Volleyball players have six positions on the court. The six zones determine the positions in volleyball numbered 1 to 6. This does not mean that there are fixed zones for each player since, in volleyball, they have to rotate. We will name these six positions and explain how the rotation is performed.
Volleyball Team Positions and their roles
The opposite / Right side hitter
They are located on the right front-hand side of the court and hit from that angle. This position is very similar to the outside hitter.
They also can play in the back and front row. So it is very, very good, and learning how to hit and pass the ball is essential.
It’s optimal for them to learn how to serve, set, block, and spike. They can assist the setter if they call for help.
This is the best position to play for lefties. So, this might be your best position if you are a lefty.
Outside hitter
Now the outside, this is my favourite position.
They hit the ball on the left side of the court.
Outside is a great position to play for strong attackers. They can play front row and back row. So. it’s essential for them to learn how to pass and attack. They have to be all-round skilled players to navigate the entire court. Outside hitters are critical to the game. They are often set as the most and the strongest attacker on the team.
They must know how to nail the ball to the ground and read the court. That way, their team get kills and score more points.
When I first started playing volleyball, I started as a middle-blocker. However, as my hitting developed, I moved to an outside hitter, my favourite now.
Defensive specialist
The defensive specialist has long been valued as someone who can fill in for a hitter who may lack passing ability.
While defensive players may not rack up stats like assists, blocks, or kills…
A defensive specialist puts his blood and sweat all together to prevent the ball from falling to the ground.
They can be invaluable to a team by keeping rallies alive with high-quality passes on the back line.
Whether receiving service or during play, defensive specialists are expected to be in a position to provide the best pass to move the team from defence to good offensive play.
When implementing a defensive strategy, coaches need to be able to rely on strong backline players to fill in for lesser-quality passers as they rotate to the back three spots.
Many defensive game plans rely on the blocker covering half the court while other defenders stretch into the remaining spaces to pass.
With defence specialists, these strategies are possible to implement.
The DS generally rotates through the three back-row positions before being replaced by a front-row player. A team is only allowed 12 substitutions. Each time a DS enters the game, it is counted as one of the 12 substitutions. When the front-row player substitutes for the DS, it is counted as one of the 12 substitutions allowed.
Middle blockers
A Central Blocker, also called Central Attacker, is the one who executes the main block up front, as well as the attack through the centre, which has several variants.
No matter where the opponent’s attack occurs in the net, the centre-back must always be present for the block.
It is a position designed for the most effective blockers on the team.
Player height is a crucial factor in being an effective attacking or blocking centre-back, and this, combined with excellent jumping ability, agility and timing, makes him the perfect player.
Therefore, it is often occupied by the tallest players. Agile players are also required, as there needs to be more time to move in fast play.
The middle players transition into mid-attackers depending on whether their team is Blocking or attacking.
These players need to be quick and intelligent in both roles.
It would help if you had excellent ball reading technique, as well as being mobile enough and in a position to attack the ball quickly to get out of the net soon.
Setter
The setter position in volleyball is fundamental regarding the team’s offensive strategy and game distribution. Usually, one of the setter’s primary tasks is to make the second touch of the ball and pass it towards the spikers so that they carry out the attack.
The setter or passer needs to handle information and make decisions quickly. They must be fast volleyball players physically (to get to the ball) and mentally (to decide where and with whom to place the ball).
A setter can also be a hitter, depending on whether they are in the forward positions of the court. If the setter is on the front row, he can spike or fake to catch the opposing team’s defence off guard.
Good setters are often the smartest players on the team. They tend to have a soft and clean touch on the ball that allows them to make a perfect set and put the ball in the hands of the spiker. They must organise the attack and have a great vision of the game to decide where they will distribute the game.
Libero
Each volleyball team usually has two liberos, which cannot simultaneously be on the court. Liberos are easily spotted as their clothing differs from their team’s.
The liberos are the most technically gifted volleyball players, specialists in defence, reception and passing. They are the team leaders in organising the receiving and passing systems.
Liberos are the only players who can enter and leave after each point. Usually, the Libero will enter the court to replace a tall player and good attacker when it is his turn to occupy a defensive position, such as zone 6 (central defender).
Some rules that affect Libero
- The libero player cannot be the team captain.
- You are not allowed to serve.
- Nor is it allowed to block or attempt to block it.
- You cannot finish an attack while the ball is above the net’s top.
- When giving a finger pass in the attack zone, the shot must hit while the ball is below the top of the net.
- The Libero may only leave the field of play in substitution of the same player for whom he entered in substitution or of the other Libero.
SPIN IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN VOLLEYBALL
After serving, players rotate clockwise through the numbered positions/zones marked on the diagram. The player in zone 1 serves the ball for the given rotation.
Although players must remain in certain positions at the start of the game, they become an entirely different matter once the ball is served. That’s why you’ll see players swap positions when the ball is served in a match because players can move into their playing positions. For example, a left-centre-forward player may move to the centre-forward position immediately after receiving the serve.
With six volleyball players in each team on the court, everyone must know the position of each teammate so as not to bump into or interfere with each other. The general rule is that players can quickly move in an “L-shaped” pattern to enter their playing positions.
FAQs
Does height matter when choosing a volleyball position?
No official document regulates the minimum height of a volleyball player. So even if you are very short, you can still be a volleyball player, but of course, you are only limited to being a libero.
What are the best volleyball positions for short players?
The best volleyball positions for short players do not require extensive blocking or hitting. The Libero is ideal for short players, followed by the defensive specialist or setter.
What are the best volleyball positions for tall players?
Middle Blocker is the best volleyball position for you if you are tall.
What is the best volleyball position for me?
The best position for you will be the position you are already prepared for based on your athletic abilities, height, and speed. As you progress in volleyball and learn basic skills, you will find that you are naturally better at some skills than others. This is normal and often helps you find the right position for you.
Why can’t the Libero serve?
The Libero cannot serve, shoot or rotate to the forward line, so having a shorter and more acrobatic player with the facility to get to the ball to keep the play alive is convenient.
Conclusion
All volleyball positions are essential, but one of the ones that stand out the most due to its relevance during the game is the central position. Generally, he is the tallest player on the team, as he must position himself in the centre of the net (position 3). Their task is to block any shot from the rival and attack the ball when it is short and fast, that is when it is very close to the dividing mesh of both portions of the court.