Volleyball Rotation for a 5-1 in a three-passer system KEY: Front row players are shown with a black outline! 5-1 means there are five hitters and one setter. With two setters (6-2), the rotations with the setter in the back row are used for both setters. The most basic rule is that all hitters have a home—outside, middle, or opposite. Setters and opposites always play right-side defense. Most teams have their defensive specialist substitute for at least one middle hitter in the back row. This three-passer system assumes the best passers to be the outside hitters and that three players can cover most serves. Variations can be made to let a front-row player cover very short serves or to allow right-side hitters to pass instead. Not all teams place outsides in middle-back and middles on the left side as shown throughout this PowerPoint. Doing so as shown permits the outside hitter to hit a back-row attack from the middle of the court. Players move much more than this presentation shows Middle blockers and outside hitters work together to “double block” the other team’s hitters. All of the players move to cover their team’s hitter in case of a block. For each hitting situation, the defense shifts into a specific arrangement.

SERVE! Rotational Positions Setter serving in position one. I Setter IV III II V VI I Middle Outside Opposite Outside Middle (Sub) SERVE! Setter

SERVE! We sent it back. Switch! Rotational Positions Serve Receive with setter in position one. IV III II V VI I We sent it back. Switch! Outside Middle Setter Opposite Middle (Sub) Outside

SERVE! Rotational Positions Outside serving with setter in six. Notice that the setter is allowed to cross over the server and start in her home position. IV III II V VI I Opposite Outside Middle Middle (Sub) Setter SERVE! Outside

SERVE! We sent it back. Switch! Rotational Positions Serve Receive with setter in six. IV III II V VI I Notice that the three back row players are in line left-to-right (middle, setter, outside) We sent it back. Switch! Opposite Setter Middle Outside Outside Middle (Sub)

SERVE! Rotational Positions Middle serving with setter in five. Setter III II V VI I Middle Outside Opposite Setter Outside SERVE! Middle

SERVE! We sent it back. Switch! Rotational Positions Serve Receive with setter in five. IV III II V VI I We sent it back. Switch! Middle Setter Opposite Outside Middle (Sub) Outside

SERVE! Rotational Positions Opposite serving with setter in four. IV III II V VI I Middle Outside Setter Middle (Sub) Outside SERVE! Opposite

SERVE! We sent it back. Switch! Rotational Positions Serve Receive with setter in four. Sometimes a team will have the outside hitter hit on the right side and then switch after sending the ball over. IV III II V VI I We sent it back. Switch! Alternative Setter This setup lets us have an outside and middle hitter for the first ball. Middle Another alternative Outside Middle (Sub) Outside Opposite

SERVE! Rotational Positions Outside serving with setter in three. Notice that the opposite in the back row is allowed to cross over the server and start in her home position. IV III II V VI I Outside Setter Middle Opposite Middle (Sub) SERVE! Outside

SERVE! We sent it back. Switch! Rotational Positions Serve Receive with setter in three. IV III II V VI I We sent it back. Switch! Setter Middle Also ok… Outside Middle (Sub) Outside Opposite

SERVE! Rotational Positions Middle serving with setter in two. Setter IV III II V VI I Middle Outside Setter Opposite SERVE! Outside Middle

SERVE! We sent it back. Switch! Rotational Positions Serve Receive with setter in two. IV III II V VI I We sent it back. Switch! Setter Middle Also ok; common for Middle School Outside Middle (Sub) Outside Opposite