Which signal is used to indicate a ball was caught or thrown?

• A. Lift signal
• B. Out signal
• C. Touch by the left side
• D. End set/match

Answer: (A)

In volleyball, a ball that is caught or thrown is an illegal contact called a lift (held ball). The lift signal is used by the referee to communicate that ruling quickly to players and spectators. This distinguishes a held or carried ball from a clean, legal hit, which must be a quick, decisive contact rather than a pause where the ball is held. The other options refer to different situations: an out signal marks the ball landing outside the court, an end set/match signal denotes the conclusion of a set or the match, and “touch by the left side” isn’t a standard signal for this infraction. So the lift signal best represents the call for a ball that was caught or thrown.