Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones

Here's how to learn the volleyball rotations? The 6 volleyball zones or positions that players rotate in and out of depending on the offense their team runs.

Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones On an indoor court, there are 6 positions of volleyball also called zones that players rotate in and out of depending on the offense that their team runs.

Here's an explanation of the 6 rotation volleyball zones, specifically the rotational positions that players rotate in and out of, on an indoor court, regardless of the positions they play, during a match.

Let's get started.

There are six positions, also called zones on an indoor court.

With all the lines on a court you would think that these six zones would be outlined and visible to the naked eye, but they aren't.

Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones

They are invisible and they form the key elements of each rotation, which is a part of the game you should familiarize yourself before you start to seriously learn how to play volleyball.

These are areas invisibly divided into six sections on the court that you just have to know about as a player.

Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones
Front Row and Back Row

As I was saying, there are six rotation volleyball positions on a court, three are in the back court also referred to as the back row.

Three zones or positions are in the front court which is more commonly called the front row.

Also, remember the front row and the back row are divided by the ten foot line, which is clearly visible on the court.

Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones The front row and the back row are divided by the ten foot line also known as the attack line which is clearly visible on the court.

When you rotate in volleyball you move clockwise, each player moving into one rotational position to their left when they're in the backrow and one rotational position to their right when they're in the front row, after their team has won a rally and the right to serve.

Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones
Locations and Abbreviations

There are 6 rotation volleyball positions on the court that each player rotates in and out of regardless of what role or position they play.

Here is the list of rotational volleyball zones in clockwise order, starting with Position 1, RB, Right Back.

Backrow Rotation Volleyball Positions

Position 1 is Right Back - RB
Position 6 is Middle Back - MB
Position 5 is Left Back - LB

Front Row Rotation Volleyball Positions

Position 4 is Left Front - LF
Position 3 is Middle Front - MF
Position 2 is Right Front - RF

Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones
Player Positions

There are specialized areas that each player position plays in.

Setters and Opposites

Position 2 when they're in the front row
Position 1 when they are on defense in the backrow

6 Rotation Volleyball Zones Setters and Opposites play in... Position 2 when they're in the front row Position 1 when they are on defense in the backrow

Middles/Liberos

Position 3 when they're in the front row
Position 6 if they stay in the backrow but if they're rotated out and replaced by a libero, the libero then plays defense in middle back
On more teams now the libero plays left back in Position 5 so the left side/wing spiker can play defense in Position 6 and hit from the backrow from there as well.

Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones : Middles play in Position 3 on the court, wing spikers play in Position 4 and setters play in Position 2 in the front row

Left Sides/Wing Spikers

Position 4 when they're in the front row
Position 5/6 when they're in the backrow. This depends on the coach and whether he wants the wing spiker to attack from the middle back position 6 on the court, when they are backrow

Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones UCLA left side outside hitter attacks from the left side of the net, known as Position or Zone 4 during a rally.

When your team is on defense, at the start of each rally, each player starts in their rotational position on the court.

Once the whistle blows and the server has served the ball, then each player from their rotational position on the court switches to play in their specialized position on the court for the duration of the rally.

Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones Cal Berkeley Volleyball Players On Defense about to switch to their specialized positions (photo by RRaiderstyle)

So when the whistle blows and the server serves then setters go to the right side of the court, if they are front row they switch to Position 2, if back row they switch with whoever is in rotational Position 1 to play in their specialized position on the right side.

Left side players will switch to play on the left sides of the court.

Middles and liberos switch to play in the middle positions on the court (with some exceptions for liberos.)

Once the rally ends they go back to their rotational position on the court.

If they won the rally they rotate one position.

If they lost the rally they go back to their serve receive offense pattern and receive serve again.

Here's How To Learn Volleyball Rotations Positions and the 6 Zones There are 6 positions of volleyball also called zones that players rotate in and out of depending on the offense that their team runs. ( Bill Shaner)

In the photo above Illinois State Redbirds Blockers On Defense Ready To Switch After Their Server Serves The Ball

#2 Will Go To Position 4 on the court, switching from her rotational position on the court to her specialized volleyball position because she's the left side hitter.

The Player Behind Her Will Go To Zone 2 because she is the setter or the right side hitter;

#21 The Middle Blocker Will Stay In Zone 3 because she's already in her rotational position on the court (MF) and doesn't need to switch with anybody after her server serves.

(photo by Bill Shaner)

The more you play, the more you will become familiar with what happens in each position and where you need to be on the court.

Volleyball Positions:
Where Do I Go From Here?

Good times! Where do you need to go now? Here are three options:

Learn more about the various Rotations.
Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
Or visit the pages in the Volleyball Positions section in the drop down menu at the top of the page.