They make sure players are in the right spots. “It’s the most cliche analogy in our sport, but the setter is like the quarterback of the team,” said Brian Rosen, assistant women’s volleyball coach at Creighton University. Below, volleyball coaches unpack all the specifics, plus how the positions rotate around the court. Read on to understand all of these positions - what they’re called, what each position does and what type of player tends to excel in those roles. The players in the back row are a combination of setters, defensive specialists and a type of player called the libero, who wears a different color jersey from the rest of the team. The players in the front row typically are specialized in blocking when on defense and jumping, spiking and scoring while on offense. On each team, three players must begin the play in front of this line, and three players begin the play behind it.
This is called the 10-foot line or 3-meter line.
On either side of the net, the volleyball court is divided into two zones by a horizontal line across the court. Volleyball games involve a dozen players, each with a specific space and role on the court. With all the jumping, swinging, spiking and yelling on the court, being a spectator at a volleyball game can be a lot for new fans to take in all at once.
