Welcome to Volleyball.Com’s learn the terms page! We’ve compiled the best information available and created the most thorough volleyball terms list on the internet. Stay on top of volleyball terminology with Volleyball.Com. are not usually used on outdoor nets. before he jumps in the air. who attacks the ball for a kill. This stat is normally only logged for high school, college, and National/Olympic teamplay. ball to the floor on the opponent’s side. to block a spiked ball before it crosses the net. net on the third hit, 3)the ball is blocked by the opposition for a point or sideout, 4) the attacker is called for a center line violation, or 5) the attacker is called for illegal contact (lift, double hit…) on the attack. referred to as the “10-foot line.” 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. called a “Deep Dish” to deflect a spiked ball back to the hitter’s court. It may be a combination of one, two or three players jumping in front of the opposing spiker and contacting the spiked ball withthe hands. – a common term for forearm passing. a double hit, a thrown ball or a lift (except on a serve reception or attack). For our purposes, this category also includes any blocking errors (when an official calls a blocker for a violation such as going into the net, centerline violation, reaching over the net, etc.). – The use of joined forearms to pass or set a ball in an underhand manner. the players are encircling and staring at a campfire. the net and divides the court into two equal halves. block in which a ball cannot fit between the two individual blockers. net to the opposite sideline of the defensive team’s court. who will receive the set. an attacked ball at the net back to the hitter’s side. player. (Illegal) commonly played on a sand court. to block because it has been set too far from the net or the hitter is not under control. A “Down Ball” is hit overhand and driven over the net with topspin while the player remains standing. “Down Ball,” is usually called aloud by the defense when it becomes apparent the attacker has no chance of hitting a powerful spike. hitters and one setter. behind a quick hitter. ball” pitch in baseball. in an underhand motion. – A violation of the rules. hitters and two setters. resulting in a foul. forceful shot. give a hitter a chance to hit against a single block. for this type of game is “Picnic Volleyball.” the ball in its downward motion. attempting to play a ball above the net. of patterns or habits. – The marks that serve as boundaries of a court. closest to the hitter and outside the block. back player to cover deep spikes. back player to cover dinks or short shots. created by William Morgan. types of sets other than just normal outside sets. OFFSIDE BLOCK – Player at the net, which is on the side away from the opponent’s attack. OFF-SPEED HIT – Any ball spiked with less than maximum force but with spin. OUTSIDE HITTER – a left-front or right-front attacker normally taking an approach which starts from outside the court OVERHAND PASS – A pass executed with both hands open, controlled by the fingers and thumbs, played just above the forehead. OVERHAND SERVE – Serving the ball and striking it with the hand above the shoulder. OVERLAP – refers to the positions of the players in the rotation prior to the contact of the ball when serving. PANCAKE – A one-handed defensive technique where the hand is extended and the palm is slid along the floor as the player dives or extension rolls, and timed so that the ball bounces off the back of the hand. PASS see “Forearm Pass” the plane of the net during blocking. force by an attacking team. started by the Japanese. QUICK – a player approaching the setter for a quick inside hit QUICK SET – a set (usually 2’ above the net) in which the hitter is approaching the setter, and may even be in the air, before the setter delivers the ball. This type of set requires precise timing between the setter and hitter. READY POSITION – The flexed, yet comfortable, posture a player assumes before moving to contact the ball. RECEPTION ERROR – A serve that a player should have been able to return, but results in an ace (and only in the case of an ace). If it is a “husband/wife” play (where the ball splits the two receivers), the receiving team is given the reception error instead of an individual. RED CARD – a severe penalty in which an official displays a red card. The result of a red card may be a player is disqualified, the team loses the serve, or the team loses a point. A red card may be given with or without a prior yellow card as a warning; it is up to the official’s discretion. ROLL – a certain way to pass a ball in which the digger, or passer lays out an arm, passes the ball, and rolls over the shoulder (over the shoulder roll) or back (barrel roll) after passing the ball. This is a quick way to return to action after the play. ROOF – A ball that when spiked is blocked by a defensive player such that the ball deflects straight to the floor on the attacker’s side. ROTATION – The clockwise movement of players around the court and through the serving position following a side out. SERVE – One of the six basic skills; used to put the ball into play. It is the only skill controlled exclusively by one player. SERVER – The player who puts the ball into play. SERVICE ERROR – An unsuccessful serve in which one or more of the following occurs: 1) the ball hits the net or fails to clear the net, 2) the ball lands out of bounds, or 3) the server commits a foot fault. SERVICE WINNER – A point the serving team scores when this player has served the ball. The point can be an immediate (in the case of an ace) or delayed (a kill or opponent attack error after a long rally). Therefore, the sum of the team’s service winners equals their score. SET – The tactical skill in which a ball is directed to a point where a player can spike it into the opponent’s court. 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 normally runs the offense. SIDE OUT – Occurs when the receiving team successfully puts the ball away against the serving team, or when the serving team commits an unforced error, and the receiving team thus gains the right to serve. SIX PACK – Occurs when a blocker gets hit in the head or face by a spiked ball. SIX-TWO – A 6-player offense using 2 setters opposite one another in the rotation. Setter 1 becomes a hitter upon rotating into the front row as setter 2 rotates into the back row and becomes the setter. SPIKE – Also 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. STRONG SIDE – When a right-handed hitter is hitting from the left-front position or when a left-handed hitter is hitting from the right-front position. STUFF – A ball that is deflected back to the attacking team’s floor by the opponent’s blockers. A slang term for “block.” TURNING IN – the act of an outside blocker turning his/her body into the court so as to ensure the blocked ball is deflected into the court and lands in-bounds. UNDERHAND SERVE – a serve in which the ball is given a slight under-hand toss from about waist high and then struck with the opposite closed fist in an “underhand pitching” motion. WEAK SIDE – When a right-handed player is hitting from right-front position or when a left-handed player is hitting from the left-front position. WIPE – when a hitter pushes the ball off of the opposing block so it lands out of bounds YELLOW CARD – a warning from an official indicated by the display of a yellow card. Any player or coach who receives two yellow cards in a match is disqualified. A single yellow card does not result in loss of point or serve. |