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Youth Volleyball Information
Playing Court and Player
Positions
With Volleyball becoming such a
popular sport for boys and girls it is important to understand the
court layout and the player positions.
Volleyball Court
The measurements of a volleyball court
is 30’ x 60’. Each team’s side of the court is 30’ x 30’. The center
line is marked at the center of the court dividing it evenly. The net
is hung directly above the center line. The attack line is 10 feet from
the center line. The end line is a line that is parallel to the net at
the back of each playing area.
While serving, players must stay behind
this line until contact is made. The sidelines mark the sides of each
playing area. All players, except the server, must be inside these lines
at the time of service. After the serve players may go after balls
outside of these lines. Frontcourt is the area between the attack line
and the net on each side of the net. Backcourt is the area between the
attack line and the end line on each side of the net.
Volleyball Player
Positions
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Volleyball is played by two
teams of players on a court divided by a net.
At the youth level, volleyball is typically played 3v3 for the 6-
to 9-year age group, 4v4 for the 10- to 11-year age group, and 6v6 for
the 12 and above age groups.
Each
player has a designated starting position.
For example, on a six player
court there are positions 1 to 6, with position 1 being the serving
position. Of the 6 players 3 are to the front and 3
to the back, with the back player at the left being the server. Everyone
gets to play in every position on the court. Each time your team wins
the serve from the other team all your players rotate their position on
the court clockwise.
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The most common specialization
comprises three positions: attacker/blocker (also differentiated in
"outside" and "middle"), setter and liberos (defensive specialist).
Setter:
Setters have the task for orchestrating the
offense of the team. They aim for second touch and their main
responsibility is to place the ball in the air where the attackers can
hit the ball into the opponents' court in the easiest way as possible.
They have to be able to break up the opponent's block. Typically
the most athletic player on the court and must be quick, skillful and
accurate. Considered to be the quarterback of the team.
Libero:
A back row defensive player wearing
an opposite colored jersey that specializes in serve receive passing,
digging, free ball passing, and setting. They are usually
the players on the court with the quickest reaction time, best passing
and defensive skills. They are normally the shortest, quickest player on
the team. A player designated as a libero for a match may not play
other roles during that match.
Middle
Blockers: Middle blockers or Middle hitters are
players that can perform very fast attacks that usually take place near
the setter. They act as
the teams’ primary blockers and hit from the middle of the court. In
general they are the tallest players, but are often less skillful
defensive players.
Outside Hitters:
Outside hitters, also known as power hitters
are players that pass, serve,
receive, and swing out to hit the ball with an approach coming from the
outside of the court. Outside hitters are the most skilled players on
the court with great ball control and passing abilities.
Outside hitters
generally help the libero in receiving the opponent's serve.
Server: The server is the player on the
team that puts the ball into play to start the rally. The players that
understand how to play volleyball the best are often the best servers on
the team.
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