Be the Referee: Foot Save in Volleyball
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management
October 20, 2026
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Foot Save in Volleyball - Listen
We have a soccer move today – but we’re on the volleyball court. Let me explain.
Team A dumps the ball over the net. A player for Team B is not able to get her hands on it but kicks it up into the air before it touches the ground. The ball is then set up for a spike, which delivers Team B a point. Or does it?
Is kicking the ball a legal move?
It is. Play would continue with the kick counting as the first touch. Team B is then able to set and spike as they would if the first hit came from a player’s hand.
There’s no rule against making a save with your foot, as long as the ball doesn’t touch the ground.
Previous 2026-27 editions
Oct. 13: Soccer Advantage - Listen
Oct. 6: Defensive Holding - Listen
Sept. 29: Minimum Number of Volleyball Players - Listen
Sept 22: Soccer Changes - Listen
Sept: 15: Dead Ball Penalty - Listen
Sept. 8: Libero Ejected - Listen
Sept. 1: Soccer Foul After Shot on Goal - Listen
Aug. 25: Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen
Highlight Reel: West Ottawa/Jenison
November 7, 2014
The Holland West Ottawa volleyball team defeated Jenison 3-0 in a Class A District game Thursday. Click the headings below for MHSAA.tv highlights and the final link to watch the match in full.
WEST OTTAWA'S BIG OPENING RUN - Holland West Ottawa scored the first five points of the first set against Jenison on its way to a 14-3 start. Sydney Zwghuizen gets the kill to make it 5-0.
JENISON RALLIES BEHIND FLAHARTY - Jenison would counter West Ottawa's opening run with 10-2 streak of its own. Megan Flaharty scores here for the Wildcats. West Ottawa went on to win the set, 25-19, on its way to a 3-0 Class A Semifinal win.
RIETBERG KEEPS IT IN - In the second set of this Class A Semifinal, watch Jenison's Katie Rietberg knock it down just inside the line for a point. West Ottawa would win the set, 25-14, and the match, 3-0.
ZWYGHUIZEN EXTENDS THE LEAD IN SECOND SET - Sydney Zwyghuizen delivers a kill to put West Ottawa up in the second set against Jenison, 17-7.
CLARK FINDS THE OPEN SPOT - Early in the third set, Jenison's Kayla Clark finds the opening in the West Ottawa defense to score. The Panthers, however, won this set, 25-17.
SEALED WITH AN ACE - Holland West Ottawa completes its sweep of Jenison in this Class A District Semifinal with a service ace.
Watch the entire match and order DVDs by Clicking Here.