BASIC VB TERMINOLOGY

• Ace: A serve that results directly in a point, usually when the ball hits the floor untouched on the receiving team’s side of the court.
• Assist: Helping a teammate set up for a kill.
• Attack: The offensive action of hitting the ball.
• Attacker: Also “hitter” and “spiker.” A player who attempts to hit a ball offensively with the purpose of terminating play.
• Attack Block: The defensive team’s attempt to block a spiked ball.
• Attack Error: An attack botched in one of 5 ways: ball lands out of bounds; ball goes into the net; attacker commits center line or net violation or attacker illegally contacts the ball.
• Attack Line: A line 3 meters/10 feet away from, and parallel to, the net. Separates the front-row players from the back-row players. A back-row player cannot legally attack the ball above the net unless he takes off from behind this line.
• Back row/court: Space from baseline (endline) to attack line. There are 3 players whose court positions are in this area (positions 1, 6 & 5 on the court)
• Back Row Attack: When a back-row player takes off from behind the attack line (10 foot / 3 meter) line and attacks the ball. Various terms A-B-C-D-PIPE-BIC.
• Back set: Set delivered behind the setter.
• Baseline: The back boundary of the court. Also called the end line
• Block: One of the 6 basic skills. A defensive play by one or more front-row players meant to intercept a spiked ball. The combination of one, 2, or 3 players jumping in front of the opposing spiker and contacting the spiked ball with the hands.
• Blocking Error: Touching the net, crossing the centerline, blocking a set or serve, or any other “local” violation that occurs while making a block attempt.
• Center line: The boundary that runs under the net and divides the court into two equal halves.
• Closing the block: The responsibility of the assisting blocker(s) to angle their body relative to the first blocker.
• “Cover”: Refers to the hitter having his/her teammates ready to retrieve rebounds from the opposing blockers
• Cross-court attack: An attack directed diagonally from the point of attack. Also called an angle hit.
• Cut shot: A spike from the hitter’s strong side that travels at a sharp angle across the net.
• Deep: Refers to sending the ball away from the net, toward the baseline of the opponent’s court.
• Defense: One of the 6 basic skills. The key skills used to receive the opponent's attack are digging and sprawling. The dig resembles a forearm pass from a low ready position and is used more for balls that are hit near the defender. The sprawl is a result of an attempted dig for a ball hit farther away from the defender. It resembles a dive.
• Dig: Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball and low to ground. Defensive play. Slang for retrieving an attacked ball close to the floor. Statistically scored on a 3.0 point system.
• Dink: A one-handed, soft hit into the opponent’s court using the fingertips. Also called a tip.
• Double block: Two players working in unison to intercept a ball at the net.
• Double hit: Violation. Two successive hits by the same player.
• Down Ball: Type of attack. “Down” refers to the blockers who neither jump, nor raise their hands above the net.
• Dump: Usually performed by the setter, who delivers the ball into the opponent’s court on the second contact
• Five-One (5-1): An offensive system that uses five hitters and one setter.
• Floater: A serve with no spin so the ball follows an erratic path.
• Forearm Pass: Sometimes referred to as the “pass,” “bump” or “dig”.
• Four-Two (4-2): An offensive system using four hitters and two setters.
• Free ball: Returning the ball to the opponent without the intent to get a kill. Usually, a slow, arcing pass or “roll” shot rather than a spike.
• Front-row: Three players whose court position is in front of the attack line (3M/10 Foot), near the net. These players are in positions 2, 3 & 4 on the court.
• Held ball: A ball that comes to rest during contact resulting in a violation.
• Hit: One of the 6 basic skills. To jump and strike the ball with an overhand, forceful shot.
• Hitter: Also “spiker” or “attacker.” The player who is responsible for hitting the ball.
• Hitting percentage: A statistic derived from total kills minus total attack errors, divided by total attempts.
• Joust: When 2 opposing players contact the ball simultaneously above the net causing the ball to momentarily come to rest; the point is replayed if this is called by the official.
• Jump serve: The server uses an approach, toss, takeoff, and serves the ball with a spiking motion while in the air. There are two main types: jump float, jump spin
• Kill: An attack that results directly in a point or sideout.
• Libero: A player specialized in defensive skills. This player must wear a contrasting jersey color from his or her teammates and cannot block or attack the ball when it is entirely above net height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row player without prior notice to the officials.