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Volleyball focuses on your arms and hands, however, sometimes the ball might be more reachable with your feet. This leads to a lot of new players wondering if you can kick in volleyball, and whether that is beneficial to the game or not.
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Can You Kick In Volleyball?
Yes, according to the FIVB, you can kick in volleyball. You are allowed to use any part of your body to hit the ball and score a point (such as the head, shoulders, chest, and legs).
Though, the rules still apply to these kinds of hits, which is why they might be hard to perform. Learning how to kick a volleyball could be an essential skill, especially if you know when to use it. After all, it is a move that should only be performed in specific situations.
When to Kick in Volleyball
Kicking a volleyball is primarily used as a last resource to defend a difficult ball. Meaning that it should only be performed when you have no other option. If you can not reach the ball (not even with a dig) then you must try to kick it.
This is a great way to make an impressive save on the ball, yet, it can have very poor results if done constantly. Players should always try to use their hands as they are the most efficient way to hit the ball.
That’s why many coaches won’t allow their players to practice this move. When it is overused, players might start focusing more on their feet, rather than on their hands. This could lead to really bad decisions that can cost the team a lot of points.
How to Kick in Volleyball
Since you can’t control the ball with your feet the same way you do with your hands, this movement could be difficult.
To perform it, you should hop towards the ball, extend your legs as much as possible and try to put your foot right under the volleyball.
You must avoid swinging your leg, if you do, the ball will instantly go outside of the court. Additionally, just like digging, you need to be careful when trying to reach the ball. If you fall too hard on the ground, you might get an injury (such as a concussion or an ankle sprain).
Advantages and Disadvantages Of Kicking in Volleyball
Kicking the volleyball as a last resource can be a good move, yet, it has a lot of downsides. Learning them will allow you to make good decisions inside of the volleyball court.
Advantages
- Your legs are longer than your arms which allows you to reach the ball faster.
- If you have good reflexes, you can save a powerful spike performed by the opponent
- In some cases, it could be easier and less painful than digging. If you can easily reach with your legs, then you don’t have to throw yourself on the ground.
Disadvantages
- It could be a very imprecise movement. Your feet might not be able to control the volleyball as precisely as your hands.
- You can accidentally kick your teammates. Quickly throwing a kick can be dangerous if your teammates are close to you.
- If you overuse it, you might start focusing more on your feet and not on your hands.
- Since it is not precise, most of the time the ball will end up outside of the court.
- It could disorganize the whole team. When you kick the ball, someone else needs to quickly reach it and adjust its direction. This might create chaos between your teammates, making them panic and forget about their positions on the court.
Related Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about kicking the volleyball:
Can You Damage the Volleyball By Kicking It?
Yes, you can damage the volleyball by kicking it. However, unless you’re powerfully kicking the ball more than ten times daily, the volleyball won’t instantly break. It takes a lot of kicks to start damaging the volleyball.
Does Kicking the Ball Count as a Touch?
Yes, when you kick the ball, it counts as a touch. Therefore, your teammates will have to work hard to set the ball and hit it across the net. After all, they only have two more touches.
Can You Kick in Beach Volleyball?
Yes, you can kick in beach volleyball. The rules are very similar since you can hit the ball with any part of your body. The only main difference is that, if you jump and drop to the ground to kick a ball, the sand can absorb the fall.
Conclusion
While kicking the volleyball is a legal movement, it should be used as a last resource to quickly save a ball. After all, doing it has its repercussions inside of the court, so you should always be careful when performing it.
