Bumps, Sets and Errors: Understanding Volleyball Mistake Slang Words

Get ready to impress your teammates with your knowledge of volleyball slang mistakes, as I break down common error-related terms used by players on the court.

Volleyball Mistake Slang Words That Describe Digging Balls Without Your Hands(photo CE Andersen)....The "chester" and the "facial" are two volleyball slang words that describe how to legally dig a ball by using your face or your chest instead of your hands.

One thing about volleyball, just like any sport, it has its own language, a lingo that players know, which has a unique set of volleyball mistake slang terms and expressions.

As a player or fan or like me, a coach, understanding these terms can help you communicate more effectively with your teammates as well as follow the game more easily.

Keep reading while I explore some of the most common volleyball slang words used to describe the mistakes, different types of errors and poor plays committed on the court.

From "shanks" to "facials," I'll cover the informal expressions that players use to talk about errors and mishaps during a game.

In volleyball, a "shank" refers to a poorly passed ball.

This happens when a player fails to properly control the ball with their "platformed" forearms, which results in the ball not going to its intended target but out of bounds for a point given to the opposing team. 

Shanks can be frustrating for players, especially beginner plays, because they often lead to points for the opponent which disrupts the team's offensive rhythm.

When a player shanks the ball, the best thing for teammates to do is to encourage them to move on from the mistake and to get the next one.

Another common mistake in volleyball is when a ball gets hit into the net instead of going over the net.

Players will say a ball is "in the net" to quickly communicate that the ball has made contact with the net and to let their teammates know to be ready to cover the ball to get it out or up or it will end up on the floor before anyone can get it up.

Players will say a ball is "in the net" to quickly communicate that the ball has made contact with the net and to let their teammates know to be ready to cover the ball to get it out or up or it will end up on the floor before anyone can get it up.

When a serve or attack is "in the net" and the ball hits the floor, the play is terminated and the opposing team has a chance to capitalize on the mistake and score a point.

When a team is "out of system," it means that they are not in an ideal position to run their offense with three, two or even one hitting options..so they're in emergency mode in order to get the ball over the net in any mode possible. 

This often happens when a player makes a mistake on the first or second contact, usually the first pass, that then forces the setter to run down a ball or someone else that's not a setter has to scramble to make a difficult play so that someone else on the team struggles to get the ball over on the third contact.

For example, if a player shanks the ball on the first contact, their teammates might say "We're out of system" to acknowledge the challenging situation they're in and have to react to...so that instead of the usual pass-set-hit in-system play, they're forced to pass-pass-and save-with-a-pass an out-of-system play.  

A "six pack" is a playful volleyball tradition that involves a player owing their teammate a six-pack of a beverage (usually beer or soda) when that teammate hits them usually in the upper chest or in the face after spiking the ball.

For example, if a player doesn't call for the ball saying "Mine!" and their teammate gets hit in the chest with the ball, the player who made the mistake will owe their teammate a six-pack.

This tradition is meant to be a lighthearted way to acknowledge a huge mistake a digger who failed to dig a ball and got hit in the chest instead just made and for some teams builds camaraderie.

Along the same lines as the "six pack" two of the most colorful volleyball slang terms for mistakes are "facial" and "chester."

Words like "facial" or "chester" are frequently used volleyball mistake slang terms used to describe ways a player can legally dig a ball using body parts other than their hands. 

Words like "facial" or "chester" are frequently used volleyball mistake slang terms used to describe ways a player can legally dig a ball using body parts other than their hands.

What does a "facial" have to do with how you dig a volleyball?

One of the slang terms used to describe taking a spike to the face, is a facial which actually is another kind of 'six pack'.

The difference between these two terms used in defense is that with a "six pack" a player will get hit in the chest or upper body area and since the ball made direct contact with their body without them getting their hands up in time to dig or deflect it, they owe the hitter a six pack of beer, soda or beverage of their choice.

With a "facial" unlike the one you get when you pay someone to apply a cleaning solution to your face, the one in volleyball may sting a little, but then most players laugh it off, and keep playing.

In case, you thought there weren't enough volleyball slang words used to describe what happens when a player gets nailed by a hard hit another common word used to describe this defensive action is the "chester."

A "chester" is in the list of vocabulary terms in defense used to describe what happens when a player doesn't get their hands up in time to dig the ball. (Sue Hixon photo)

A chester  belongs in the same category as a 'facial' or 'six pack'.

Its in the list of vocabulary terms in defense used to describe what happens when a player doesn't get their hands up in time to dig the ball.

It describes what happens when a player gets nailed in the chest  by a hard spike.

Volleyball Mistake Slang Words: If the referee thinks that the 'chester' wasn't a ball that was 'lifted', then they'll allow play to continue. (M.Johnston)

The thing about a chester  is that it isn't always whistled by the referee, especially if the ref decides that even though the digger didn't used their hands to contact the ball, the ball didn't come to a complete rest while it was on their chest.

If the referee thinks that the 'chester' wasn't a ball that was 'lifted', in other words a ball that comes to a complete stop when its on the player's chest, then they'll allow play to continue.

In this case the referee interprets the action as the ball having bounced off the player's chest which counts as one of the three contacts a team gets when trying to get it back over the net.

Volleyball Mistake Slang Words: In each case, its up to the ref to determine whether play will continue or not. So the best thing you can do is keep playing, no matter what. (RRaiderstyle)

So, to answer the question that I can hear you formulating in your head, the answer is "yes" there are times that play will continue even though a player contacted the ball with their chest instead of their hands. 

In each case, its up to the ref to determine whether play will continue or not.

So the best thing you can do is keep playing, no matter what.

You should keep playing the ball until you hear the referee blow the whistle indicating that the play has ended and that someone has earned a point, otherwise...keep playing!

Similarly, a "chester" refers to when a player gets hit in the chest by a hard spike.

the ball bounces off the player's chest without coming to a complete stop, the referee may allow play to continue, counting the chester as one of the team's three allowed contacts.

Volleyball slang words for describing mistakes add color and personality to the game.

From "shanks" and "in the net" to "facials" and "chesters," these informal expressions help players communicate quickly and effectively on the court.

While mistakes can be frustrating, it's important for players to remember to shake off the errors and focus on the next play.

By understanding and using these slang terms, you'll be able to follow the game more easily and feel more connected to the volleyball community.

So the next time you hear someone call out "Shank!" or "Out of system," you'll know exactly what they mean.

Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience. These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis. Sign up now!

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I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list. 

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