Rotation - Positions

In traditional indoor volleyball, there are six players on the court at a time for each team. Each of these players starts in a specific location which is aptly named by its placement on the court. The front row players are the left front, (4), middle front, (3) and right front, (2). The back row players are the left back, (5), middle back, (6) and right back, (1).

These locations are not to be confused with the position you play -- setter, middle blocker, outside hitter, opposite or libero. The locations are your starting positions, meaning that is where you start before the ball is served. Each player, with the exception of the libero will rotate to each position on the court, both front row and back row.

Front row players play at the net and are responsible for blocking and hitting, while back row players play deep in the court and are responsible for digging and defense. Back row players (with the exception of the libero) can attack the ball as long as they take off for their jump behind the ten foot line.

Each time a team wins a side out, or gets possession of the serve, the new serving team rotates clockwise. Each player rotates one spot -- the left front rotates to the middle front position, the middle front rotates to the right front position, the right front rotates to the right back position and so on. The new right back serves the ball.

If you are a middle blocker and you start the match in the left front position, you can move to the middle position just after the serve is contacted. If you switch to your position before the ball is served, you will get called for an overlap or for being out of position which is a point for the other team.

Volleyball players always need to be mindful of their position on the court and make sure they are in the right place in relation to their teammates.

In the six person game, each player must keep track of where they are in relation to the players around them. When a player leaves before the ball is served or is in the wrong position in relation to her teammates, it is called an overlap.

To comply with the rules, left and right side players need to be wary of the players directly ahead and behind them in the rotation. For example, the left back needs to make sure that she is behind the left front and to the left of the middle back. A good rule of thumb is to think of it as an "L" shape. In the diagram above, the blue arrows correspond to the players the left back must be mindful of. Similarly, the right back needs to make sure she is to the right of the middle back and behind the right front. An upside down "L" shape also applies to the left front and right front.

Middle front and middle back players have to be mindful of the players on both sides of them and directly behind them. A middle front has to be to the right of the left front, to the left of the right front and in front of the middle back. Think of this as a "T" shape, the red arrows in the diagram.

These rules apply before the ball is put in play both for the serving team and the receiving team. Many different formations can be used to receive serve as long as these rules are followed. If a team does not follow these rules, they will be called for an overlap and the other team scores a point.