Volley Ball Strategies / Tactics
THE COURT
THE SERVE
Each point starts with a serve. Having a strong
volleyball serve and service strategy can help
your team greatly. How the ball is hit, where it
is hit, and which player you hit it to all need to
be considered.
Basic
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Completing an underhand
Being able to direct your serve to
different areas of the court
Complex
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Completing an overhand serve with
or without a top spin
Serving to left back corner, the left
side line is a good choice because it
makes the setting much more difficult
for the opponent's setter. The setters
have to keep their eyes on the corner,
which means it is extremely difficult
to follow outside hitter and middle
hitter approaching to spike - which
makes the timing between the setter
and hitters more difficult.
Serving short you could try to place the ball in front of the player who has lined up too
far from the net - or doesn't move forward very well. However, you probably want to take
your serving strategy further. If you have the opponent's best hitter on the position 4, you
could serve the ball short to the position 4 and make his/her approach more difficult.
Think how much harder it is for the hitter to pass the ball inside the 10 feet line (3 meter
line) and take steps back to start an approach. You wouldn't like to be served like that,
right?
Serve the Ball into Setter's or Offensive Player's Running Route If you have figured out
which route the opponent's setter or offensive player is running, you could serve the ball
to somebody's running route to mess up their offense. You could do it for example
when the setter leaves very far from the back corner. It could be your opportunity to serve
a shorter ball into setter's running route - it may end up hitting the setter, or some other
player has to go in front of the setter to pass the ball.
THE PASS
Basic
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Connecting with the first hit in the sequence (not necessarily both hands in use)
Complex
 Connecting with the first hit in the sequence - It may be a bump with the forearms or a hit
with the fingers. The idea is to get control of the ball. Get the ball in the air to a setter with
enough control so the setter can focus on making a good set and not worry about digging or
getting to the ball.
THE SET
Basic
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Connecting with the second hit with the fingers.
Complex
 Forward and backward setting or dumping the volleyball quickly over the net to an open spot
before the opponent is ready.
THE ATTACK
Basic
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Connecting with the third hit and getting the ball that lands into the opponent’s court
Complex
 Completing a spike or hard shot where the attacker jumps and hits the set ball down hard into
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the opponent's side.
Other effective shots can be dinks, dunks, and dips where the ball is hit quickly over or
around the blockers and into an open space on the court.
THE BLOCK
Basic
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Connecting with the third hit from the opponent and send the ball directly back.
Complex
 Working to block with more than one player.
 Deciding when to block and when to back off and try to pass and set the attack shot is key to
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strategy.
Faking a block will often throw off the attacker
THE FORMATIONS
Basic
 Beginners typically use a 4-2 where there are 4 attackers and 2 setters
Complex
 Most advanced teams will use a 5-1 formation with a single setter and 5 attackers.
THE POSITIONS
Volleyball positions determine what your role is out on the court during a game. Each player has
a specific job to do and each position works with the teammates to make the best play possible.
Below find the role of each position defined, a list of things you should do if you're playing that
position and a list of attributes you need in each spot.
Middle Blocker:
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. Learn the ins and outs of being a
great middle blocker and a major key to
your team's defense.
Outside Hitter:
An outside hitter is a great all-around player. Not only does the outside need great ball-handling
skills, but he needs to be a solid hitter and blocker. Learn more about the job of the outside hitter.
Libero:
The libero plays in the backrow and has impeccable ball control. The libero needs to be a great
passer and an even better digger. She is all over the court to keep the ball in the air for her team
to create scoring chances. Learn more about what the libero does and the rules she lives by.
Setter:
The setter is the backbone of the offense and makes the decisions about who gets the ball when.
She touches the ball on the second contact and delivers it to her hitters. She needs to be able to
take in a lot of information at once and to make good decisions in a split second. Consistency
here is key.
Opposite:
The opposite plays opposite the setter on the right front and hits sets behind and in front of the
setter. The opposite is responsible for blocking the opponent's outside hitter, which means the
person who plays opposite needs to be a solid blocker as well as a good hitter. The opposite is
also needed to pass and set, so should have great ball handling skills.
Basic
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Able to understand the general space on the court that needs to be covered when playing
a particular position. Middle blocker, Outside Hitter, Libero, Setter, Opposite
Are Able to complete the general expectation of their position
Complex
Middle Blocker:
What is the Middle Blocker?
On defense, the Middle Blocker position is the player at the net in the middle of the court
between the two outside blockers. The middle blocker strives to be involved in blocking the
opponent's hitters wherever they may be on the court. On offense, the middle blocker will
usually hit quick sets or serve as a decoy to confuse the opponent's blockers if the pass is good
enough.
What does the Middle Blocker Do During a Play?
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Before your team serves the ball, line up directly in front of the other team's setter, just to
left of the middle of the court
Find the hitters on your opponent's side and point them out to your teammates.
Watch the hitters after the ball is served to see where they are headed.
Read the setter and determine where she is going to send the ball
Move to where you need to be to block the hitter.
Close the block and penetrate the net with your arms.
If the ball gets by you, get back quickly in transition and approach for a quick set.
Middle Blocker in defense: Starting Position
If you're playing middle, your starting position is directly in front of the setter - usually just to
the left side of the middle of the court. Before your team serves the ball, you should locate your
opponent's front row hitters and point them out to your teammates before play begins.
Play Development
When the ball is served it is your job to watch where the hitters go so you know what plays they
are capable of running.
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If the pass is good, the setter can set the ball to any of her hitters or she can dump the ball
over the net. You need to be ready for any of those possibilities. Stay on the setter to
protect against the dump but be ready to move quickly to either side or jump with the
quick set if she goes there. If you determine she is going to dump the ball, you need to try
to block her attempt.
If the pass is off the net, the setter has fewer options and will likely have to set high
outside or backrow. When you see the pass is bad, you can start to cheat over to the most
likely place the setter will set the ball. You should have plenty of time to close the block.
Closing the Block
Once you see where the ball is set, your job is to get right next to your outside blocker to form a
solid two-person block. This means there is no space, gap or seam between your arms over the
net and your outside blocker's arms. The two of you should form a wall to make it tougher on the
hitter to get the ball by you.
Middle Blocker in offense: Before the Serve
When the opponent is serving to your team and you are in serve receive, make sure you find out
from your setter what play your team is running. Your setter should give you a signal just before
the ball is served that tells you not only what set you should approach for, but where the other
hitters will be going so you can all stay out of each other's way. As you get more advanced in
team volleyball, the plays get more complicated. Hitters can criss-cross all over the court in an
effort to lose the middle blocker.
Watch the Pass
Once the ball is served, watch to see what kind of pass your team gets to your setter. If you are a
middle blocker, you will most often not be asked to pass so you can concentrate on getting up for
the quick set. But if you see that the ball is passed off the net and the setter cannot possibly set
you a quick, it is your responsibility to call off the play and call for a different set. This way you
remain an offensive threat and don't allow their blockers to most likely a high set.
Outside Hitter:
What is an Outside Hitter?
An outside hitter is the player who hits and blocks on the front left side of the court. This player
is also known as a left side hitter. On offense, this person is usually one of the main passers and a
go-to hitter. The outside hitter gets lots of swings at the ball not only because she is a solid hitter,
but because the outside is where the ball goes most often when the pass is not perfect. The high
outside set is the easiest and safest choice when the pass is off the net and other options are
unavailable.
What Does an Outside Hitter Do During a Play?
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Passes the ball in serve receive
On defense, she calls out the hitters on the other side of the net
Watches the hitters to see which one is coming her way
Sets the block in the right place so the middle blocker can close to her
On offense, runs the play that the setter calls
Is ready to take a good swing or make a good play over the net whether the set is good or
bad
Covers the other hitters
What Attributes Are Important in an Outside Hitter?
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Good height, but not necessarily the tallest on the team
Good ball-handling Skills
Good passer and digger
Solid hitter who can kill a perfect set and can also work with an off the net or over the
shoulder set
Outside Hitter in defense: Starting Position
The outside hitter plays on the front left side of the court. As she rotates through the front row,
she will move from middle front or right front to her spot on the left side once the serve crosses
the net.
Play Development
The outside hitter has to make sure that she knows where all the hitters are before the ball is
served. She watches the hitters move around the court and calls out the play as it develops to
help the middle blocker follow the hitting patterns. The outside hitter then watches for the player
who will hit on her side of the court and sets the block for the middle blocker. If the opponent's
setter is in the front row, the outside hitter can help the middle blocker defend against the dump.
Setting the Block
Once the outside hitter sees the ball is set to her side of the court, she needs to set the block in the
right position. She makes sure to take or give the line shot based on the coach's instructions and
sets the block accordingly. She must set the block early so that the middle can see her and close
to her instead of running her down and weakening the chances of a solid block. Then she needs
to penetrate the net and go for the block.
Libero:
What is the libero?
The volleyball libero is a defensive specialist position in indoor volleyball. The position was
added to the game in 1999 along with special rules for play in order to foster more digs and
rallies and to make the game more exciting. The libero remains in the game at all times and is the
only player not limited by rules of rotation. He usually replaces the middle blocker position when
they rotate to the back row and never rotates to the front row himself.
The libero is chosen by the team before the match or tournament and that designated player must
remain the libero for the entire match or tournament. If the libero is injured, he/she can be
replaced by any player who is not on the court, but that player must remain the libero for the
remainder of the match.
What does the libero do during a play?
The libero is responsible for a great deal of the passing in serve receive. Often the libero will be
responsible for a much greater part of the court than his teammates. The libero is in the game to
add ball control, so his main responsibility is to pass the ball well so the team can run the
offense. On defense the libero needs to dig well, getting a hand on every ball he can to keep the
play alive. Since the libero has no attack responsibilities, he must chase down every ball he can.
He may also be responsible for setting if the ball is dug by the setter or out of the setter's range.
What attributes are important in a libero?
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Good passer
Good digger
Good ball handling skills
The volleyball libero:
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Plays only in the back row
Can replace any one position in the back row (for instance, the libero can play back row
for both middle blockers)
Wears a different color jersey than the rest of the team
Does not count as a substitution
The libero cannot:
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Serve (except in the NCAA women's game due to a rule modification in 2004)
Attack the ball above the height of the net
Block
Attempt to block
Set an attacker from the front court
Setter:
What is the setter?
The setter is much like the quarterback in football or the point guard in basketball. She is in
charge of the offense. She decides who should get the ball and when. It doesn't matter how good
a team's hitters are if it doesn't have a setter that can consistently deliver a good ball to hit. The
setter is a very important position in volleyball.
What does the setter do during a play?
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Before the serve, make sure that all of your teammates are lined up correctly and there is
no overlap
Communicate with each hitter to make sure they knows the play they will run and what
set they will hit.
Wait for the opponent's serve to cross the net and then move into position for the perfect
pass which is at the net, just right of the middle of the court.
Make a decision about which hitter gets the ball based on the position of the pass, the
availability of your hitters, the other team's blocker position and abilities and the other
team's defense. Setter may also decide to dump or put the ball over the net on the second
contact depending on these factors.
On defense in the front row, the setter blocks on the right side against the other team's
outside hitter.Once the ball crosses back into your court, get into position to set the ball in
transition.
On defense in the back row, dig from the right back if necessary. Make sure another
player knows you need them to set if you make the dig. If you don't dig the ball, get to
the net quickly to set the ball in transition.
What attributes are important in a setter?
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Good leadership skills
Good hands
Consistency
Good communication skills
Good understanding of the game
Quick decision-maker
Ability to multi-task
Setter in defence: Starting Position
In the front row, the setter blocks on the right side. She is responsible for blocking against the
other team's left side or outside hitter. In the back row, the setter plays right back and is
responsible for digging if necessary and getting up to the net quickly to set if she does not make
the dig.
Play Development
In the front row, the setter needs to help identify the hitters on the other side. Once the ball is
served, she needs to track the hitters to make sure she knows which hitter is headed her way so
she can block them. She needs to be ready to if their setter decides to dump and could be the
closest person to play that ball up. If their right side hitter heads to the middle for an "X" play,
the setter needs to get to the middle to help out on the block. If the middle hitter goes for a
"three" set, she needs to be prepared to help out blocking there as well. If they set high outside,
she needs to set the block early and allow the middle blocker to close to her.
In the back row, the setter plays right back. She is responsible for digging the cross-court shot of
their opposite or right side hitter and the line shot of their outside hitter. She should be prepared
to dig and not abandon her spot to get to the net to set. If there is no dig, there is no set to be
made. Once she sees the ball is not hit in her direction, she needs to quickly get to the net,
analyze her choices and make a decision about where the ball should go next.
Setter in Offence: Before the Serve
The setter needs to keep track of her position in relation to the other players on the court and
make sure that none of the players are overlapped in serve receive.The setter is never a part of
the passing on serve receive so she may start at the net or behind a passer. Once the ball crosses
the net, she can move to her position at the net and prepare to set the pass.
Play Development
The setter determines the play the team will run. She has communicated the play to her hitters
and is ready to deliver the ball when it is passed. If the pass is good, she has her pick of hitters.
She should take note of the other team's blockers and defense and pair that up with what she
knows about her own hitters to determine who will get the ball or if she will dump the ball over
the net to her opponent's side. If the pass is bad, the setter needs to move quickly to the ball and
make an attempt to better the ball by putting it in a position to be attacked by one of her front
row or back row hitters. If she cannot get to the ball, she needs to call out to a teammate to let
them know that they need to make the second contact.
Opposite:
What is the Opposite volleyball position?
The opposite position gets its name because this player is placed opposite of the setter in the
rotation. The Opposite plays on the right side in the front and back row. Because of the location
on the court, the opposite may be responsible for some setting when the setter is unavailable.
What does the Opposite Do During a Play?
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Call out the opponent's hitters on the other side of the net before the serve.
Watch to see where the hitters are going and be ready to help out with blocking a shoot
set to the middle or an "X" play.
Set the block on the outside hitter so the middle can close to you
Be prepared to set the dig if it comes quickly and your setter cannot get there.
Cover your hitter if you do not get the set.
What Attributes Are Important in an Opposite?
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Good height
Good blocking skill
Good hands
Good passer
Quickness
Opposite in offense: Starting Position
The opposite plays at the net on the right side of the court. The opposite is responsible for
blocking the opponent's outside hitter and also helps out with blocking their middle if
appropriate. If the middle is a significant threat, the opposite may cheat in to the court a little to
help out blocking.
Play Development
When the ball is served, watch the hitters to see if they are switching and who is coming your
way. Call out any plays you see developing to help out the middle blocker. Help out with
blocking in the middle if necessary and if not, step out to the outside antenna and set the block
for the middle blocker. If the ball is set to the other side of the court, back off to the three meter
line to dig. Be ready to set the second ball if need be.
Opposite in defense: Before the Serve
The opposite may be one of the main passers in serve receive. However, if you are a key part of
the offense, you may have help from your teammates on serve receive so that you are freed up to
hit. Make sure to find out from your setter what play you are to run. Concentrate first on passing
the ball, but be cognizant of your hitting duties.