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Volleyball Terminologies
Volleyball Terminologies
Note: A serve that results directly in a point, usually when the ball hits the floor untouched on
the receiving team’s side of the court.
Note: Passing or setting the ball to a teammate who attacks the ball for a kill. This stat is
normally only logged for high school, college, and National/Olympic team play.
Note: The attempt by one team to terminate the play by hitting the ball to the floor on the
opponents side.
Attacker: Also “hitter” and “spiker.” A player who attempts to hit a ball offensively with the
purpose of terminating play.
Note: Receiving players’ aggressive attempt to block a spiked ball before it crosses the net.
Attack Error: An attack botched in one of 5 ways: ball lands out of bounds; ball goes into net;
attacker commits center line or net violation or attacker illegally contacts ball.
Attack Line: A line 3 meters/10 feet away from, and parallel to, the net. Separates the front-row
players from the back-row players. A back-row player cannot legally attack the ball above the
net unless he takes off from behind this line.
B
Note: There are 3 players whose court positions are in this area (positions 1, 6 & 5 on court)
Ball Handling Error: Any time the official calls a double hit, a thrown ball or a lift.
Back Row Attack: When a back-row player takes off from behind the attack line (10-foot/3-
meter) line and attacks the ball. Various terms A-B-C-D-PIPE-BIC.
Note: When a back row player attacks the ball by jumping from behind the 3m line before hitting
the ball. If the back row player steps on or past the 3m line during take-off, the attack is illegal.
Baseline: The back boundary of the court. Also called the end line
Block: One of the 6 basic skills. A defensive play by one or more front-row players meant to
intercept a spiked ball. The combination of one, 2 or 3 players jumping in front of the opposing
spiker and contacting the spiked ball with the hands.
Note: Blocking is the action of players close to the net to intercept the ball coming from the
opponent by reaching higher than the top of the net, regardless of the height of the ball contact.
Only front-row players are permitted to complete a block, but at the moment of the contact with
the ball, a part of the body must be higher than the top of the net.
Blocking Error: Touching the net, crossing the centerline, blocking a set or serve or any other
“local” violation that occurs while making a block attempt.
Note: An unsuccessful block which does one of the following: 1. the ball is deflected off the
blockers and goes out of bounds, 2. the ball goes into the net and terminates the play, 3. the
blocker reaches over the net interfering with the opponents ability to play the ball-providing they
have one contact left, 4. the blocker commits a net violation or center line violation.
Center line: The boundary that runs under the net and divides the court into two equal halves.
Closing the block: The responsibility of the assisting blocker(s) to angle their body relative to
the first blocker.
“Cover”: Refers to the hitter having his/her teammates ready to retrieve rebounds from the
opposing blockers.
Cross-court attack: An attack directed diagonally from the point of attack. Also called an angle
hit.
Cut shot: A spike from the hitter’s strong side that travels at a sharp angle across the net.
Deep: Refers to sending the ball away from the net, toward the baseline of the opponent’s court.
Defense: One of the 6 basic skills. The key skills used to receive the opponent's attack are
digging and sprawling. The dig resembles a forearm pass from a low ready position and is used
more for balls that are hit near the defender. The sprawl is a result of an attempted dig for a ball
hit farther away from the defender. It resembles a dive.
Dig: Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball and low to ground. Defensive play. Slang for retrieving
an attacked ball close to the floor. Statistically scored on a 3.0 point system.
Dink: A one-handed, soft hit into the opponent’s court using the fingertips. Also called a tip.
Double block: Two players working in unison to intercept a ball at the net.
Down Ball: Type of attack. “Down” refers to the blockers who neither jump, nor raise their
hands above the net.
Dump: Usually performed by the setter, who delivers the ball into the opponent’s court on the
second contact.
Five-One (5-1): An offensive system that uses five hitters and one setter.
Follow: To move with and block an attacker. Athletes may change positions with another
blocker in the process.
Four-Two (4-2): An offensive system using four hitters and two setters.
Free ball: Returning the ball to the opponent without the intent to get a kill. Usually a slow,
arcing pass or “roll” shot rather than a spike.
Front: Position of a blocker so that she/he can block the attacker.
Front-row: Three players whose court position is in front of the attack line (3M/10 Foot), near
the net. These players are in positions 2, 3 & 4 on the court.
Game plan: Offensive and defensive emphasis for an opponent. Usually organized for each
rotation by the coaching staff.
Held ball: A ball that comes to rest during contact resulting in a violation.
Hit: One of the 6 basic skills. To jump and strike the ball with an overhand, forceful shot.
Hitter: Also “spiker” or “attacker.” The player who is responsible for hitting the ball.
Hitting percentage: A statistic derived from total kills minus total attack errors, divided by total
attempts.
Joust: When 2 opposing players contact the ball simultaneously above the net causing the ball to
momentarily come to rest; the point is replayed if this is called by the official.
Jump serve: The server uses an approach, toss, takeoff and serves the ball with a spiking motion
while in the air. There are two main types: jump float, jump spin.
Key player/play : To discern a team’s best player or probable next play by observation of
patterns or habits.
Libero: A player specialized in defensive skills. This player must wear a contrasting jersey color
from his or her teammates and cannot block or attack the ball when it is entirely above net
height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row player without prior
notice to the officials.
Lines: The marks that serve as boundaries of a court. 2 inches (5cm) wide.
Linesman: Officials located at the corners of the court; each linesman is responsible for ruling if
the ball is legally in play along the lines for which he or she is responsible. For indicating
touches and play outside of the antennae on their side of net.
Lineup: Players starting rotation and, therefore, serving order. Numbered 1,2,3,4,5,6.
Line serve: A straight-ahead serve landing near the opponent’s left sideline.
Line shot: A ball spiked along an opponent’s sideline, closest to the hitter and outside the block.
Load: Body position for the blockers so that they are most effective.
Middle back: A defensive system that uses the middle back player in 6 to cover deep spikes.
Also called “6 back” defense.
Middle blocker: Usually plays in the middle of the net when in the front row and moves
laterally to her blocking assignments.
Middle Up: A defensive system that uses the middle-back player in 6 to cover tips or short shots
along the 3 meter/10 foot line. Also called a “6 up” defense
Mintonette: The original name of the game of volleyball, created by William Morgan.
Off-blocker: Outside blocker not included in the double block. Also called off-side blocker.
Off-Speed Shots: An attack that is intentionally slow. Ball spiked with less than maximum force
but with spin. Also called “roll” shot.
Opposite: Player who plays opposite the setter in the rotation. In some systems, this player is
also a setter. In other systems, this player is called a right-side.
Outside hitter: Usually plays at the ends of the net when in the front row. Also called right-side
(opposite) or left side (power).
Overhand pass: A pass with both hands open that is controlled by the fingers, with the face
below the ball. Both hands simultaneously contact the ball above the head and direct it to the
intended target.
Overhand serve: Serving the ball and striking it with the hand above the shoulder. Float or spin.
Overlap: A violation called if a team is lined up out of rotation when the ball is served.
Overset: An errant set that crosses the net without being touched by another offensive player.
Pass: One of the 6 basic skills. Receiving a serve or the first contact of the ball with the intent to
control the ball to another player. Also called a “bump”.
Pancake: One-hand floor defensive technique where the hand is extended and slid along the
floor palm down while the player dives or extension rolls so the ball bounces off the back of the
hand and is considered legal.
Party ball: When the ball is passed across the net in front of attack line so the front-row attacker
can immediately hit the ball on the first contact.
Penetration: The blocker’s ability to reach over the net above the opponent’s court.
Perimeter: Backcourt defense where 4 players arrange themselves near the boundaries of the
court.
Quick set: An extremely low vertical set used to beat the opponent’s block. Can be set at any
position on the net.
Rally scoring: Scoring method where points can be won by the serving or receiving team.
Ready position: The flexed, yet comfortable, posture a player assumes before moving to the
point of contact.
Red card: Given by the official to a player or coach for flagrant misconduct resulting in a
point/side out to the opponent. Results in automatic ejection and a point/side out for the
opponent.
Serve: One of the 6 basic skills. Used to put the ball into play. It is the only skill controlled
exclusively by one player.
Set: One of the 6 basic skills. The tactical skill in which a ball is directed to a point where a
player can spike it into the opponent’s court. Sets can be set at different heights and different
locations on the net and offensively there are names for each of these. First number is location on
net and second. First number is location on net and second number height of set. (Example: 13.)
Sets can also be named.
Setter: the player who has the 2nd of 3 contacts of the ball who 'sets' the ball with an overhand
pass for a teammate to hit. The setter is like the quarterback in football - they run the offense.
Set attack: When a setter attempts to score rather than set the ball to a setter. Also called a shoot
set. Setter: The second passer whose job it is to position a pass to the hitter.
Side out: Change of service when a serving team has failed to score a point. Occurs when the
receiving team successfully puts the ball away against the serving team, or when the serving
team commits an unforced error.
Six-two (6-2): An offense with four spikers and two spiker/setters. Setter comes from the back
row.
Spike: Also called a hit or attack. A ball contacted with force by a player on the offensive team
who intends to terminate the ball on the opponent’s floor or off the opponent’s blocker.
Stuff: A ball deflected back to the attacking team’s floor by the opponent’s blockers.
Substitution: Allows one player to replace another player already on the court. Rules dictate
number of subs each team is allowed.
Switch: To change court positions after a ball is served to facilitate strongest player positions.
Three-meter line: The line extended across the court to signify the point which a back-row
player must leave the ground behind to attack the ball. Also call “attack line” and 10-foot line
Tip: A one-handed, soft hit into the opponent’s court using the fingertips. Also called a dink.
Tool: When an attacker hits the ball off an opposing blocker’s arms out of bounds. Also called a
wipe.
Underhand serve: A serve performed with an underhand striking action. The ball is usually
contacted with the heel of the hand.
W serve-receive formation: Three players in the front row, two in the back.
Wipe: To deliberately spike the ball off an opponent’s hands and out of bounds. Also called a
tool.
Yellow Card: Given by the official to a player or coach as a warning of misconduct. Two yellow
cards result in an automatic red card
Reference: https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/basic-volleyball-rules-and-terminology/
Essay
Direction: Give at least five terminologies in volleyball and define each briefly.