Alignment & Overlap This can be a very difficult concept for many officials and I know of very few if any who get it right every time.

Let’s first look at the rule that pertains to alignment Let’s first look at the rule that pertains to alignment. At the moment of serve contact each player on the court must be in correct alignment with respect to their adjacent players; that is every right side player must be touching the court closer to the right sideline than their corresponding middle player, each left side player must be closer to the left sideline than their corresponding middle player and each front row player must be closer to the centerline that their corresponding back row player

Note that the rule pertains to the moment of contact of the serve and touching the floor. If a player moves early they must move early enough to get their foot on the floor out of alignment before we can whistle for a violation.

Many officials will ignore a setter leaving early from the back row as they believe no “advantage was gained”. While this may be the case, that call is not supported by the rule. However you need to make the decision as to what you will allow and what you will not.

Now let’s get down to figuring our if an alignment problem exists with the 6 players your are looking at on the court.

It helps to know the types of offense used in today’s game The most common offenses used are the; 4-1 where the team uses 2 setters that are opposite each other and always in the front row. 6-2 where the team uses 2 setters and always in the back row. 5-1 where the team uses only 1 setter who is in the back row half the time and in the front row the rest. Once in a while especially with beginning players, it is impossible to determine who is supposed to be setting the team’s offense. Good Luck!

So first learn to track your setters So first learn to track your setters. She can often be identified by the fact that she is tucked close to another player since she is going to move on serve contact to the right front part of her court to set the team’s offense. Find her. If you can’t do that yet watch to see who does set the ball when they run offense. Get her license plate #.

Now you have; Setter on the left is #4 Setter on the right is #12 Continually repeat that to yourself; on the left #4 – on the right #12

Next – is she front or back row Next – is she front or back row? Use some mental device to help you remember this fact. Put your thumb on your index finger if she is front row. Put your thumb on both your index and middle finger if she is bask row. Front row – 1 Back row - 2

Once you have mastered or partially mastered that skill you need to know whether she is left middle or right. Learn to know if she is LF, MF, RF, LB, MB or RB.

You are now able to identify when a back row setter illegally puts the ball across the net and can whistle that violation.

You should now progress and determine who follows the setter in rotation. On the left it is 4 – 2 On the right it is 12- 8 Left 4-2 Right 12-8 Left 4-2 Right 12-8 Left 4-2 Right 12-8 Left 4-2 Right 12-8 Keep repeating that to yourself

As the set progresses you should be able to build on this progression As the set progresses you should be able to build on this progression. Left 4-2-8 Right 12-8-7 Left 4-2-8 Right 12-8-7 Left 4-2-8 Right 12-8-7 I sometimes find it easier to think Left 4 to 8 Right 12 ate 7

Sometimes the player the precedes the setter has a number that lends itself to be easily remembered. Left 3-4-2-8 or 6-4-2-8 In many matches I find that I am able to only get to 4 numbers in order. The other 2 players can be anywhere and I won’t catch them out of rotation, but 4 is better than none and I always have the setters

Oh No. They are subbing and ruining my number string Oh No !!! They are subbing and ruining my number string. If the team is running a 4-2 offense you don’t need to be concerned about a setter from the back row illegally putting the ball over the net. So find another string of numbers to use.

If they are running a 5-1 offense they most likely will not sub for the setter

If they are running a 6-2 offense you just have to deal with more numbers. BUT Always know where the setter is!