Volleyball Carry Rules

The game of volleyball consists of players volleying a ball back and forth to score points. There are several legal methods of keeping the ball in the air, such as proper passing, setting and spiking. An improper way to keep the ball in the air is to “carry” it. A “carry” in volleyball is defined as a single player holding onto the ball for too long. This “carry” rule can be subjective, and referees are more lenient on the call in beach versus indoor competition. Carries are most often seen when a player is trying to set or spike the ball.

  1. Spiking

    • On a spike, if a player touches the ball with his or her open palm from underneath and pushes the ball over the net, this could be considered a carry because the ball has landed in the player’s hand momentarily. If a player closes his or her fist and comes up from underneath the ball, this isn’t a carry because the ball hits off the hand. The proper way to spike a ball is to come over the ball with an open palm and hit down towards the other side of the net.

    Setting

    • Setting is less restrictive in beach volleyball than indoor. In indoor, the ball must hit the player’s hands and immediately be sprung back out of the player’s hands. However, in beach, the ball can rest in the hands for a bit longer before being pushed out of the player’s hands. If a ball rests for too long in a player’s hands, this could be considered a carry. A carry might also be called if a player is attempting to set when the ball is below her shoulders. The proper way to set the ball is with the fingers spread out, above a player’s forehead. A setter’s wrists should immediately spring back and forward once the ball has landed in them.

    Passing

    • A carry might also be called if a player is trying to pass a ball with his or her hands. A player might try and get the ball up by putting his or her hand, facing up, underneath the ball to bring it into the air. Not only is this type of play sloppy, but it is also illegal. A player should bring his or her hands together, forearms facing up, with straight elbows to properly pass a ball. The ball should hit the player’s forearms.