Our topic in this lesson will be
- A volleyball player’s guide to rotation
- Norms of rotation
- Substitutions in volleyball: a brief guide
- Protocols for substitution
- Volleyball opponents
Key Takeaways
- Whenever a player sides out, he or she rotates.
- There is a rule that players in the back row cannot jump and strike the ball before the ten-foot line.
- The game is played by substituting players in and out of positions to ensure the best and most skilled players are playing in those positions.
- Substitutions are limited to one per set for each team.
- Rotation challenges are overcome by coaches using opposites.
The coach discusses rotation, substitution, and opposites in this lesson on volleyball. To provide a basic understanding of these three concepts, this article provides rules and procedures.
Vocabulary
- Orientation
- A sideways glance
- It takes up 10 feet
- Changing
Rotation Basics
Players rotate clockwise when their team sides out according to volleyball’s rotation rule. Rotational strategy focuses on positioning players on a team so every player can do their job for the team at their best position on the court.
The serve can be regained by side out. Volleyball teams alternate serving in accordance with the winner of the last point. As a team continues to serve, they receive a “side out” when losing a point. The point will then be served by the winning team
A brief introduction to the volleyball team positions was discussed in our previous lesson. How do these players maneuver around the court? Let’s discuss the logistics.
There is often a close relationship between a player’s job and their position on the court. In the front row, for instance, are the hitting positions. The (1-6) spots on the court are numbered from left to right.
Each volleyball position is numbered from 1 to 6
The player assigned to each position will play in that position. Spot numbers do not change during a game, but as teams rotate and side out, they will be assigned to different players.
During the sport of volleyball, teams rotate players when they side out, placing one player in the front row and another in the back row each time.
Each team moves one position clockwise when they regain the serve. After the team sides out, the player assigned to position 5 moves into the front row for position 4. It’s important to note that this rule does have some exceptions, but coaches usually make substitutions here since most of the front row players don’t play back row.
The game’s main challenge is rotating, a seemingly simple concept. There are no places to stand on a court. All players must stay within the boundaries of their teammates on either side, and those in front and behind them. In other words, all team members have to remain in their assigned locations until the ball is served.
In tennis, players can be anywhere on the court once the ball crosses the net (aka enters the net on the opposing team’s side). Both teams are affected by this.
All back row players are prohibited from jumping and hitting a ball ahead of the ten foot line, as well as blocking. The opposing team is awarded a point if either of these occurs.
Approximately a third of the volleyball court is divided by the ten-foot line. In tennis, a ten foot line runs parallel to the net ten feet from each end. In the front row, it separates the seats from those in the back.
As a result, it causes difficulties when defensive players rotate into the front row, who may not be competent hitters. Specialization in defense is the primary function of defensive specialists. Perhaps someone on their team is more adept at the offensive aspect of the game, which seems redundant. Things can go wrong quickly for a volleyball team if they don’t have the best players in the right positions.
Consider the following scenario: A team ends up with a DS playing in the front row (this does happen sometimes despite the best efforts of the coach). In addition to the offensive specialist, the defensive specialist can attack from in front of the ten foot line, a strategically advantageous position. When a team doesn’t have its best players hitting, it puts them at a great disadvantage when trying to score points.
What are coaches’ normal methods for solving this problem? Players on the bench replace those in the game. How does this work and what is the basic strategy used by teams?
Also, read How Tall is Men’s Volleyball Net?
Substitutions In Volleyball
The substitution in volleyball refers to the substitution of one player for another in the lineup or rotation. Players and coaches commonly refer to substitutions as “subs.”.
Volleyball Substitutions Rules
- It will vary based on which governing authority is being used how many substitutions each team can make.
- It is not possible for a team to substitute players once the serve whistle is blown.
- A designated substitution area must be used for substituting players.
- It is only possible to substitute in and out for a player once they have been placed in a rotation.
- Substitutions for the same position are allowed up to three times.
- There are separate rules for subs for liberos, who are defensive players. The total number of substitutions a team can make does not include substitutions made by the liberos.
Depending on where you play and what level you are playing at, you’ll need to make more substitutions in a volleyball game. Volleyball is governed by several organizations around the world.
Governing Bodies And Their Allotted Substitutions
FIVB
There are six substitutions allowed per set in the FIVB (International Federation of Volleyball), the most common governing body internationally.
USAV
When USAV (United States of America Volleyball) is the governing body, teams are allowed 12 substitutions during a game. Both minor and college players are covered by USAV for both national team functions and club activities.
NCAA
Finally, all collegiate games are governed by NCAA rules, which allow 15 substitutions per game.
Also, read How Tall Are the Nets In Volleyball?
Substitutions In An Official Game Scenario
Subbing out players follows a process, as you know from our substitution rules. Coaches can switch their lineup between points whenever they wish, regardless of which team serves. When the players rotate out of the front or back row after a side out, a coach will typically make substitutions.
Substituting for a setter is a right side hitter.
Coaches will signal to players on their bench that it is time for them to enter the game. When they reach the ten-foot line, they will signal the referee that they are ready to go. After being removed from the game, a player on the court who is being replaced will run up to the player they are substituting for and touch their palms to the substitute (this was done before the Corona virus, which is likely to result in new rules after the outbreak) and ask for permission to switch.
Bookkeepers and referees must now make a decision. Bookkeepers also keep track of all substitutions made in a game, as well as substitutions made on both sides of the net. Tracking the number of substitutions used by each team will notify the coach when a team runs low.
Keeping track of volleyball’s finances will be covered in future lessons.
Players can switch only once the referee has provided the bookkeeper with enough time to record the data.
Upon recording and approving the substitution, the players wait.
Now that the players have swapped, they are free to do so. It is now the substitute’s turn to rotate on the court in place of the player who left. In most games, the same players substitute for the players who are subbed out.
The Right Side Hitter Enters The Game And The Setter Cheers On Their Team From The Bench Typically, a player knows when they should be substituted in or out because most teams make the same substitutions every game.
Beginning Game Line Ups
Assigning each court position to a player will be done by a coach. Until a point is lost, the opposing team will rotate until the right back of the 2 position (left back) serves, and the opposing team will rotate until a point is lost.
At the start of every set, coaches turn in line-up sheets like this. A team’s starting positions are determined by this. The court has six positions.
Also, read 6-2 Volleyball Rotation
Opposites In Volleyball
We call opposites what are created by rotation. During volleyball, opposites rotate from back row to front row simultaneously. Several positions are opposite each other, such as positions 1 and 4 and 2 and 5 and 3 and 6.
Prior to their team’s sidelining, the player who had been assigned position 2 will move to the back row along with the player who had been assigned position 5.
Like players are put opposite each other in a lineup when a coach sets it up. As one rotates into the front row, a similarly skilled player from the back row replaces them when they rotate into the front row, or the same skilled player is substituted when that player rotates into the back row. The goalkeeper fills all six positions on the court by specializing in that position.
Right-handed hitters and setters are good examples of opposites. When a coach makes a lineup, right side hitters are usually opposite setters. There will be a back row of setters and a front row of right-handed hitters.
Therefore, the setter and hitter are no longer in the proper locations when they rotate from the 5 and 2 positions (see below).
Coaches send players to replace these players as they rotate. The right side hitter will be replaced by a different setter on the team. In addition, the setter will be replaced by another right side hitter. (I am using a 6-2 lineup in this lesson. We will eventually cover other lineups.) A coaches’ strategy depends on having opposite players in a rotation.
Also, read 5-1 Volleyball Rotation
How many substitutions are allowed in volleyball?
Different levels of play have different substitution rules for volleyball. An overview of the project is provided below:
High school and collegiate volleyball
Each set allows 15 substitutions. In this situation, teams often substitute defensive players and pass catchers for bigger hitters and blockers in the back row.
Club volleyball
Each set contains 12 substitutions. In a 6-2 offense, where you replace a front-row setter with an opposite, coaches must be somewhat selective, as Dean points out in the video. The number of subs will run out if the game is tight, Dean says.
International volleyball (Olympics)
In each set, there will be six substitutions. The highest level of the game requires players to have a wide range of skills since there are only six substitutions per set.
In the FIVB rule book, pages 37 and 38 explain the sub rules for international volleyball, which are slightly different from those for high school, club and college volleyball. In order to be successful abroad, great players who were primarily hitters/blockers in college need to improve their passing and defensive skills.
How does a sub enter a match?
The substitution zone is outside the court but inside the 10-foot line, so a player on the bench must get up and enter it to sub into a match. Second players enter the match outside the court but behind the 10-foot line if they are entering at the same time. The second player enters the court after the first player is in.
Who can a player sub in for?
Except for the libero, all players can substitute in or out for a certain player at a certain position; however, once that substitution has been made, it cannot be made again until the set is over.
It is only by replacing #7 at her original position that #1 can get back into the match. #1 would otherwise be penalized for substituting illegally.
Except for libero substitutions, this rule does not apply. If they enter the match between points, liberos can only serve as substitutes for back-row players. It is not considered a team substitution when a libero is substituted.
Also, read 6 Positions In Volleyball
Why it’s important to teach substitution rules
Coaches need to understand substitution rules well, but even their teams’ parents should know them. Players entering and exiting matches are a regular occurrence during tournaments, so the better everyone understands what is happening, the less time you will spend explaining. The result will be a reduction in distractions and a better ability to coach the team.
