Yes, you can use your head in volleyball.
According to the rules, the ball is allowed to touch any part of the players' body from head to toe as long as the contact is legal. This explicitly includes your head.
What Does "Legal Contact" Mean?
Using your head, like any other body part, must adhere to the rules governing ball contact. A legal contact typically involves a clean touch on the ball, not a lift, push, or prolonged contact that is deemed illegal handling.
Key aspects of legal contact include:
- Single Contact: Each player is allowed only one contact with the ball per play (though blocks have specific rules).
- Clean Touch: The ball should rebound off the player's body part without being held or pushed.
- No Double Contact: While contact with different parts of the body during a single action is sometimes permitted (like a dig that touches hands and then forearm), contacting the ball twice in succession with different body parts as separate actions is usually illegal.
When using your head, the contact must be quick and clean, similar to how you would pass or set with other body parts.
Official Judgement
The reference highlights that JUDGEMENT is a word that officials use regularly and is a key factor when making ball handling decisions. This means the referee's interpretation plays a role in determining if a contact with the head (or any body part) was legal.
Practical Applications of Using Your Head
While not as common as using hands or forearms, a head contact can be used strategically in certain situations:
- Emergency Play: If the ball is rapidly approaching your head and you cannot get your hands or arms into position, using your head might be the only way to keep the rally alive.
- Deflection: A quick header can deflect a hard-driven ball upwards or towards a teammate.
- Unexpected Save: It can be an unexpected way to save a ball that is otherwise out of reach.
Examples
Imagine these scenarios:
- A hard spike is coming directly at your face. Instead of letting it hit you or trying a desperate hand block, a quick, controlled head deflection might save the point.
- A ball is dipping just over the net in front of you, too low to reach with your hands. A forward lunge and a header could send it back over.
Summary of Body Contact Rules
| Body Part | Legality | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Legal, as long as contact is clean and adheres to handling rules. | Emergency, Defense |
| Forearms | Legal and primary for passing/digging. | Passing, Digging |
| Hands/Fingers | Legal and primary for setting, attacking, blocking. Specific rules apply. | Setting, Attacking |
| Torso/Shoulders | Legal, as long as contact is clean. | Emergency Defense |
| Legs/Feet | Legal, as long as contact is clean. (Yes, a player can kick the ball). | Emergency Defense |
Note: All contacts are subject to official JUDGEMENT regarding legality.
So, rest assured, using your head is perfectly acceptable in volleyball as long as the contact follows the rules, similar to how you would use any other part of your body.
