Elevator Technique

The rules are very clear that your contact with the ball is supposed to be momentary, quick and clean. Any time you maintain a longer touch on the ball or seem to “possess” it, the referee will call you for a lift or a carry.

In general, the difference is that the lift is usually more of an upward motion, while a carry is more often a horizontal motion. Both are equally a violation of the rules and you will lose the point if you do them. Both can be considered subjective calls in that it’s a judgement call that’s completely up to the interpretation and opinion of the referee.

As you learn to play the ball properly and hitting it cleanly, you’ll naturally get better and better at avoiding being called for a lift. Here are the major ideas you should consider when you’re getting called for (or trying to avoid getting called for) a lift:

Your contact has to be momentary, sudden and quick. When it seems like you’ve had contact with the ball for more than a split second, the referee will usually call you for a lift. You aren’t allowed to have possession, but simply play the ball by re-directing it where you want it to go.

It may seem to the newcomer, that when you volley, it looks like you are throwing and catching the ball, that’s very understandable. But volleying is supposed to be a very quick, fluid redirection of the ball. If the ref deems that you caught and threw it, they will call a lift or carry every time.