Volleyball is a fast-paced and dynamic sport that demands agility, coordination, and quick reflexes from its players. While the core techniques involve hand and arm movements to control the ball, unexpected situations during play often result in accidental or improvised touches using other parts of the body. One commonly asked question, especially among newer players or casual enthusiasts, is whether it’s legal to kick or hit the ball with the leg in volleyball.
TLDR: Yes, players are allowed to hit or kick the volleyball with any part of their body, including the leg or foot, according to the current volleyball rules. However, the contact must be legal – meaning it should be clean, controlled, and not include prolonged contact or a “lift”. Although it’s legal, using legs is generally considered a last-resort move and not standard in professional gameplay. Knowing when and how to use such touches can be the difference between saving a point or giving one away.
Understanding Volleyball Contact Rules
To grasp the legality of using legs or feet in volleyball, it’s essential first to understand the basic rules governing ball contact. According to the rules set forth by the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the sport’s international governing body, a player may contact the ball with any part of the body.
This statement debunks the old misconceptions that only arms or hands are allowed in volleyball. In fact, as long as the contact is brief and the ball is not caught or thrown, the point of contact—with a hand, forearm, knee, or even foot—does not matter.
The Key Rule: Clean Contact
The FIVB rulebook provides the clearest standard:
- A player may hit the ball with any part of the body.
- The contact must be momentary and not a prolonged or held motion.
- The ball must not come to rest on any part of the body.
So, a “kick” or “leg hit” is legal as long as it meets these conditions. If, for example, the ball bounces off a player’s foot or shin and continues play without being caught or lifted, that’s entirely acceptable under current rules.
Historical Context: A Rule That Changed
Leg contact on the ball was not always permitted in volleyball. Up until relatively recently—before the 1990s in many leagues—kicking the ball was considered a fault in official play. That changed when the FIVB and other governing bodies modernized the rules to favor athletic flexibility and reactive play.
The change was largely inspired by the increasing speed and unpredictability of higher-level matches. With balls flying at over 60 mph in some cases, players needed every advantage to keep rallies alive—even if that meant a well-placed foot save across the court.
Common Scenarios Where Legs Might Be Used
Although it’s technically legal, players don’t typically aim to use their legs strategically. That said, there are common match scenarios where the legs may save a point:
- Emergency Defensive Digs: When a ball is deflected unpredictably, a player may instinctively stretch out a leg to keep it from hitting the floor.
- Out-of-System Plays: In scramble situations, such as after a bad pass or a ricochet, using a foot might be faster than moving the arms into position.
- Back-Court Reactions: Libero players or defensive specialists may occasionally use a flick or kick to redirect a tipped ball during a block coverage.
In these moments, the legality of using a leg touch can be crucial in extending the rally or even winning a crucial rally point.
Is It Advisable? The Pros and Cons
Even though it’s allowed, using the leg or foot in gameplay is looked upon with cautious strategy. Here are the pros and cons of leg contact in volleyball:
Pros
- Saves high-speed or low balls that hands can’t reach in time.
- Keeps the ball in play during chaotic moments or defensive scrambles.
- Demonstrates player awareness and responsiveness.
Cons
- Difficult to control: Ball trajectory from the foot is often less precise.
- Inconsistency: While spectacular, successful kicks are usually lucky rather than standard technique.
- Risk of fault: Misjudging a kick could result in a lift, illegal contact, or sending the ball out.
Skilled players know that while the leg can be a tool in emergencies, over-reliance on such tricks is a sign of poor positioning or gameplay breakdown.
Different Rules Across Levels of Play
Though international rules set the standard, note that indoor and beach volleyball leagues under different organizing bodies might have slight variations. Here’s a quick guide to how the rules apply across key formats:
- FIVB Rule (International Indoor & Beach): Legal to hit ball with any body part, including foot.
- NCAA (College Volleyball): Allows contact with any body part, mirroring FIVB.
- USAV (USA Volleyball): Permits ball contact below the waist as of 1999.
- High School Volleyball (NFHS Rules): Leg and foot contact are legal.
Despite some regional inconsistencies in early days, today’s rules across most competitive leagues allow for legal leg touches.
Expert Opinions on Leg Contact
Professional players and elite coaches don’t usually teach or encourage leg contact as a go-to reaction. However, many acknowledge that it can be a match-saving move when executed well. Legendary plays in Olympic and world championships have included life-saving digs with knees or feet that drew applause from millions.
Professional libero players, recognized for their defensive excellence, often react instinctively with any part of the body—though their priority remains to use hands or forearms whenever possible. Kicking is not rehearsed in practice, but reactions are trained for speed and alertness.
Practical Tips for Executing a Legal Kick or Hit
If you’re playing competitive volleyball and want to be prepared for emergency leg saves:
- Stay balanced and low to the ground, increasing your ability to lunge or react quickly.
- Keep your eyes on the ball and anticipate random deflections off blocks or nets.
- You can use feet to extend a rally, but be ready for the next touch immediately—especially if your team hasn’t exhausted the three allowable contacts.
- Aim for a flat foot or shin for more predictable contact behavior, avoiding mis-kicks that might send the ball out of bounds.
Final Verdict: Yes, But Use It Wisely
To answer the question directly: Yes, you can legally hit or kick the ball with your leg in volleyball, provided the touch is brief and clean. While it used to be illegal decades ago, modern rules across all major volleyball organizations now allow contact with any body part. That said, leg contact should be used as a last resort in actual gameplay, as it lacks the control and precision of hand techniques.
Understanding these nuances not only helps beginners avoid unnecessary fouls but also empowers seasoned players to adapt and innovate in high-pressure situations. Volleyball, like all sports, evolves—and knowing the legal extent of your body’s capabilities is part of playing smart and skillful volleyball.
So next time the ball comes flying toward your shin, don’t hesitate—a timely and legal foot save might just turn the tide of the match.