Volleyball Tactics and Techniques Skills

There are different types of shots and skills in volleyball. The following shots involved in
volleyball are the serve, passing and attacking (dig, set and spike.)

Serve

Firstly the serve is the first shot to begin the game and a point. A good serve will score you a
point or put the opposition at a disadvantage position. A poor serve is when the serve doesn’t
go over the net or is not controlled and goes out of bounds. Always serve to score points not
just to get it over the net.

The 2 types of serving shots are a floater and top spin.

Floater is just tossing and hitting the ball with your palm through the centre of the ball.

Topspin is a shot when you toss the ball and hit the ball with your palm but contact with the
ball below the centre of the ball making it have top spin.

Passing

Passing involves a sequence of 3 shots in between you team. It’s a tactic to set up for a strike
attack. Therefore it is passing the ball by hitting it to set up to score points.
Dig

Usually in the passing sequences it begins with a dig. A dig is a shot that is the most common
shot it volleyball. It is an accurate shot that is controlled. The dig is usually performed to keep
the ball up and the first shot when the attacking team hits it over. It involves having your
hands together and arms straight and hitting the ball. The ball is struck on the forearms.
Therefore the dig shot is the first shot of the 3 passing shots.

Setting

The following shot after the dig is called the setting or the set. It’s an overhand or overhead
shot. The shot is controlling the ball hitting in straight up above the net and relatively close to
the net. This is because the set shot is setting up for the last shot out of the 3 shots. The set
shot involves using your palms and hitting the ball following through straight up. This shot is
usually the 2nd shot and is a tactic for setting up the 3rd shot.

Spike

Lastly the final shot of the 3 is to attack the opposition. Once the setting shot us in the air and
performed. The player would perform the spike shot. A spike shot is fast direct shot to the
opposition’s side of the net. It involves a player to jump up for the ball once the ball is in the air
from the controlled set shot. Due to the set shot being above the net and close. The player who
jumped for the spike can angle the spike shot in a downwards angle in the opponents side of
the court. A spike is a lethal attacking move that usually scores you the points. A spike involves
using your palm and angling your wrist downwards on the ball to create topspin.

Therefore all shots the dig, set and spike come into the passing categories. They all are a
consistent sequence when being performed and are great attacking tactics. All shots work
together to perform a strike attack.
Defensive Tactics

Blocking

A well timed and effective block will diffuse an attack. Players near the net when defending will
jump up with their arms out and attempt to block the shot coming over the net. This is a
defensive tactic that blocks a spike. Blockers would jump up and just before the net because
they cannot touch the net or cross it. Hands when blocking should be positions downwards
and open this is because it could be a great attacking tactic to. This is because when the ball is
block it may return in the opponents side of the court and they might not be able to react
quickly enough and score you a point. Therefore a block is a great tactic for defence and attack.

Diving, rolling and sliding

Clearly instead of just letting the ball hit the ground and let the other team score the point be
brave and dive, slide or roll instead. It’s a great tactic to defend a spike because the spike is
coming fast and is hard to defend. When you dive, slide or roll you are getting low and are
covering more area of defence around the court rather than just standing there.

Attacking tactics

Serve

Serve is an important shot because it’s the first shot that begins the point. Therefore if you do a
good serve it puts the other team under pressure so your team have an advantage. Whereas if
you do a poor serve which is easier for the other team the pressure will be on your team. Don’t
just serve the ball to just get it over the net. Serve the ball to score the point or dominate the
start of the point.

Spike

The spike is a great attacking tactic. A spike is a lethal fast shot in a downwards motion that
would score you most of your points and if it doesn’t score you a point it still scrambles your
opponent and puts pressure on them.

Setting shot

The set shot is great for controlling the ball and setting up for an attack. It’s a great tactic for
your team to set up and score points.

Communication

Communication is a huge tactic in all codes of sport. Communication plays an important role
in volleyball. In volleyball communication is a great tactic for attacking and defending. This is
because your team is communicating to each other who are taking the shot and whose ball it is.
Therefore it makes the game much easier.

Rules of volleyball
Volleyball is a very complex game of skills.

Dimensions

Firstly a volleyball court is played on a rectangular court 18m long by 9m wide.

o The court is broken up into dimensions. There are 2 sides of which are divided by a net that
goes across the court at the half way point.

o The net height is 2.43 metres for men and 2.24 metres for women.

o One either side of the court it is broken up between 2 zones. The front zone is 3 metres long
and the back zone is 6 metres long.

Positioning

o Volley ball consist of 2 teams playing and 6 players on each team.

o Those 6 players are divided on the court.

o 3 players in the front zone.

o 3 players in the back zone.

o After each point players must rotate positions on the court in a clockwise direction. For
example if a player is currently playing in a back right position and a point is scored therefore
the team would rotate and he would then be in the position in the back zone in the middle.

Equipment

o Volleyball is obviously played with a ball. But all balls must have the same standards
regarding circumference, weight and type.

o Teams can consist up to 12 players.

o Net that suits the standards.

o Team uniforms that are numbers.

o Suitable footwear.

Scores

o A point is scored when the other team:

o Hits the ball out of bounds

o Let’s the ball hit the floor on their side of the court

o Doesn’t return it over the net

o Therefore will not receive the point and the other team will.

o Each team that that wins a rally will receive a point. The team that also wins the rally will
also receive the next serve.

o Once one team receives 25 points but must have a minimum lead of 2 points they will win
the set. All together there are 5 sets and who wins the best out of those 5 sets will win the
game.
o Also the last set is played to 15 with 2 points at least ahead.

The start and serve

o The game begins with a toss to determine who serves first and what side each team is on.

o The game then starts with a serve. A serve must go over the net to the other team’s side. It
must be kept inbounds. It the serve fails to makes it or goes out it becomes a fault 1 and they
only have another attempt if they fail again the other team’s wins the next serve and a point.
The ball must be hit over the head.

o After each point the team that wins the point then serves. This continues on until the end of
the set.

During a Rally

o A team can only have 3 attempts to successfully hit the ball over net.

o Once a player hits the ball he cannot hit it 2 times in a row.

o Players must not cross over the other side of the court.

o Players are not allowed to touch the net.

o The ball may hit the net but it must go over.

o Players must hit the ball the ball is not allowed to be caught or thrown.

o You cannot hit the ball under the net.

o Players are allowed to block the oppositions attempt to stop it from travelling over the net.
Blockers must not touch net or go over the other side.
Time outs and subs and stops

o In volleyball there are allowed 6 subs.

o Also there allowed 2 times outs that last 3 sets.

o After each set theirs a short break and changes side.

Referees

o There are 2 referees that stand either side of the net.

o Only the 2 referees can blow the whistle and give orders.

o The refs judge the rallies, serves and the decisions like faults and out bounds.

o The refs are supported by a scorer and 4 ling judges.

o The scorer keeps track of the scores.

o The 4 line judges are positioned in the 4 corners of the court and tell the refs whether the
ball was in out.

o Participants must behave respectfully and courteously in the spirit of fair play. Not only
towards referees but also towards players and spectators.

o If a player breaks the rules:

Stage 1 is a verbal warning
stage 2 is a yellow card
stage 3 is a disqualification.
History of Volleyball
o Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William Morgan.

o Volleyball got its name when being performed the game involved a lot of volleying therefore
it was name volleyball.

o In 1900 a special ball was designed for volleyball.

o In 1930 the first game of 2 man beach volleyball was played.

o In 1964 Volleyball was first performed in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

o In 1960 new techniques were added to the game like a spike, dig, block and defensive diving
and rolling.

o In 1990 the world league was created.

o In 1996 beach volleyball was added to the Olympics.

o Volleyball is played in over 70 countries and is a worldwide known sport.

 Officiating Volleyball

Be Trustworthy. Trust yourself. Know right from wrong. Police yourself. Do the right
thing without being told.

Avoid situations that could be perceived as conflicts of interest, improper, immoral or

illegal. These things can call into question your integrity. You don't want to cast shadows
on your professionalism.

Be responsible for your actions.

Refrain from engaging in negative comments about other officials coaches or players.

Maintain a respectful and courteous relationship to all.