Volleyball positions and systems can be difficult for new players and fans to learn; however, they are essential if you want to play and understand organized volleyball. Furthermore, they will make volleyball much more enjoyable to play or watch.

But why would teams use systems? Systems enable them to unlock many more scoring opportunities and organize the passing, setting, blocking, and defense more efficiently.

1. Setter:

The setter is the key player who makes the plays for the team. They have to set the ball to the available hitters. Their main playing zone is on the right side of the court, both in the front and the back row (Blocking in zone 2 and defending in zone 1). After the reception or transition, they must run under the ball fast to set it more efficiently or dump it with a second touch, trying to score.

2. Outside Hitter

Outside hitters are the players in the front row who play on the left side of the net (zone 4) and in zone 6 when in the back row. They are the most versatile players and need to do basically everything on the court: passing, attacking, blocking, serving, and, on top-level teams, even setting. They run pipe attacks when back row, giving the team additional attack. The player must not step over the 3m line for back-row attacks.

3. Opposite hitters

Opposites are the same as setters’ right-side players, but their primary job is to attack, attack, and attack. Like outside hitters, they must be careful not to step over a 3m line for back-row attacks. However, besides attacking, they must also be great at blocking and serving. In the rotation, they are positioned opposite to the setter.

4. Middle Blocker

The middle blockers’ main objective is to block the opponent’s attack. Playing in the middle (zone 3), they have to be ready to connect to either a two-man or three-man block. They must read the setter well to know where the set will go. But besides blocking, middle blockers have to be great attackers as well. After every reception, they must approach for a quick attack, the most efficient attack option. In one rotation, they need to serve and defend as well. However, after the point is lost, the libero substitutes them.

5. The libero

The libero is the player wearing a different jersey. They usually substitute the serving middle blocker after the team loses a point; however, they can sub any back-row nonserving player. What differentiates the libero from the other positions are the rules. They cannot set overhead inside the 3m line, they cannot serve, and there is no limit to substitutions. Their main playing position is in zone 5. Liberos are the main players who lead the team’s defensive tasks, and together with 2 outside hitters, they form the receiving lineup.

positioning Rotation by Rotation in a 5-1 system (with pictures For Visualisation)

Before serving, the players must be in their own starting position before switching to their playing zones. If they do this too early, the opponent will be awarded a point. Here are examples of base starting positioning in both side-out and serve situations.

Setter Zone 1

setter Zone 6

Setter Zone 5

Setter Zone 4

Setter Zone 3

Setter Zone 2