Fundamentals of Volleyball
Senior 1 · Physical Education
Fundamentals of Volleyball
Lesson 3 of 4
20 min
A volleyball team has only six players to cover a 9 m × 9 m half-court and to attack at the net. That works only if every player knows two things: where to stand (the zones and the rotation order) and what job to do (the position). In this lesson you learn both, which is what you need to follow a coach's instructions in a real game.
The court is 18 m long and 9 m wide, divided by the net into two halves of 9 m × 9 m. On each side, an attack line 3 m from the net separates the front zone from the back zone. Lines are part of the court: a ball that touches a line is in.
When your team wins the right to serve from the other team (a "side-out"), your players rotate clockwise one place: zone 2 moves to zone 1, 1 to 6, 6 to 5, 5 to 4, 4 to 3 and 3 to 2. The player who arrives in zone 1 serves. If your team wins a point while already serving, you do not rotate; the same player serves again. At the moment of the serve, players must be in their correct rotation order; after the serve they may move anywhere on their own side.
| Position | Main job |
|---|---|
| Setter | Takes the team's second touch and sets the ball for the attackers; the organiser of the attack. |
| Outside hitter (left side) | Attacks from the left of the front row and receives serve; usually receives the most sets. |
| Middle blocker | Blocks in the middle of the net and hits fast attacks close to the setter. |
| Opposite (right side) | Attacks from the right, blocks the other team's outside hitter, and can set if needed. |
| Libero | A defensive specialist who wears a different-coloured shirt, may replace any back-row player, and may not block or attack a ball that is completely above the height of the net. |
Back-row rule: back-row players may not block, and may not attack a ball from above the height of the net unless they take off from behind the attack line.
At the start of a set, Team Impala lines up: Aline in zone 1, Bosco in 6, Claire in 5, David in 4, Eric in 3 and Fabrice in 2. Aline serves first.
Rally 1: Impala loses the point. The other team serves. Impala does not rotate.
Rally 2: Impala wins the point, so it wins back the serve and rotates clockwise. Fabrice moves from zone 2 to zone 1 and becomes the server. Aline moves from 1 to 6, Bosco from 6 to 5, Claire from 5 to 4, David from 4 to 3, and Eric from 3 to 2.
Rally 3: Impala wins again. It was already serving, so it does not rotate: Fabrice serves again.
Question: after one more side-out, who will serve? Eric, who is now in zone 2, moves to zone 1.
Tip
Rotation hook: "Win the serve back, move one place clockwise; keep the serve, stay put." To find the next server, look at who is in zone 2 now.
How long and how wide is a volleyball court, and how far is the attack line from the net?
Solution. 18 m long and 9 m wide; the attack line is 3 m from the net.
Which zones make up the front row, from left to right as the players face the net?
Solution. Zones 4, 3 and 2.
Mukeshimana is in zone 4 when her team wins back the serve. Where does she move?
Solution. Clockwise one place: from zone 4 to zone 3.
Which position usually takes the team's second touch?
Solution. The setter.
The libero jumps at the net to block a spike. Is this allowed?
Solution. No. The libero may not block (and may not attack a ball that is completely above net height).
Remember
Sources and credits
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
