Kicking the ball myth
 

Just wondering if anyone else has ever heard this...

I'm coaching a boys team this spring and we had our first match last week. During a rally, the ball deflected off of the block and was falling near our setter. Without having time to reach down, he kicked the ball to keep it from hitting the floor. We ended up losing the rally but the opposing coach was flipping his lid about the kick.

After the match I was talking with the other coach and he said that it was permissable for the ball to contact the foot but not for the foot to initiate the contact. Essentially, only inadvertant contact with the foot was legal. Certainly, no kicking allowed!

I tried to explain to him that there is nothing illegal about kicking a ball but he was extremely skeptical with my rules explanation. Anyone else hear this from uninformed coaches/players/spectators?

Sure I have heard it. It is legal in all rule sets.....unless the point is over and you are punting the ball in order to get an major unsportsmanlike like conduct. :)


Now that I am older, I am a pretty good 'food digger' and have put up some pretty nifty sets with my foot.

The "old school" really doesn't like it because their granddad didn't do it.:D

PARef, ask the coach to show you the rule in the book...he can't do it because it doesn't exist. I don't know where they come up with this stupid stuff!

Perhaps since the coach knows the rule in basketball is a violation for kicking the ball, and for hockey you can't kick the puck into the goal.

Why should he expect the rules of volleyball to be different...

If he is a USAV coach, he is subject to Rule 20.1.1 found on page 62 of the "2011-13 Domestic Competition Regulations": Thus he should also be aware of Rule 9.2.1:

For NFHS, that rule was just changed a few years ago. Can't recall when exactly, but it did not used to be legal to contact the ball with any part of the body below the waist.