Like all other competitive sports, volleyball players must also stick to the game’s rules while playing. Lift in volleyball, also known as carry or catch violation, is a most important rule that’s commonly not known to casual players.
The volleyball rule is that you must have clean and quick contact with the ball; if you’ve had prolonged contact with the ball, the referee will call it a lift. Sometimes it can give your team an unfair advantage but can also lead to a penalty if caught. If you’re the one considering playing volleyball professionally or just want to enjoy watching the game, the understanding of lift can assist you in better perceiving the game.
So, let’s delve deep into this guide to learn what is a lift in volleyball and how to avoid it.
What is Lift in Volleyball?
Knowing about lift in volleyball has same importance as knowing about volleyball positions is important. A lift in volleyball is an illegal move where the player makes prolonged contact with the volleyball and tries to give the ball more height instead of playing it naturally. This move isn’t allowed in the game as it can give the player an unfair advantage over the other team.
The lift can also be called a carry or a held ball. According to FIVB rule 9.2.2 of the rulebook, the ball must not be caught or thrown rather than moving with a pass, set, or hit. Although lifts are accidental contacts with the ball but aren’t legal and can award a point to the opponent team.
In some cases, the players may be given a red card or yellow card for committing the lift, which may result in them being ejected from the game. These moves are at high-level competitions but are more common in beginners/ young setters that try to make the delicate finger-setting motion.
Types of Volleyball Match Lift Calls
The lift can occur during any move but is most common while setting or passing. If you aren’t sure a lift has been made during your moves, it’s better to check in with your coach for clarification. However, the most common types of lift calls are explained below:
Attacking / Hitting / Spiking Lift Call
According to FIVB rules tipping or spiking is permitted only when the ball is cleanly hit instead of caught or thrown. It means the players are only allowed to hit the ball with their arm or hand, and no other body part should touch it. If a player attacks the ball with any other body part (fingertips) instead of palm, it’s considered as lift, and the opponent team receives a point.
This is essentially a strategic move that requires a strong and precise hit, but it only works well as long as the player doesn’t hit the ball too forcefully and lose control.While tipping the ball toward the net, ensure a quick and sudden movement toward the target.
Passing Lift Call
When making a pass, make sure that your arms must be straight with a minimal inward curve at the elbows. You must be aiming to receive the ball around your wrist and not too high. Even if the ball approaches you a bit higher up, suddenly try to offset it and not control it with your elbows.
When the ball rests more than a while in players’ arms, it’s considered a passing lift call that penalizes the team by rewarding an extra point to the opponents. So it’s important to teach young players to keep their arms straight and avoid creating space at the elbows for a ball to rest in order to avoid such lift calls.
Setting Lift Call
When a player holds the ball too long in their hands or brings it down too low toward their face or chest, then it’s referred to as a setting lift call that may result in a loss of a point. In setting lift, players mostly hold the ball for enough time to shape up the next player’s move.
This type of lift call is mostly committed by beginners setter or someone attempting to set in relief of the setter. To avoid such a lift, players must set the ball in a smooth, fluid motion with their fingertips.
Setting lifts occur so fast, making it the most difficult to get right for volleyball referees. Even professional referees make snap calls in an instant to judge whether a player has lifted when making a set play. The Willingness to call a setting lift also varies between different referees.
How to Avoid Lift in Volleyball?
Lifts are often unintentional, and as you learn to hit the ball cleanly and play it properly, you’ll naturally get better and better at avoiding being called for lifts. However, below are some major ideas that players must consider to avoid the lift penalty:
Hit the Volleyball With the Heels of your Hands
While playing volleyball, if you’re at an odd angle and fear that you’ll be called for a lift, then drive the ball with the heels of your hands. It’s one of the easiest ways to avoid lifts. Using the heel of your hand to strike the ball is a permissible technique that often results in a more pronounced bouncing effect, as opposed to using your palms. Use this strategy until you master the technique of setting the ball.
Momentary Contact
When you’ve had contact with the ball for just a split of time, the referee will consider it a lift. To ensure a quick, momentary and sudden contact with the ball. You aren’t allowed to hold the ball for longer; just play it naturally by re-directing it in the direction where you want it to go.
Close Your Fist When Hitting Underhand
Another way to avoid lift calls is using a closed fist when hitting the ball. Virtually it seems impossible to hold the ball with closed fists, so it highly reduces the chance of committing lift violation. It’s still possible to be called for a lift depending on the length of your fist contact with the ball. So bear in mind that this position doesn’t rule out your chances to be called for a lift; you’re just unlikely to commit to the lifting. Use this momentary solution until you learn how to set the ball perfectly with open fists without any rule violations.
Don’t Worry! You Will Get Better With Time
You’ll notice that lift most of the newbies are called for lifts. Once the players mature in volleyball, they will avoid lists unintentionally with the powers of their subconscious mind. So if you’re committing this rule violation, don’t fret; just practice the game as much as you can; over time, you’ll start setting the ball immediately.
Lift vs. Carry: Main Difference
In general, the only difference between lift and carry is that carry is when you move the ball in horizontal motion, while lift is when you move the ball vertically. Both are against the game rules and may result in losing a point. These are considered subjective calls, which means that it’s completely up to the referee’s opinion and interpretation.
FAQs
1 – Is it possible to lift on the very first hit in volleyball?
Yes, it’s possible. If the first ball goes to one side of the court, it’s likely the payer can hit it wrongly. Similarly, if the player hits the ball on the first hit of his team, it’s okay for the ball to hit various parts of his body consecutively, resulting in a lift call.
2- How does double contact occur in volleyball?
Double contact is the most common type of foul move in volleyball, which means a ball is touching a player more than once. It mostly happens when a spiker spikes the ball, and the defensive player takes two digs at the ball. It creates a lot of spin in the player’s hands, so it’s much easy to locate that contact.
Conclusion
Overall, lift in volleyball is one of the easy-to-commit mistakes while playing. It’s up to the referee to interpret lifting rules, so you need to be extra cautious to avoid prolonged contact to ensure safe gameplay. Be clear about lift rules by reviewing the FIVB volleyball rulebook or any other rulebook your coach recommends. Once you learn the right technique with practice and patience, your reflexes will guide you to avoid carrying the ball to avoid giving extra scores to your opponents.