When is a push a lift? What other options does an 11 year-old have?

Question
My 11 year old is in a CYO League and tonight we had a game where the ref was calling her push shots a lift.  She uses her fingertips to "push" the ball over the net.  But the ref kept calling it a lift.  If she is using her finger tips to Push the ball softly over the net - how is that a lift?  She has been using this shot consistently for 2 years, but now all the sudden she's being penalized for "a lift".  Can you explain the difference between a "push" and a "lift"?  Is a push legal?  How does she need to change this shot to not be penalized?  She's a little young yet to "spike" so how should we coach her on this?  Would really appreciate your thoughts.

Answer
Good morning and welcome to www.allexperts.com!

Let's get right to it.  I will coach all weekend long at a tournament (Atlanta, for example, last weekend), and all of a sudden, a ref will say, "If you don't stay x feet from the sideline, I will give you a yellow."  This is your final warning."  This will be our 7th match.  The next weekend, the referees won't care.  The next weekend, the referees won't care.  

What I'm saying is, some referees have their pet peeves.  One of mine is:  In school ball, after the teams' 2 minutes of serving has run out, I will blow the whistle. STOP serving.  STOP!  Why does it bother me for girls to continue to serve after the whistle?  B/c most players are walking to their bench, shagging balls, etc.  I don't want them to get blasted in the face by a ball they had no reason to believe was coming.  So, when I referee a fall match, I imagine is re-blow the whistle 2 or 3 times each night, stare at girls and maybe even warn them.  They look at me like I'm crazy..... and I'm sure I'm the only referee who will ever make this particular request.  

Now to your situation.  From what you've told me, I would guess that your daughter has been very successful at the push shot against multiple opponents and with dozens of referees.  Then, one night, one certain ref calls her for lifts.  My advice:  (a) forget about it.  This referee has a pet peeve, and you just experienced it.  The ref is an outlier;  (b) I also recommend she develop another way of taking the 3rd hit over the net. Maybe the next time this referee is on your court, just ditch the pushes and just forearm pass the ball over; (c) Do you have video of her push shot?  If so, can you send a few of them to me at [email protected], or post it on YouTube?  It's possible that this referee has no problem with push shots!  Maybe this referee is accustomed to working with older girls, and your daughter's push ACTUALLY IS a lift; but, she never is called on it b/c her refs are more lenient with an 11 year old, or more inexperienced, or unaccustomed to working with older girls!  Oh, oh! If that's the case, then you do have a problem.  

If you have more questions, please follow up or email me at the address above.  

My staff and I are directing 11 camps this summer!  There's a reason why STAR volleyball site camps are more popular every year.  Please visit my website at www.coachouser.com to find out more.  (We still have room for a few more camps, if you know anyone who's interested in hosting one.)  

Chat soon!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  My club team will be in Washington DC this weekend.  I can't WAIT!  

Coach Houser