What Is A Carry In Volleyball? (Check Out The Meaning Of A “Carry” And The Examples Of A “Carry” Being Done In Different Kind Of Contact With Ball!)

Last Updated on October 23, 2023 by Alex PT

In volleyball, a “carry” is an illegal ball-handling violation when a player holds or lifts the ball too long during contact. This action is typically penalized by the referee and results in a point for the opposing team.

What Is A Carry In Volleyball?

In volleyball, a “carry” (also known as a “lift”) refers to an illegal ball-handling action by a player. It occurs when a player contacts the ball and holds or lifts it for an extended period, rather than cleanly and briefly pushing or striking it. Here are the key details:

Characteristics of a Carry:

1. Prolonged Contact: A carry happens when a player’s contact with the ball is not clean or quick. Instead, the ball appears to be momentarily cradled or carried, which disrupts the normal, continuous flow of the game.
2. Visible Lift: The referee may call a carry if the ball is visibly lifted during contact. This means that the ball rises above the player’s hands before being released.
3. Subjectivity: Determining a carry can be somewhat subjective, as it relies on the judgment of the referee. The referee assesses whether the player’s contract was legal or if it violated the rules.

Reasons for Calling a Carry:

1. Fairness: The rules against carrying are in place to ensure fairness and maintain a level playing field. Allowing players to carry the ball would give an advantage to those who can manipulate it, making it harder for opponents to defend.
2. Consistency: Carrying violations helps maintain consistency in the sport, as they prevent players from using unorthodox or deceptive techniques.
3. Ball Control: The emphasis on clean contacts and ball control ensures that the game is played with proper technique and skill.

Consequences: When a carry is called by the referee, it results in the opposing team earning a point or regaining possession of the ball, depending on the specific situation and rules of the game.

1. Carrying During A Volley

According to the FIVB Volleyball rules section 9.2.2, you can not catch or throw the ball. There can only be a fine line between a throw, a catch, and a volley. Referees are experienced professionals who are trained to detect when a player has had too long of contact through the volleying moving and it becomes a “catch and throw” which is not the way of playing volleyball.  You should never attempt to possess the ball for more than a quick fluid motion when you’re volleying. The goal here is to quickly absorb the incoming ball and send it back out in one non-stop motion. A player is going to be called for a “carry” if he or she struggles and extends the time of contact with the ball just a little.  

2. Carrying During A Pass

Generally, a carry during a pass happens when there is prolonged contact with the ball during a pass or maybe an underhand hit. A carry is breaking the same rule, the point that your contact of really should be a fresh, momentary exposure to the ball. 

Often players are named for a carry during an assault. The guidelines from the FIVB explain an attack as every hit that directs the ball toward your opponent. According to FIVB rules in rules section 13.1.2, when attacking, players might tip, though the ball must be “cleanly hit”. 

When players drag the ball with the environment it gets much less of a suggestion, spike, or hit, and much more associated with a throw. Frequently this could be avoided by being watchful of the hand placement of. in case the hand is under and behind the ball, it is a lot more prone you will be named for a carry than when your hand is coming overtop.

The Table Below Contains Examples Of A “Carry” Being Done In Different Kinds Of Contact With The Ball.

Examples Of A “Carry” Being Done In Different Kinds Of Contact With The Ball.	Brief explanation
Carrying During Volley	Referees are seasoned experts that are taught to identify whenever a player has had a long time of touch with the volleying moving which turns into a “catch as well as throw” which isn’t the method of playing volleyball.
Carrying During A Pass	A carry also happens when there is prolonged contact to the ball during a pass or maybe an underhand hit.

Carrying During A Save

To be honest, and as much as you all know if you’re truly a volleyball fan that all bets are off during a one-armed save. During a save, players find themselves in a desperation mode, diving and scrambling for the ball. Most volleyball players are found to make this kind of error during a one-armed save. Just put it in your mind that you have to hit the ball with a “pop” no matter how far you’ve got to send the ball or how twisted around you are. The good thing here is that you’re going to get the ball further when you make a clean strike.

How Can You Tell The Call Was “A Carry?”

Numerous rules or maybe fault violations might discuss the very same hand signals from the refs in the game of volleyball. In the situation of a take, the referee will often mean it just like a lift, though the recognized title of the fault is a “catch.” The referee is going to blow the whistle dead and expand the arm of theirs down toward the floor because of their palm facing up, and then increase the hand bending in the elbow.

Multiple Hits At A Time

It is common when multiple people are rushing to hit the ball and make contact one after the other or together in a split-second. The confusion and/ or speed of the moment can make it a bit confusing to know whether the hits were legal. One thing we love about the game of volleyball is that it allows for all kinds of hits with different body parts, (although they must be simultaneous!) Meaning if you’re hitting with your hands, it has to be with the same motion at the same time. 

What are the consequences of being called for carrying in volleyball?

When a player is called for “carrying” in volleyball, it results in various consequences depending on the situation and the rules of the game:

1. Point for the Opposing Team: In many cases, when a carry violation is called, the opposing team is awarded a point. This is especially true when the carry occurs during a rally or when the ball is in play. The point is added to the opposing team’s score.
2. Loss of the Rally: If a carry is called during an ongoing rally, the rally ends, and the point is awarded to the opposing team. The serving team loses their chance to continue the rally and score in that instance.
3. Side Out: In some cases, particularly in traditional scoring systems, when the serving team commits a carry violation, it results in a side-out. This means the serving team loses the serve, and the opposing team gets the opportunity to serve and earn points.
4. Rotation or Serve-Receive: In certain situations, a carry violation may occur during the rotation or serve-receive. When this happens, the opposing team usually receives a point, and the serve may be awarded to the receiving team.
5. Replay: In rare instances, if a carry violation occurs before the ball is served, a referee might order a replay of the point rather than awarding a point to the opposing team.
6. Player Warnings: In some cases, referees may issue warnings to players or teams for carrying out violations before assessing point penalties. This serves as a caution to correct their technique to avoid future violations.

Final Words – Rounding It Up! 

The bottom line is that a carry happens when a player extends his contact with the ball. A carry is a common term in the sport of volleyball. You will find rules that are various in the game of volleyball and in case you are only a casual fan, you may discover several of these rules a little difficult to comprehend. We’ve come to the end of this informative article. We hope you were able to find resources in your quest to know the meaning of “carry” in the sport of volleyball. Please do not hesitate to contact us for questions or comments. Thanks! 

References:

https://betteratvolleyball.com/what-is-considered-a-carry-in-volleyball/
https://volleyballexpert.com/carry-in-volleyball/