How Are Volleyball Players Organized?

If you have ever wondered how a volleyball team is organized, here is a quick explanation of the different volleyball players positions.

What Are Volleyball Players' Responsibilities?

Volleyball is an organized team sport with six volleyball players per team and played on a court. A game consists of two opposing teams. Each team forms two rows of three on each side of the court.

There are six different positions per team: Setter, Outside, Opposite, Defensive Specialist, Libero, and Middle.

Liberos must possess the ability and skills to play in any position, as they may be put into any position at any given time during a game.

🏐A good Setter must be able to read the court well.

The Setter is the position that controls the offense of the game. A Setter must possess a well-rounded volleyball skill set. The position requires speed, agility, passing and attacking, leadership, and communication. The Setter always gets the second ball and sets the ball for the attackers.

🏐A good Opposite will have skills in attacking, blocking, passing, and serving.

The Opposite, also known as the Right-Side Hitter, is located on the right front side of the court and must hit the ball on the court from the right-side angle. Opposites play both the back and front row. If the Setter calls for help, the Opposite will assist in setting the ball. This position is well-suited for left handed players.

The Opposite, also known as the Right-Side Hitter, is located on the right front side of the court and must hit the ball on the court from the right-side angle.

🏐The skills of the Outside include setting, attacking, blocking, passing, serving, and is often the position that spikes the ball and scores points for the team.

The Outside is an offensive position located on the left front side of the court. Outsides can also play both front and back rows. The position calls for the player to be the strongest attacker on the team. Because the Outside navigates the entire court, the position requires the player to be an extremely well-rounded.

The Libero is strictly a back-row position, but the player in this position can enter/exit the game without subbing out. The Libero’s jersey color is different from the other players’ uniforms on the court. This a defensive position that requires the strongest of passing skills so that the player may get the ball to the Setter.

🏐Middles need to have strong skills in blocking, attacking, agility, strategy and communication.

The Middle, or Middle Blocker (MB), is a defensive position located in the middle front of the court. This is the main position that blocks the ball from passing over the net. The MB often works with other front row positions to block the ball.

The Middle, or Middle Blocker (MB), is a defensive position located in the middle front of the court.

The Defensive Specialist (DS) must possess a well-rounded skill set, mainly due to the fact that this position allows the player to sub for any player on the team. The DS usually subs for less skilled passing players in the back row. DS skills include blocking, passing, agility, strategy and communication. This position may be played in either the front or back row. If the DS is in the front row, the player will focus on blocking the ball from coming over the net. If the DS is in the back row, the goal is to prevent the ball from hitting the floor.

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