Carry
A ball-handling violation in which a player illegally scoops, holds, or supports the ball instead of cleanly striking or bouncing it.
Definition
A carry describes momentarily holding, scooping, or letting the ball come to rest against the hand or racket instead of making clean contact. The underlying principle is that the ball must be hit or bounced rather than caught and thrown, so a carry is treated as an illegal touch and gives the point or advantage to the opponent.
The application varies by sport. In basketball, carrying — also called palming — happens when the dribbling hand travels too far under the ball, effectively pausing the dribble. In volleyball a carry is a held-ball fault where the ball comes to rest on contact. In badminton the equivalent is a 'sling' or 'throw' fault, where the shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung during a stroke rather than hit cleanly. In tennis, deliberately carrying or catching the ball on the strings loses the point, though an unintentional double-hit within a single continuous stroke is allowed.
Meaning by sport
This term is used differently across sports:
- Basketball
- Palming — the hand goes under the ball during a dribble, pausing it.
- Volleyball
- A held-ball fault where the ball comes to rest on contact.
- Badminton
- A 'sling' or 'throw' fault: the shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung during a stroke, rather than hit cleanly.
- Tennis
- Deliberately carrying or catching the ball on the strings loses the point; an accidental double-hit in one continuous motion is allowed.
Where you’ll hear “carry”
Sports that use this term:
Basketball
A fast, dynamic team sport of running, jumping and quick decisions on court.
Volleyball
A non-contact team sport of rallies, jumps and teamwork — indoors or on the beach.
Badminton
A fast indoor racquet sport played with a shuttlecock that rewards agility and touch.
Tennis
A singles or doubles racquet sport that blends agility, strategy and stamina on court.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Carry to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Rules
- Ball-handling faultsVolleyball faults for catching, carrying or double-contacting the ball rather than cleanly hitting it.
- TravelingA basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
- Out of boundsThe rule that a ball or player leaving the marked playing area is out of play and possession is decided at the boundary.
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- GoaltendingA basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.
Skills Academy
- Object-control skillsHandling a ball or implement — controlling, receiving, passing and moving it with intent.
- Team-play skillsThe skills that make a team work — combining, covering and communicating through the ball.
- Ball-sport skillsThe skills that recur across ball games — control, passing, dribbling, shooting and defending.
Skills
- CatchingThe skill of cleanly securing a ball travelling through the air or off the ground.
- ShootingThe skill of striking or releasing the ball toward the goal or basket to score.
- SpikingThe volleyball skill of jumping and striking the ball forcefully down into the opponent’s court.
- ServingThe skill of putting the ball or shuttle into play to start a point or rally.
- Ball controlThe skill of receiving and settling the ball quickly so it is ready to use.
Techniques
- HeaderA technique for controlling or striking the ball with the forehead in football, used to pass, shoot or clear the ball in the air.
- PlankA static core exercise that holds the body in a straight line supported on the forearms and toes.
- Padel BandejaA controlled overhead shot in padel, hit with slice and moderate pace to keep the player at the net without over-committing.
- Topspin ForehandA forehand groundstroke hit with a low-to-high swing that puts forward spin on the ball so it dips and kicks up on landing.
- Volleyball DigA defensive contact that keeps a hard-driven ball in play by passing it up off the forearms, usually from a low position.
Tactics
- Pick and rollA two-player basketball action where one player screens for the ball-handler, then rolls to the basket.
- Wing playAttacking down the flanks and crossing the ball into the box to stretch the defence and create chances.
- Full-court pressAn aggressive basketball defence that pressures the ball across the whole court to force turnovers.
- High pressA football tactic where a team hunts the ball high up the pitch to win it back close to the opponent’s goal.
- Counter-attackWinning the ball and moving forward at speed to attack before the opponent can reorganise their defence.
Officiating
- Out-of-Bounds CallAn official's ruling that the ball or a player in possession has left the legal playing area, stopping play and handing a restart or possession to the opponent.
- Line JudgeA boundary-line official who calls whether the ball or player is in or out and flags foot faults, working under the head referee across many sports.
- Foul callA foul call is an official's ruling that a player broke a rule of contact or conduct, triggering a penalty such as a free kick, free throw or penalty.