Volleyball Rules for Using Your Foot

In the past the mere concept of using your foot to hit a volleyball would arouse laughter and hijinks amongst student-athletes and professional volleyball players worldwide. However, the mindset regarding the use of feet in volleyball has evolved in the past decade as it is considered a legal hit at every level of the sport except high school.

  1. Professional Rules

    • Professional volleyball states the use of a foot constitutes a legal hit.

      According to Federation International of Volleyball (FIVB) rules and USA Volleyball, the use of a foot is considered a legal hit. Further, according to the FIVB rule number 9.2.3 the ball may touch various parts of the body simultaneously. If the ball hits a player's foot it is in play and a live ball, but that player cannot then hit the ball or it is considered a double hit.

    College Rules

    • Hitting a volleyball with a foot is legal and counts as a team hit.

      According to National Collegiate Athletes Association (NCAA), any player contacted by the ball is considered to have played the ball. Such a play counts as one of a team's three hits. College rules seem to be in coherence with professional rules when it comes to the use of a foot.

    High School

    • High schools consider the use of a foot illegal.

      According to Westlake High School, a legal hit is contact above and including the waist. A ball that hits below a player's waist, including the foot, results in a change of possession or a point, depending on which team served the ball. High school volleyball is the only athletic association that considers the use of a foot illegal.