Everything about Volleyball Positions Complete Guide 2023

Volleyball is an extremely fast-paced and dynamic sport that requires masterful chemistry between teammates on the court. Knowing about different volleyball positions is a plus when you are starting out. Every player in the team owns unique capabilities and roles with a specific skill set. Like all other competitive games, the success in a volleyball match depends on each player, so the players must not only do their job but do it well.

There are mainly 6 volleyball positions on the court; each plays a unique role in the team’s success. There’s also room for an exceptional 7th position, the serving specialist. However, it’s a less common position outside the USA.

This blog post is aimed to provide you with an in-depth understanding of each of these positions. From setter to serving specialist, let’s delve into the starting location of each position and the skills required of each player, giving you the basic knowledge you need to elevate your game to the next level. Whether you are an invoice or an experienced volleyball player, this guide is a must for you to step into the exciting world of volleyball! 🙂

6 Main Volleyball Positions Explained

Are you looking for “What are the 6 main positions in volleyball?” These are actually the roles designed for players in the court referred by number (from 1- 6) while paying. While forming a team, a coach usually assigns the positions to the players and aims to have at least 2 players for each position to allow for substitutions during the game. Meaning a volleyball team may contain between 10 to 14 players.

All the positions are crucial and each player should be trained according to their skillset. You should know all the dos and don’ts about how to spike a volleyball if you want to play as a spiker and same goes for libero and other player roles. On the basis of this, the positions for each player on what time is decided by their coach to perform better. The main 6 volleyball positions are:

Setter
Outside Hitter
Opposite Hitter
Libero
Middle Hitter/Blocker
Defensive Specialist

Let’s explain each of these volleyball positions separately in detail:

Setter (S)

The setter is often referred to as the quarterback or point guard of the team. Their primary responsibility is to deliver a second ball from the passers in the back of the court and set it up for one of the hitters in the front of the court to attack. These are the decision-makers and main contributors to the offense of the volleyball team.

In a 6-1, the setter plays all the way around, taking defensive responsibilities, as well as blocking duties for players in the front row. A great setter will masterfully identify holes in the opposition team’s defense and coordinate an attack to exploit it.

These are the persons with extremely good communication skills and natural leaders to bring the whole team on a single page. All the time, they must be active to block, receive a service, and dig a ball. Reaching the point home, there wouldn’t be any technical ball movement or hard spikes in the volleyball sport without a setter.

Outside Hitter (OH)

The outside hitter, also known as the left-side hitter, is a crucial offensive player who attacks from the left side of the volleyball court. They are often regarded as the rockstars of the team due to their exceptional spiking abilities.

In addition to their attacking prowess, outside hitters are also responsible for passing and playing defense when they rotate to the back row. They must be adaptable, as the ball may not always be set where they want it to be.

Compared to the middle and opposite hitters, the outside hitter typically receives more sets, especially when the setter is not in a good position to set the ball. This is because the outside set is one of the easier options for the setter. Therefore, outside hitters must possess a combination of skills, including jumping high, hitting hard, passing in serve receive, blocking, and playing in left or middle-back defense.

Opposite Hitter (OPP)

Opposite hitters, aka the right-side hitter, serve as the second attacker on a volleyball team and are responsible for hitting the ball from the back row. This player is called the opposite hitter because they hits the ball behind the setter, in contrast to the left-side hitter.

In a 6-1 formation, similar to the outside hitter, the opposite hitter can play all the way around the court, which means they are responsible for playing defense, passing, hitting from the back row, and blocking the other team’s outside hitter. As a result, the opposite hitter must have a perfect balance of offensive and defensive skills.

To excel in the opposite hitter position, a player must be physically strong, possess great jumping ability, and focus on the offensive game by scoring points and serving hard. A good opposite hitter is someone who has excellent ball control, a well-rounded skill set, and versatility.

Libero (L)

The position of libero in volleyball can often be confusing for those who are not familiar with the sport. Liberos are unable to execute attacks and are prohibited from rotating into the front row. In order to make their role on the court more distinguishable, they wear different colored jerseys to contrast with others so that referees can easily identify the libero during the game.

Liberos are restricted to playing in the back row of the court, which makes them highly skilled at receiving hits from the opposing team. They are specialized in defense and serve-receive and are usually swift and able to change direction quickly. There are set rules the libero needs to follow, including refraining from attacking the ball at the net and setting for an attacker from the front.

Middle Blocker (MB)

The position of middle blocker, also known as the middle hitter or simply middle, is a critical one on a volleyball team. This player is typically the team’s best blocker and is responsible for hitting fast-tempo sets from the center of the court and behind the setter.

The middle blocker is usually the tallest player on the team and serves as the first line of defense against the opposing team’s attacks. They anticipate the tactics of the other team’s attackers in order to know where and how to block them effectively.

While the middle blocker may not always possess the same level of technical skill and athleticism as other players on the team, they are there for only 2 reasons, getting blocks and hitting the ball. Sometimes, when the middle blocker rotates to the back row, the libero will come in to take its place.

Setting up a middle hit can be challenging, as it requires good passes from the team. As a result, middle blockers often receive fewer sets than other players but have the highest hitting percentages.

Defensive Specialist (DS)

In volleyball, the defensive specialist role is similar to that of a libero, but they don’t wear a distinct jersey and must follow the regular game regulations. Typically, they play in the back row and are tasked with receiving serves and defending.

What distinguishes the defensive specialist from other positions is their capability to substitute any player on the court, although this substitution will be counted towards the team’s total of 12 allowed substitutions.

Less Common 7th volleyball Position – The Serving Specialist

Some people also argue that a 7th position in volleyball exists. In our opinion, this one really does not count, but it’s pretty fair to say that there are either 6 or 7 positions in volleyball. The 6 main volleyball positions are explained above, while “serving specialist” is the 7th.

Serving specialists (SS) are usually extremely consistent that come into the team to serve. Although it isn’t the most glamorous position in volleyball, it can be crucial to a team’s victory and their ability to rack up points.

FAQs

1 – Why can’t libero serve?

Libero is actually a back-row specialist that has nothing to do in the front row. These players have the privilege of substituting the player in the serving position. As a result, the libero has the choice to serve or refrain from serving based on their abilities, strategy, and other relevant factors.

2-What is the name of the tallest and shortest position in volleyball?

Usually, the middle blocker is referred to as the tallest position in volleyball, while the libero is the shortest one.

Conclusion

We’ve provided every bit of knowledge about the best volleyball positions to assist you in improving your playing skills. Knowing these positions will help you decide which suits your playstyle and how you can utilize these to take your team to the next level.