Volleyball glossary, English and German

Positions

Setter

Takes the second contact and sets up the attack. More → Auf Deutsch: Zuspieler

Outside hitter

Attacker on the left side (position 4) who also passes the serve. More → Auf Deutsch: Außenangreifer

Opposite

Attacker on the right side, opposite the setter in the line-up. More → Auf Deutsch: Diagonalspieler

Middle blocker

Blocks in the middle of the net and attacks quick sets. More → Auf Deutsch: Mittelblocker

Libero

Back-row defensive specialist in a different colour; may not serve or block (rules 19.2, 19.3.1.3). More → Auf Deutsch: Libero

Defensive specialist

Substitute for back-row defence; the change counts as a substitution. More → Auf Deutsch: Abwehrspezialist

Rotation and systems

5-1

System with one setter and five attackers; the setter sets in all six rotations. More → Auf Deutsch: 5-1-System

6-2

Two setters opposite each other; the back-row setter sets, so three attackers are always in front. More → Auf Deutsch: 6-2-System

4-2

Two setters opposite each other; the front-row setter sets, two attackers in front. More → Auf Deutsch: 4-2-System

Rotation

Moving one position clockwise when a team wins the serve back (rule 7.6.2). More → Auf Deutsch: Rotation

Positional fault

A receiving-team player out of rotational order at the moment of the serve (rules 7.4, 7.5.1); often called an overlap. Since 2025 the serving team only has to be inside its own court. More → Auf Deutsch: Aufstellungsfehler

Rotational fault

Serving out of the order on the line-up sheet (rule 7.7.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Rotationsfehler

Court

Attack line

Line 3 m from the centre line; it marks off the front zone (rule 1.3.4). More → Auf Deutsch: Angriffslinie

Front zone

Area between the centre line and the attack line (rule 1.4.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Vorderzone

Back-row player

Player at position 5, 6 or 1; may not block (rule 14.6.2). More → Auf Deutsch: Hinterspieler

Free zone

Area around the court, at least 3 m wide (rule 1.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Freizone

Antenna

Rod above each side line on the net, 1.80 m long (rule 2.4). More → Auf Deutsch: Antenne

Centre line

Line under the net that splits the court into two 9 × 9 m halves; a foot may cross it only with part of it still on or above the line (rules 1.3.3, 11.2.2.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Mittellinie

Service zone

The 9 m wide area behind the end line from which the serve is hit (rule 1.4.2). More → Auf Deutsch: Aufschlagzone

Substitution zone

Area in front of the scorer's table between the extended attack lines, where substitutions take place (rules 1.4.3, 15.10.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Wechselzone

Libero replacement zone

Part of the free zone on the bench side, between the extended attack line and the end line, where the libero comes and goes (rules 1.4.4, 19.3.2.7). More → Auf Deutsch: Libero-Wechselzone

Game and rules

Rally point

Every rally gives a point, whoever served (rule 6.1.3). More → Auf Deutsch: Rally-Point

Side-out

Winning the rally as the receiving team: you score and get the serve. More → Auf Deutsch: Side-out

Time-out

Break of 30 seconds; two per team and set indoors (rules 15.1, 15.4.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Auszeit

Four hits

Fault when a team plays the ball four times before it crosses the net (rule 9.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Vier Berührungen

Double contact

The same player plays the ball twice in a row; allowed only at the block and on the team's first hit in one action (rules 9.1.1, 9.2.3). More → Auf Deutsch: Doppelberührung

Catch

The ball is caught or thrown instead of rebounding from the hit: a fault (rules 9.2.2, 9.3.3). More → Auf Deutsch: Gehaltener Ball

Attack hit

Every action that sends the ball towards the opponents, except the serve and the block (rule 13.1.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Angriffsschlag

Net fault

Touching the net between the antennae while playing the ball (rule 11.3.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Netzfehler

Screen

Hiding the server or the ball's flight from the receivers; since 2025 the serving team may not raise their hands above their heads during the serve either (rule 12.5). More → Auf Deutsch: Sichtblock

Double fault

Faults by both teams at the same moment; the rally is replayed (rule 6.1.2.2). More → Auf Deutsch: Doppelfehler

Skills

Float serve

Serve without spin; the ball flutters and is hard to pass. More → Auf Deutsch: Flatteraufschlag

Topspin serve

Serve with forward spin; the ball dips fast. More → Auf Deutsch: Topspin-Aufschlag

Jump serve

Serve hit in the air after a run-up, as a float or with topspin. More → Auf Deutsch: Sprungaufschlag

Forearm pass

Pass with both forearms joined into a platform; also called a bump. More → Auf Deutsch: Baggern

Overhead pass

Pass with the fingers above the forehead; the classic set. More → Auf Deutsch: Pritschen

Spike

Hard attack hit from a jump. More → Auf Deutsch: Schmetterschlag

Tip

Soft attack over or around the block with the fingers. More → Auf Deutsch: Leger

Block

Front-row players reaching above the net to stop the attack (rule 14.1.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Block

Dig

Defensive pass of an attacked ball. More → Auf Deutsch: Abwehr

Serve receive

The first contact after the opponents' serve. More → Auf Deutsch: Annahme

Platform

The flat surface of both straight forearms in the forearm pass; its angle sends the ball to the target. More → Auf Deutsch: Spielbrett

Approach

The run-up before a spike; right-handers finish left, right, left. More → Auf Deutsch: Anlauf

Pipe

Back-row attack by an outside hitter from position 6 or 5, taking off behind the attack line. More → Auf Deutsch: Pipe

Tool

Hitting the ball off the blockers' hands so it lands out; the attacking team wins the point (rule 14.6.4). More → Auf Deutsch: Blockout

Beach

Line

Beach: shot along the side line; one finger behind the back usually means “I block the line”. More → Auf Deutsch: Linie

Angle

Beach: cross-court shot; two fingers usually mean “I block the angle”. More → Auf Deutsch: Diagonale

Hand signals

Signals behind the back before the serve, telling the partner the block plan. More → Auf Deutsch: Handzeichen

Technical time-out

Beach: automatic 30-second break when the score adds up to 21 in sets 1 and 2 at FIVB events (rule 15.4.2). More → Auf Deutsch: Technische Auszeit

Line block

Beach: the blocker takes away the shot along the side line, and the defender covers the diagonal. More → Auf Deutsch: Linienblock

Cut shot

Beach: short, sharply angled shot just over the net towards the side line. More → Auf Deutsch: Cut-Shot

Other formats

Snow volleyball

Three against three on snow, on a 16 × 8 m court; sets to 15, two won sets win, sides switch every 5 points (FIVB snow rules 1.1.1, 4.1.1, 6.2, 18.2.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Snow-Volleyball

Sitting volleyball

Para volleyball on a 10 × 6 m court with the net at 1.15 m for men and 1.05 m for women; while playing the ball, the body between buttocks and shoulders must touch the floor (World ParaVolley rules 1.1, 2.1.1, 9.4.1). More → Auf Deutsch: Sitzvolleyball

Small-sided volleyball

Youth formats on a smaller court, often with fewer players. USA Volleyball allows a 16 × 9 m court for 10 & under and 14 × 9 m for 8/9 & under (USAV rule 1.1); German under-14 championships play 4 against 4. More → Auf Deutsch: Kleinfeld