Volleyball Offensive Systems

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5-1

This is one of the two most popular offensive systems used in volleyball. The “5” indicates that five players are hitters at some point in the game and “1” player is the setter. The setter typically plays right-front and right-back and remains the setter for the length of the game. The main benefit of this system is the consistency from the setting position.

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6-2

This is one of the two most popular offensive systems used in volleyball. The “6” indicates that six players are hitters at some point in the game and “2” players are setters at some point in the game. This system can be run with or without subs. The setter typically plays right-back and remains the setter while she is in the back-row.

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A 6-2 with subs, has the setter subbed out for a hitter when she rotates into the front-row and the hitter rotating to the back-row is subbed out for the second setter. The main benefits of this system are having three front-row hitters at all times, simpler server receive formations (you do three different ones and repeat rather than six and then repeat), and more players get a substantial amount of playing time.

 

A 6-2 without subs would mean that when the setter rotates to the front-row she is now a hitter and the hitter that rotates to the back-row at that same time becomes the setter. The main benefit to this system is that players that can set, hit and pass well can contribute in all areas for the team.

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4-2

The “4” indicates that four players are hitters at some point in the game and “2” players are setters at some point in the game. The setter typically plays right-front or middle-front and remains the setter while she is in the front-row. When the setter rotates to the back-row she is now a passer and the player that rotates to the front-row at that same time becomes the setter. The main benefits to this system is that setters have easy entry on serve receive and defense, the setter can legally dump at all times and players that can both set and pass well can contribute in both areas for the team.

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6-3

The “6” indicates that six players are hitters at some point in the game and “3” players are setters at some point in the game. The three setters are staggered in every other position in the lineup. The setter typically plays right-front or middle-front on defense and remains the setter for two rotations. When the setter rotates to the back-row she is now a passer and the player that rotates to middle-front at that same time becomes the setter. The main benefit to this system is that players that can set, hit and pass well can contribute in all areas for the team.

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6-6

The first “6” indicates that six players are hitters at some point in the game and “6” players are setters at some point in the game. The setter typically plays right-front or middle-front and remains the setter for one rotation. When the setter rotates from that position she is now a hitter and the player that rotates to either right-front or middle-front at that same time becomes the setter. The main benefit to this system is that players learn and practice all 5 skills of the game. In addition, players that can set, hit and pass well can contribute in all areas for the team.