"5-1" means 5 attackers and 1 setter. It is one of the most commonly used rotation techniques in indoor volleyball, and variations can be freely applied, especially based on the skillsets of the defending players. In this article, I will explain each of the 6 rotationsone by one.
Understanding the volleyball overlap rules is important to ensure players are in legal and valid positions when the ball is served.
ROTATION #1
In the first of the Rotations, the Setter starts in Zone 1.
The Setter is positioned in the second row and has three attackers in the front row: an Outside Hitter, an Opposite, and a Middle Blocker. The Outside Hitter in the front row defends the ball, allowing the Setter to run and position in the front row.
The Libero is responsible for defending the central area of the court, while the two Outside Hitters can also defend short services. The Opposite is ready to attack from zone 4 and then swap with the Outside Hitter. The Middle Blocker is ready to attack from Zone 3.
⚠️ The only reasonable “heads-up” in Rotation #1 is for the Outside Hitter in the front row: the player must stay in front of the Setter and on the right of the Middle Blocker.
ROTATION #2
In the second of the Rotations, the Setter starts in Zone 6.
The Setter should move closer to the Opposite and Middle Blocker in the front row, forming a cluster close to the net. This positioning allows the Setter to set, the Opposite to perform their approach and attack from Zone 2, and the Middle Blocker to attack from Zone 3 with ease.
Libero and the two Outside Hitters will defend the service, similarly to Rotation #1.
⚠️ Rotation #2 has some tricky constraints near the net. The Setter must be positioned behind the Opposite, to the right of the Libero, and the left of the Middle Blocker.
ROTATION #3
In the third of the Rotations, the Setter starts in Zone 5.
The Setter should move closer and behind the Middle Blocker in the front row, and the opposite should move further right. This positioning allows the Setter to easily move towards Zone 2 and set, the Opposite to perform their approach and attack from Zone 2, and the Middle Blocker to attack from Zone 3 with ease.
Libero and the two Outside Hitters will defend the service, with the Libero on the right side, covering the shorter services.
⚠️ In Rotation #3, the Middle Blocker should stay as further left as possible to guarantee freedom to the front-row Outside Hitter who should stay on the right of the MB and in front of the back-row Outside Hitter.
ROTATION #4
In the fourth of the Rotations, the Setter starts in Zone 4. This is the first Rotation where the Setter only has two attackers in the front row.
The Setter and Middle Blocker are close to the net, on the left side of the court, allowing the front-row Outside Hitter to move back and defend the service. The Outside Hitter can then easily attack from Zone 4.
The Opposite is out of the defence and getting ready to attack from the back row in Zone 1, while, as usual, the two Outside Hitters and the Libero defend the service.
⚠️ In Rotation #4, the Middle Blocker and the Setter should stay as further left as possible to guarantee freedom to the front-row Outside Hitter who should stay on the right of the MB and in front of the back-row Opposite.
ROTATION #5
In the fifth of the Rotations, the Setter starts in Zone 3.
The Setter and Middle Blocker are close to the net, allowing both to prepare to set and attack easily.
The Opposite is out of the defence and getting ready to attack from the back row in Zone 1, while, as usual, the two Outside Hitters and the Libero defend the service.
⚠️ In Rotation #5, the main heads-up is for the Opposite, who must be between Libero and back-row Outside Hitter.
ROTATION #6
In the sixth (and last) of the Rotations, the Setter starts in Zone 2.
The Setter can start at the best position to set, between Zone 2 and 3. The Middle Blocker needs to move as further left as possible to allow the front row Outside Hitter to defend the service and then attack.
The Opposite is out of the defence and getting ready to attack from the back row in Zone 1, while, as usual, the two Outside Hitters and the Libero defend the service.
⚠️ In Rotation #6, the Opposite must stay between the two Outside Hitters, and the Middle Blocker should allow plenty of space for the front-row Outside Hitter (who’s between MB and S) to defend.
