Volleyball Positions: Mastering Roles on the Court (2024)

FAQs

How do you position volleyball players on court? ›

There are six positions on the court (3 front row and 3 back row) and one of the positions is the designated server. Players rotate through each of these positions, serving when they rotate to the designated position. Here you can see the court split into 6 equal parts - 3 front row players and 3 back row players.

A good middle can read the opponent's setter like a book and is quick enough to get from one end of the court to the other to block the ball. The middle also hits quick sets and keeps the other team's defense off balance. A great middle blocker is a major key to your team's defense.

OUTSIDE HITTER. The player in left front. This player is typically a power hitter and is a go-to for setters when passes are not perfect because of the angle of their attack options.

The seven positions in volleyball are outside hitter, opposite, setter, middle blocker, libero, defensive specialist, and serving specialist.

Liberos are not allowed to block. They are back-row specialists and don't play in the front row. It is permissible for a libero to replace the player in the serving position. In other words, liberos can serve or not serve depending on abilities, strategy, etc.

It seems that generally speaking, the tallest players play Middle Blocker. One reason for this is the Middle Blocker is responsible for blocking all attacks from the opponent and by being tall, they can create a bigger block above the net.

The 6-2 offensive system with no substitutions requires two athletes on the roster to each be a good setter and a strong attacker. Rather than having a single designated setter, this variation has 2 hybrid setter/opposites on court.

In order to perform at the highest levels, volleyball athletes need freedom of movement and the most optimal range of motion when playing. Because spandex is a very stretchy and comfortable material, it makes sense that our volleyball leggings are made of spandex.

What does l mean in volleyball? ›

Libero in volleyball

Another position in volleyball is the libero (L), which commands a team's defensive line. A libero is specialized in passing the ball, setting the ball from the back row, playing defense, and serving in the case of American volleyball, where a libero is allowed to serve.

For example, a 10 set is a high ball to the left side, a 53 is a 3 foot high set to the middle of the court (in front of the setter), and a 61 is a 1 foot high set right behind the setter.

"5-1" means 5 attackers and 1 setter. It is one of the most commonly used rotation techniques in indoor volleyball, and variations can be freely applied, especially based on the skillsets of the defending players.

The 61 is a set used to attack the gap between the middle and leftside blockers of the other team. Should the middle blocker follow the movement pattern of the middle hitter, this will create big gaps for the leftisde attacker to hit.

The rotation order

To break it down: six players are on the court, three are front-row players and three are back-row players. The positions are named by their place on the court, but these position are not to be confused with the position they play such as setter, middle blocker, outside hitter, opposite or libero.

The role of the libero

Since those rules restrict hitting and setting at the position, the libero — based on size and the area that confines the position, as well — is often the best defensive player on the team and is used as a second defensive specialist.

In volleyball, you rotate clockwise. If your team wins the point when the other team is serving, then the person in the front right moves to the right back, becoming the new server. If your team is serving and you win a point, you do not rotate, but stay in the same position.