Nativity Volleyball - Terms

VOLLEYBALL TERMS

Player Positions
SETTER
The setter is the player on the volleyball team that sets the team's attackers. The setter position is similar to a quarterback in football or a point guard in basketball in the sense that the setter runs the offense.

OUTSIDE HITTER
Outside hitters are usually the primary attackers on the team. These hitters attack balls that are set to the left side of the court. Outside hitters are also referred to as outside blockers.

WEAKSIDE HITTER
Team’s weak side hitters hit from the right side of the court. Weakside hitters may also be referred to as weakside blockers.

MIDDLE HITTER
A team’s middle hitters hit balls set in the middle of the court. Middle hitters are sometimes the primary attackers on the team. Middle hitters are commonly used as a decoy to freeze or confuse the opposing teams blockers. A middle hitter is also referred to as a middle blocker or just middle. Middle blockers are often in charge of front row players to coordinate team blocking strategy.

LIBERO
A ball-control specialist who wears a different jersey from the other team members; the libero plays a special roll in team defense and passing. The libero can come into the game and replace any player on the back row. The libero is sometimes called a defensive specialist or DS. The libero is typically one of the team's best passer and helps to cover the court by making great defensive plays.

Terms for Offensive Systems
FOUR-TWO OFFENSE
A 4-2 offense is the most basic volleyball offensive system and includes 4 hitters and 2 setters. The two setters play opposite one another in the rotation and each sets when occupanying a front row position. The 4-2 has the advantage of always having a setter on the front row. The 4-2 has the disadvantage of only having two hitters on the front row.

FIVE-ONE OFFENSE
A volleyball offensive system that includes 5 hitters and 1 setter. The setter sets in every rotation. The 5-1 has the advantage of always having the same setter. The 5-1 has the disadvantage that the setter also has to play defense and may lead to an out of system offense. A 5-1 offense is more common in college.

SIX-TWO OFFENSE
A volleyball offensive system that includes 6 hitters and 2 setters. The two setters play opposite one another in the rotation and each set when they are on the back row. The 6-2 has the advantage of always having a setter set coming from the back row. This leaves the other setter on front row free to attack the ball. The disadvantage of the 6-2 is that in this offensive system the setter can’t attack at the net. Passers also need to be careful they don’t pass the ball too tight because this puts the setter at risk for illegal back row attacks.

Basic Volleyball Terms for Sets
SET
An overhead or forearm pass that is positioned close to the net for a hitter to spike or tip.

SETTER
The second passer whose job it is to give a hittable pass to a spiker.

FOUR
A high set to the outside hitter. This is usually the main set in a volleyball offense.

ONE or QUICK BALL
This is a quick set to the middle of the court. This set is low and the timing is critical. This play is usually run so the middle hitter can catch the opposing blockers off guard.

BACK-ONE
This ball is set low and quick like the ONE set except this set is set back behind the setter.

FRONT TWO or TWO BALL
This ball is a higher set in the middle of the court and the timing is less critical. This play is usually run usually in combinations with other quicker plays such as back ones and out side shoots to make it tougher for opposing blockers to successfully block.

BACK-TWO
This set is like the Front Two except the ball is set behind the setter.

PIPE SET
The pipe is done by setting a back row player that jumps and attacks from behind the attack line. A pipe may also be called a ten set.

SHOOT
A shoot is basically a quick set to a hitter hitting outside. This set is low with the ball traveling with a low arc and quick. Because of the speed the ball is traveling, timing becomes a factor to executing the play effectively.

SLIDE
A slide is when an attacker takes an approach and hits the ball after jumping off one foot. This is usually done by a middle hitter faking a quick approach to the middle. After faking the approach, the hitter takes steps along the net chasing the ball that travels behind the setter and then jumps parallel to the net off one foot.

THREE BALL or THIRTY
A three is much like a shoot except the set goes about half way to the outside. It’s basically a shoot to a middle hitter.

THIRTY-TWO
A thirty-two is basically a slower and higher thirty-one set.

GENERAL VOLLEYBALL TERMS
ACE
A service not returned by the opposing team.

ANTENNA
A thin rod extending above the net at each sideline used to determine the boundary of the net.

ASSIST
When a player passes, sets, or digs the ball to a teammate who then attacks the ball for a kill. The pass before the kill is call an assist.

ATTACK
An attack is an offensive action of hitting the ball, attempting to terminate the play by hitting the ball to the floor on the opponent's side, also called a spike.

ATTACK LINE
On each side of the court there is an attack line. The attack line extends from sideline to sideline and is placed 9 feet 10 inches from the centerline, also called the 10-foot line.

ATTACKER
An attacker is also called a hitter or spiker. An attacker is a player who attempts to hit a ball towards the opponents court with the purpose of finishing the volley and scoring a point for his/her team.

BACK ROW ATTACK
A back row attack is when a back row player attacks the ball by jumping from beyond the attack line. If the back row player steps on or in front of attack line during take-off and the ball is contacted when the ball is completely above the height of the net, the attack is illegal as soon as it is completely crosses the net or is contacted by the opponent.

BACK SET
A set made when the setter's back is toward the hitter.

BLOCK
A defensive play above the net by one or more players, which attempts to intercept or channel a spiked ball. If two blockers go up, it is a DOUBLE BLOCK, if three blockers go up, it is a TRIPLE BLOCK.

COURT STRONG SIDE
The left side of the court is often referred to as strong side because it’s usually easier for right handed players to attack for the left side.

COURT WEAK SIDE
The right side of the court is often referred to as weak side because its usually less effective for right handed players to attack for the right side.

CROSS-COURT
A spike from the antenna area of the court in which the ball is directed diagonally toward the far sideline of the opponent's court.

DIG
A dig is a defensive play when a player passes a ball that has been attacked by the opposition.

DINK
A dink is attacking the ball by legally pushing the ball around, through, or over blockers. A dink is a soft shot done by the fingertips used to fake out the opponents.

DOUBLE HIT or DOUBLE CONTACT
An illegal play (except on the first contact of the ball) on the ball where the player attempts to contact the ball once, but the ball contacts the player twice, i.e. a player tries to pass the ball and it hits their forearms and then hits their chest.

DOWN BALL
An overhand contact made by the hitter while standing on the ground.

DUMP
An attack executed by the setter that is used to surprise the opponent. This play is intended to catch the opponent's defense off guard as the defense may be expecting the setter to set to one of the team's hitters.

FAULT
Any rule infraction that causes the referee to blow the whistle.

FLOATER
A serve with no spin that travels in way that is difficult to predict.

FOREARM PASS
The arms are joined from the elbows to the wrist and thumbs to form a platform to contact the ball with an underhand motion; also called a "bump."

FREE BALL
An easy ball that is returned over the net by a forearm or overhead pass. This ball is called "free" because it's a free opportunity to pass, set, and attack the opponent.

FRONT ZONE
The front zone is the area between the centerline and attack line. The front zone extends beyond the sidelines until the end of the free zone.

HIT
To jump and spike a ball with an overhand, forceful shot; also called attack or spike.

JOUST
When two opposing players attempt to block the above simultaneously.

KILL
A kill is when a team spikes the ball for a point.

LIFT
An illegal contact where the ball his held or carried.

LINE SHOT
A ball spiked along an opponent's sideline, closest to the hitter, and outside the block.

OUT OF BOUNDS
The ball is out of play.

OVERHEAD PASS
A pass with both hands open above the forehead and directed by the fingers.

OVERHAND SERVE
Serving the ball and contacting it with the hand above and in front of the shoulder.

PANCAKE
A pancake is done by extending the arm out in front the body after diving in an attempt to keep the ball in play. The goal is to get the ball to bounce up off the top of hand and allow the ball to stay in play.

PASS
The first of three offensive side contacts which can be overhead or forearm.

PENETRATE
The blocker's ability to reach over the net into the opponent's court.

PEPPER
Peppering is a warming up drill between two players. The players hit the ball back and forth to one another using the main skills in volleyball – pass, set, and hit.

ROTATE
When a team is awarded a side-out, all players move clockwise one position.

SERVE
Initial contact between a ball and player to begin play.

SERVICE ZONE
The service zone is the area behind the endline that extends from sideline to sideline. The service zone is 29 feet 6 inches in width and in depth extends to the end of the free zone.

SERVING ZONES
Designated areas of the court and or net, used primarily to indicate target areas for serving or spiking. There are 6 serving zones on each side of the court:

Coaches sometimes signal to the server which zone to try to serve the ball to in an effort to take advantage of weaker passers or to disrupt the opponent's offensive system.

SET
An overhead or forearm pass that is positioned close to the net for a hitter to spike or tip.

SETTER
The second passer whose job it is to give a hittable overhead pass to a spiker.

SHAG
Shagging refers to picking up and collecting balls that have been scattered during practices, drills, or pre-game warm ups.

SIDE OUT
When the serving team loses the rally and the receiving team gets the ball and the next serve attempt. The team receiving the serve calls a side out in hopes of winning the rally and gaining the serve.

SPIKE
To jump and hit the ball with the hand by using a one-arm overhead swinging motion with maximum force toward the opponent's floor, also called attack.

STUFF BLOCK
When a player jumps above the net and blocks an attacked ball back into the person the spiked the gaining a point or side out.

SUBSTITUTION ZONE
The substitution zone extends from both attack lines up to the scorers table.

TARGET
A desired area of the court or specific player toward which the ball is directed.

TIP
An attack in which the ball is contacted with the fingertips with enough force to direct the ball over the blocker's out-stretched hands.

TRANSITION
Adjusting from one phase of the game to another, i.e. offense to defense.

TOPSPIN
Contact that imparts a bottom over top rotation on the ball which makes it drop quickly to the floor

TOOLING
Intentionally make use of the blocker's hands, i.e. you hit the block and the ball goes out of bounds.

If you cannot find the term you are looking for please email us. Will we be happy to let you know and post it on the site.

Contact Nativity Volleyball