Originally created by Malissa Williams, revised by Tom Craig ALIGNMENT FOR BEGINNERS Rule 6, The Team: Composition and Positions, Section 4, Player Positions Originally created by Malissa Williams, revised by Tom Craig Version 30 10 MAR 11

PLAYER POSITIONS Rule 6, Section 4, Article 1 The positions of players in order of serve shall be RB, RF, CF, LF, LB, CB. In order to understand this rule you must know the names, abbreviations, and actual positions on the floor of the different players positions.

PLAYER POSITIONS SERVING TEAM FROM THE SERVER RB - I - 1 - Right Back NET FROM THE SERVER RB - I - 1 - Right Back RF - II - 2 - Right Front CF - III - 3 - Center Front LF - IV - 4 - Left Front LB - V - 5 - Left Back CB - VI - 6 - Center Back CF LF RF III II I CB LB IV V RB VI

SERVING TEAM Service Order: RB, RF, CF, LF, LB, CB I RB II RF III CF NET Team Roster & Line Up CF LF RF I I RB II RF III CF IV LF V LB VI CB III II CB LB V IV RB VI

PLAYER POSITIONS Rule 6, Section 4, Article 1 The positions of players in order of serve shall be RB, RF, CF, LF, LB, CB. The receiving team lines up one back for the first serve of each set ONLY because they have to rotate when they win a rally and are awarded the serve and then the RB will be the first server.

Service Order: RF, CF, LF, LB, CB, RB Used for the start of a set only RECEIVING TEAM Service Order: RF, CF, LF, LB, CB, RB Used for the start of a set only Team Roster & Line Up NET CF LF RF I I RF II CF III LF IV LB V CB VI RB III II CB LB RB IV V VI The first server for the receiving team (for the start of the set ONLY) will be the RF because they have to rotate when they win a rally and get the serve.

TEAM LINE UP R2 LINE UP CARD GAME 1 S or R S BLUE - C C L: 4 SERVE ORDER PLAYER NO. 36c 36c I 16 16 I I I I I 8 8 50 50 I V V 26 26 V I 12 12 T1 T2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 4 Libero

THE SERVE Rule 8, Section 2, Article 1 The first server of the set is the right back position of the serving team. Thereafter, when a team is awarded a loss of rally, the player in the right front position rotates to serve. The RF on either team is always the next player listed after the last server (RB). In this system, the R2 makes a mark on their LUC each time a player begins a term of service. (Not mandatory but highly recommended). How do you know who the 3 front row players (RF-CF-LF) are if you don’t know who served last (RB)? For this class we will only be using position names, in your own chapter, referees need to learn how check player positions using the line up card and players numbers .

HOW TO CHECK PLAYER POSITIONS Before the start of almost every rally it is necessary for the R2 to check that players on the receiving team are in their correct positions and that there are no illegal alignments or over lapping. How does the R2 do this ? They use the R2 LUC. They find out who served last, the RB. The next 3 numbers after that number are the 3 front row players (RF-CF-LF). The next 3 numbers listed are the 3 back row players (LB-CB-RB). Find the last server, get the front 3 off your LUC and check them on the court, then get the back 3 off your LUC and check them on the court. This should take about 10 seconds, then put your LUC card down and watch play. Using a LUC is a DEAD BALL SKILL. SOME EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE - 1 BLUE - C C L: 4 S 36c 16 8 50 26 12 RB LF CF RF LB CB First round of serves Last Server ? Front 3 ? Back 3 ?

EXAMPLE - 2 BLUE - C C L: 4 S 36c 16 8 50 26 12 RB RF CF LF LB CB First round of serves Last Server ? Front 3 ? Back 3 ?

EXAMPLE - 3 BLUE - C C L: 4 S 36c 16 8 50 26 12 RB RF CF LF LB CB Second round of serves Last Server ? Front 3 ? Back 3 ?

EXAMPLE - 4 BLUE - C C L: 4 S 36c Third round of serves 16 8 50 26 12 Last Server ? Front 3 ? Back 3 ?

GOING FROM THE CARD TO THE COURT BLUE - C C L: 4 36c RF 16 CF LF 8 50 LB 26 CB RB 12 R2 LINE UP CARD

GOING FROM THE CARD TO THE COURT NET 16 BLUE RECEIVING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE 36 8 12 50 26

PLAYER POSITIONS Rule 6, Section 4, Article 3 a. AT THE MOMENT OF SERVE All players, except the server and including the libero, shall be within the team’s playing area and may be in contact with boundary lines or the center line, but may not have any part of the body touching the floor outside of those lines. This is usually determined by the position of the players feet touching the floor.

LEGAL Side Line or center line or ILLEGAL OUT OF BOUNDS IN BOUNDS

LEGAL or Side Line or center line ILLEGAL OUT OF BOUNDS IN BOUNDS

Signal for Illegal Alignment R2 MECHANIC The violation can only be whistled once the ball is contacted for serve and at that moment, a player is touching the floor out of bounds or across the center line.

PLAYER POSITIONS - RIGHT Rule 6, Section 4, Article 3 b. AT THE MOMENT OF SERVE Each right-side player shall have at least part of one foot touching the floor closer to the right sideline than both feet of the center player in the corresponding row (except the server and the center back of the serving team). In an actual match, you would use the R2’s line up card to find out the players numbers that are right side. In the examples that follow we will only use position names.

PROPER ALIGNMENT - RIGHT NET Right side players must be closer to the right sideline than the center player in their corresponding row. LF CF RF LB CB RB LET’S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES

ALIGNMENT - RIGHT SIDE - 1 CF LEGAL RIGHT SIDE LINE or RF ILLEGAL

ALIGNMENT - RIGHT SIDE - 2 CF LEGAL RIGHTSIDE LINE or RF ILLEGAL

ALIGNMENT - RIGHT SIDE - 3 CF But don’t go looking for trouble here, if they are very close to even and you can’t be absolutely sure, let it go. LEGAL WHY ? ? or RIGHT SIDE LINE ILLEGAL The RF must have at least part of one foot closer to the right sideline than the CF, even IS NOT closer. RF

ALIGNMENT - RIGHT SIDE - 4 LEGAL CF RIGHT SIDE LINE or RF ILLEGAL

PLAYER POSITIONS - LEFT Rule 6, Section 3, Article 3 b. AT THE MOMENT OF SERVE Each left-side player shall have at least part of one foot touching the floor closer to the left sideline than both feet of the center player in the corresponding row (except the server and the center back of the serving team).

PROPER ALIGNMENT - LEFT NET Left side players must have at least one foot closer to the left sideline than the center player in their corresponding row. LF CF RF LB CB RB LET’S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES

ALIGNMENT – LEFT - 1 LEGAL CF LEFT SIDE LINE or LF ILLEGAL

ALIGNMENT - LEFT - 2 CF LEGAL LEFT SIDE LINE or LF ILLEGAL

CF or LF LEGAL WHY ? ? ILLEGAL ALIGNMENT - LEFT - 3 LEFT SIDE LINE The LF must have at least part of one foot closer to the left sideline than the CF, even IS NOT closer.

ALIGNMENT - LEFT - 4 CF LEGAL or LEFT SIDE LINE ILLEGAL LF

FRONT and BACK ROW Rule 6, Section 3, Article 3 b. PLAYER POSITIONS - FRONT and BACK ROW Rule 6, Section 3, Article 3 b. AT THE MOMENT OF SERVE Each front-row player shall have at least part of one foot touching the floor closer to the center line than both feet of the corresponding back row player. In a real match you would use the R2’s line up card and players numbers to determine front & back row players. In these examples, we will only use position names.

PROPER ALIGNMENT - F & B NET CENTER LINE LF CF RF Front row players must have at least one foot in contact with the floor closer to the center line than their corresponding back row player. LB CB RB

PROPER ALIGNMENT - F & B In the following examples the same rules apply to the following pairs: LF - LB CF - CB RF - RB We will only be showing examples of the CF and CB LET’S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES

LEGAL ILLEGAL ALIGNMENT - F & B - 1 CB CF CENTER LINE WHY: One part of the CF’s foot is closer to the center line than both feet of the CB CF LEGAL ILLEGAL

WHY ? LEGAL ILLEGAL ALIGNMENT - F & B - 2 CB or CF CENTER LINE The CF must have at least part of one foot closer to the center line than both feet of the CB, here the CF is obviously behind the CB. LEGAL CB or CF ILLEGAL

ADJACENT PLAYERS Rule 6, section 4 states that players must be properly aligned with the players in front and in back of them and to the left and right of them in corresponding rows. Another term for players in corresponding rows and positions (left to right and front to back row) is adjacent players.

ADJACENT PLAYERS Illegal alignment (overlapping) only occurs between adjacent players. The arrows below show adjacent players. NET CF LF RF CB RB LB

NON - ADJACENT PLAYERS CAN Players that are not in in corresponding rows or positions are NOT adjacent and cannot be illegally aligned with each other. LF CF RF LB CB RB NON ADJACENT PLAYERS CAN OVERLAP EACH OTHER

NON - ADJACENT PLAYERS OVERLAPPING CF LET’S CHECK THEM CB The CB is in front of the LF LEGAL They ARE NOT adjacent Front Row LF Back Row RF LB RB Front & Back LEGAL ILLEGAL

ADJACENT PLAYERS - 3.b. FRONT ROW Adjacent players are circled FRONT ROW NET Must be Player Aligned with RB RF CF LF LB CB CF, LB, RB LF CF RF LB CB RB NOTICE: the LF and CB ARE NOT adjacent, therefore the CB CAN be in front of the LF

ADJACENT PLAYERS Now let’s look at each player position and who they must be properly aligned with.

ADJACENT PLAYERS - 1 RIGHT FRONT LF CF RF Must be Player Aligned with NET LF CF RF Must be Player Aligned with RF CF, RB CF LF LB CB RB LB CB RB

ADJACENT PLAYERS - 2 CENTER FRONT Must be Player Aligned with RF NET Must be Player Aligned with RF CF CB, LF, RF LF LB CB RB LF CF RF LB CB RB

ADJACENT PLAYERS - 3 LEFT FRONT Must be Player Aligned with RF CF NET Must be Player Aligned with RF CF LF LB, CF LB CB RB LF CF RF LB CB RB

ADJACENT PLAYERS - 4 LEFT BACK Must be Player Aligned with RF CF LF NET Must be Player Aligned with RF CF LF LB LF, CB CB RB LF CF RF LB CB RB

ADJACENT PLAYERS - 5 CENTER BACK Must be Player Aligned with RF CF LF NET Must be Player Aligned with RF CF LF LB CB CF, LB, RB RB LF CF RF LB CB RB

ADJACENT PLAYERS - 6 RIGHT BACK LF CF RF Must be Player Aligned with NET LF CF RF Must be Player Aligned with RF CF LF LB CB RB RF, CB LB CB RB

PLAYER POSITIONS Rule 6, Section 3, Article 3 c. After the ball is contacted for serve, players may move from their respective positions. Why do players move ? Usually a team moves to get into better offensive or defensive positions; setter, middle blocker, outside hitter, opposite hitter, defensive specialist, etc. How do you check players positions quickly and accurately ?

Situation - 1 or LF RF LEGAL LB RB CF ILLEGAL CB R1 R2 LET’S CHECK THEM Situation - 1 R1 R2 LF RF FRONT ROW LEGAL LB RB or CF BACK ROW ILLEGAL CB RF and CF are overlapping FRONT to BACK

Situation - 2 or LF LEGAL LB CF ILLEGAL CB RF RB R1 R2 PROBLEM LET’S CHECK THEM Situation - 2 R1 R2 LF FRONT ROW LEGAL or LB CF ILLEGAL CB RF and CF are overlapping RF PROBLEM RB BACK ROW The RB does not have at least one foot closer to the right sideline than the CF

NO NEED TO CHECK FRONT & BACK Situation - 3 LET’S CHECK THEM R1 R2 FRONT ROW CF LEGAL CB or LF RF ILLEGAL PROBLEM RF and CF are overlapping LB NO NEED TO CHECK FRONT & BACK RB BACK ROW The RB does not have at least one foot closer to the right sideline than the CF

NO NEED TO CHECK ANY MORE LET’S CHECK THEM Situation - 4 R1 R2 LF FRONT ROW LEGAL LB PROBLEM or RF CF ILLEGAL RF and CF are overlapping NO NEED TO CHECK ANY MORE RB CB BACK ROW IS LEGAL The LF does not have at least one foot closer to the left sideline than the CF

Situation - 5 or LF LEGAL LB RF CF ILLEGAL RB CB R1 R2 LET’S CHECK THEM R1 R2 LF LEGAL LB FRONT ROW or RF CF ILLEGAL RF and CF are overlapping RB CB BACK ROW FRONT to BACK All players are in legal positions

Situation - 6 or LF LB LEGAL RF ILLEGAL RB CF CB R1 R2 LET’S CHECK THEM R1 R2 LF LB LEGAL FRONT ROW or RF ILLEGAL RB RF and CF are overlapping FRONT to BACK CF BACK ROW CB Stack Left Offense

NO NEED TO CHECK ANY MORE Situation - 7 LET’S CHECK THEM R1 R2 RF FRONT ROW LEGAL PROBLEM or FRONT to BACK ILLEGAL LF LB RF and CF are overlapping NO NEED TO CHECK ANY MORE RB CF CB BACK ROW The LF does not have at least one foot closer to the left sideline than the CF

NO NEED TO CHECK ANY MORE Situation - 8 LET’S CHECK THEM FRONT ROW R1 R2 LF RF CF LEGAL PROBLEM or ILLEGAL CB LB RB NO NEED TO CHECK ANY MORE RF and CF are overlapping A common MS mistake BACK ROW FRONT to BACK The LF is not closer to the left sideline than the CF

Signal for Illegal Alignment R2 MECHANIC Blow the whistle, you are already on the side of the offending team, give the signal. and indicate which players are aligned illegally. Give their numbers and positions.

Make the call with CONFIDENCE Once the ball is contacted for serve and you have an illegal alignment. Blow your whistle to stop play. (Receiving team is out of position). As the R2 you are already on the receiving side for the serve, so there is no need to move, give the signal with the arm on the offending side (your outside arm). Before you tell the coach the exact violation, you may want to verify with the table that you have kept up correctly with the last server. You can ask the table, “42 should be the next server, correct ? “ Then turn to the coach and tell them the violation as follows. # 15 the CF is closer to the right sideline than # 34 the RF. Your front row should be 34, 15, 20. It was 15, 34, 20. Make the signal for Loss Of Rally, Point to the other team. EXAMPLE

PLAYER POSITIONS ILLEGAL ALIGNMENTS OUT OF POSITION OVER LAPPING It is probably one of the hardest rules to understand and call correctly and call with confidence.

THE EASY PART IS OVER It is pretty easy to judge player positions/alignments using position names such as: RB, RF, CF, LF, LB, CB. In a real match, player’s jerseys do not have their position names on them ? Their jerseys have numbers on them and their position changes on every rotation.

MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS DURING A SET NET 8 50 16 LF CF RF 26 36 12 LB CB RB

MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS DURING A SET NET 26 50 8 LF CF RF 36 16 12 LB CB RB

Now you have to learn how to use the R2’s Line Up Card (LUC) with numbers not position names. But at least you have a good understanding of the rule and a solid foundation to build on.

QUESTIONS ? This presentation is already posted on the HOT web site at www.hot-vb.com, Click on “Training” and you will see a list of 5 PP presentations that can be used for training