Q&A for How to Rotate in Volleyball

Whenever your team wins a point on the other team's serve, your team gets to serve again. Before your team serves, it rotates in a clockwise direction: right back, the server, becomes middle back; right front becomes right back, now the server; middle front becomes right front; left front becomes middle front; left back becomes left front; and middle back becomes left back. Your team won't rotate again until there is another side-out, if your team again wins a point on the other team's serve.

Wear spandex, knee pads, any shirt and shoes that stick well to the floor so you don't slip.

Usually you should let the setter get the second ball, but if it seems like the setter can't get there in time, you can.

Whenever possible. A double block is always more effective than a single block.

No. If your team serves the ball and loses the point, the other team rotates. Your team wouldn't rotate until it gains another point.

It depends on what is your current position and where are you intended to move. For example, if you are in the Position 2 (Left Front/Left Spiker) and wanted to move to Position 3 (Middle Front/ Booster) then it is always good to stand in-line with Middle Front and Middle Back so the swapping can be done in a single step with very minimal impact on the game and to avoid confusion among the players.

Yes, it rotates with everyone else. Sometimes, the coach might call in another Libero and take whoever is playing middle back out.

No, the opponents will only rotate when it is their time to serve.

Rotate like normal - clockwise - whenever your team gets the ball.

Let's say you're serving. During the serve, you go to the line in the back of the court. Right after you serve, you could run up to the middle of court.

No, it cannot.

It depends on the block. If the ball is blocked straight down on the hitter's side (this is called a roof), then the hitter's teammates will try to pass it back up and go on with the point, but hopefully the block can't be passed and you win the point.

Yes, there is only one, according to the rules of the game.

Yes! Whenever the middle gets to the back row you can substitute the same libero in for either middle when they get to the back row.

No, everyone inside the court must rotate. The setter/front liners could only change their position if the ball was released by the server.

You should yell "mine", "I go", or "I got it" to tell all your teammates that you've got the ball and the setter will know where to look after you've passed it. Then you can call your number and hit it.

Yes. You must start the point in the position you are given, but after that, you may move. However, back-row players who are hitting must hit from behind the 3-meter line.

The players can move after the serve, so you should prepare to move quickly and efficiently to your position.

They have to rotate or the ref well call them out and the opposing ream will get the point. Since their rotations were out of order, it's the opposing teams ball/their serve.

If you’re a setter and in the front row, you have two ways to get where you’re supposed to be. If you’re on the outside, then you will hold hands with the middle hitter/blocker and swap places when the other team or your team has made contact with the ball when serving. If you're in the middle position in front, then you’re already where you need to be.

If the other team is serving, you are in defense. When the ball goes over, you go to base. If you are in the front row, your base is at the net and defense is on the 10-foot line. If you are in the back row, your defense is toward the back and base is the 10-foot line.

It is exactly like regular rotation. Rotations never really differ. Just follow the information on this and you should be fine.

You can attack or hit, but you must do it from behind the attack line. Back line players cannot move to the net to spike or block.

You can substitute at any time. Someone would need to make fists with both of their hands and rotate their arms on top of each other, which signals the referee to stop and allow substitutions. Once the whistle rings for the next server, you can’t sub in/out anymore.

Yes, but your coach can sub someone in for you if you don't have a good serve.

Do you mean how many times can one person be substituted in and out? Usually the maximum is twelve substitutions between the pair (i.e. six times out, six times in). If you're referring to how many times one player can rotate position in the set, that depends on how often service changes back and forth. If service changes back and forth after each rally then a player will rotate many more times than if one server goes on a streak and gets 15 points before losing the serve. Also, if the set goes to extra points to win by two then that will also extend how many times a player will rotate.

No, a receiver cannot direct hits over the net. That is a foul and a point for the other team since it's considered "reaching."

If you blocked the ball while the other team was serving, it would be an illegal hit. You are not allowed to block serves.

For a libero, you sub in when you are about to rotate to the front. You have to sub behind the 10 foot line. For a normal back row player, the same rules apply as any other player.

The first two games (or sets) are played to 25 points. The third set is played to only 15 points, but this is only valid if your team is ahead by at least two points. For instance: 25-24 won't win you the game, but 25-23 or 27-25 will.