with their arms, rather than kick at it
The foot is really a last resort. You will mostly see it used when a player is completely out of position and the ball drops below knee level with no time to adjust. In those moments, a kick counts as a legal touch and can keep the rally going.
Pro Tip: Rather than kick the ball and risk a messy contact, always try to move your body into position to hit the ball cleanly with your forearms or hands. Better volleyball comes from good footwork, not foot contacts.
Famous Moments of Foot Saves in Volleyball
Foot saves have produced some of the most dramatic moments in the sport. Here are a few notable examples:
- Olympic matches Multiple high-profile Olympic games have featured players keeping the ball alive with their feet, sparking enormous crowd reactions
- Brazilian league Known for acrobatic play, Brazilian professional players frequently use full-body saves including foot contacts
- NCAA volleyball tournaments College players have kept rallies alive with last-second foot digs that led to winning points
These moments highlight exactly why the rules were updated. Allowing full-body contact makes the game more exciting, keeps longer rallies alive, and rewards athleticism in ways the old rules did not.
FAQs
Can you kick a volleyball intentionally?
Yes. Whether you mean to or not, a kick is legal as long as the contact is clean.
Does a foot contact count as one of the three team hits?
Yes. Touch any part of the body to the ball and it counts as one team contact.
Can the ball with your foot be used to serve?
No. The serve must be struck with one hand in standard volleyball. A foot serve is not legal.
Can a hitter spikes the ball with their foot?
Technically legal by contact rules, but practically almost never done due to the difficulty and lack of control involved.
What if the ball hits your foot by accident?
Still counts as a legal contact, as long as it was not a double contact situation.
Can you send the ball over the net with your foot?
Yes. If you kick it cleanly and the ball goes ball over the net legally, the play stands. Getting the ball back over the net with a foot is rare but absolutely allowed.
Conclusion
Here is a quick recap of everything covered:
| Topic | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can you kick the ball in volleyball? | Yes, legal since 1999 |
| Which body parts are allowed? | All touch any part of body to ball |
| Does it count as a team hit? | Yes |
| Is it allowed at all levels? | Yes FIVB, NCAA, NFHS, recreational |
| Is beach volleyball different? | No same foot contact rules apply |
| When is it illegal? | Carry, lift, double contact, net contact |
| Do players use feet often? | Rarely only as emergency saves |
Volleyball is played with the whole body, and now you know it. Whether you are a beginner stepping on the court for the first time or an experienced player reviewing the rules, knowing that foot contacts are fully legal gives you one more tool in your game. Just remember players use their hands and arms for a reason. The foot is the emergency backup, not the first option. Master your movement, get in position early, and you will rarely need it.
