Facts About Volleyball Rotation
Volleyball rotation should not be confused with volleyball position, and volleyball position has two meanings, which can be a little confusing to one just being initiated into the game. We'll take a look at the volleyball positions first, and then see how volleyball rotation fits in.
When you watch a volleyball game for the first time, it is apparent that the players are positioned in a certain way up until the instant the ball is served. At that time you may see one of more players move out of their position or exchange positions with another player. This is not the equivalent of first-graders paying "bumblebee soccer" where there's a continual mad scramble as the ball moves around the field. If a group of novice soccer players are playing for the first time, you'll probably witness some bumblebee volleyball, until the coach is able to get things more organized.
The Six Positions - here are 6 designated volleyball positions. Three positions, left front, middle front, and right front are in the forecourt, at the net. The other three positions, right back, middle back, and left back are located in the back court. Like in many other sports having designated positions, some players are better or more at home in certain positions than in others. Unlike some other sports, a given player will find himself or herself in every position at one time or another in the course of a game. The reason for this is that prior to each new serve, the players rotate from one position to the next.
Once the ball is served, players may leave their rotational position and move to another, perhaps their assigned position or their best position, by exchanging places with another player. This exchange may not take place until the server makes contact with the ball or the team will get a penalty, usually involving the loss of a point or the loss of service. The change of position can become a little complicated due to volleyball rotation, especially if more than two players are involved.
Moving Up - Considering the designation of the player positions, each position can be assigned a number. Number 1 is right back, who also is the server on offense, number 2 is right front, number 3 is middle front and numbers 4, 5, and 6 are left front, left back, and middle back, respectively. Players rotate position at the start of each new service and volleyball rotation is always clockwise. Players remain in the same position until their side is done serving, then move into their new position the next time they serve. Thus, the right back - number 1 position, who has been serving the ball will rotate to the number 6 position, middle back, the number 6 position player, middle back, will move to the number 5 position, left back, and so on. The player who was in the number 2 position, right front, will move to number 1, right back, and become the new server.
You Are Here - Since volleyball rotation is occurring in steps throughout a match, a player constantly needs to be aware of the position they are supposed to be in at the start of a serve, the responsibilities of that position, who the players to the front, back, and side are, and who he or she needs to swap with, if for example, middle forward is his or strongest position but at the start of the serve, he or she is at left back. Obviously, when most players are good in most positions, there is less of a need to switch positions, but a team always likes to have its players in their strongest positions as much as possible. In short, each player on the floor needs to know the where they are in the rotation and their position in the rotation at the start of each serve, as well as the position they are supposed to go to once the ball has been served. When players make a mistake regarding this, or forget where they are supposed to be or to go, chaos and possible penalties can result, not to mention the possibility of a chewing out by the coach.
Recreational volleyball is much easier of course. Most players are aware of the need to rotate, and most players are happy to be in whatever position they find themselves. In fact, beginning players should be given equal time in all positions until they begin to find where they are most at home at, where their strengths lie. Then they can begin learning how to make exchanges at any point in a volleyball rotation, once the ball is served.