Volleyball Glossary

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ACE - A serve that is not passable and results immediately in a point.

ANTENNA - The vertical rods (normally white and red) mounted near the edges of the net. The antennas are mounted directly above the sidelines and are not-in-play. Antennas are not usually used on outdoor nets.

APPROACH - Fast stride toward the net by a spiker before he jumps in the air.

ASSIST - Passing or setting the ball to a teammate who attacks the ball for a kill. This stat is normally only logged for high school, college, and National/Olympic team play.

ATTACK - The offensive action of hitting the ball. The attempt by one team to terminate the play by hitting the ball to the floor on the opponent's side.

ATTACK BLOCK - Receiving players' aggressive attempt to block a spiked ball before it crosses the net.

ATTACK ERROR - An unsuccessful attack which does one of the following: 1) the ball lands out of bounds, 2) the ball goes into the net and terminates play or goes into the net on the third hit, 3)the ball is blocked by the opposition for a point or sideout, 4) the attacker is called for a center line violation, or 5) the attacker is called for illegal contact (lift, double hit...) on the attack.

ATTACKER - Also "hitter" or "spiker." A player who attempts to hit a ball offensively with the purpose of terminating play in his or her team's favor.

ATTACK LINE - A line 3m from the net that separates the front row players from the back row players. Commonly referred to as the "10-foot line."

BACKCOURT - The area from the endline to the attack line.

BACK SET - A set delivered behind the setter’s back, which is subsequently hit by an attacker.

BACK ROW ATTACK – When a back row player attacks the ball by jumping from behind the 3m line before hitting the ball. If the back row player steps on or past the 3m line during take-off, the attack is illegal.

BEACH DIG - An open hand receive of the ball, also called a "Deep Dish"

BLOCK - A defensive play by one or more players meant to deflect a spiked ball back to the hitter’s court. It may be a combination of one, two or three players jumping in front of the opposing spiker and contacting the spiked ball with the hands.

BUMP – a common term for forearm passing.

BALL HANDLING ERROR - Any time the official calls a double hit, a thrown ball or a lift (except on a serve reception or attack). For our purposes, this category also includes any blocking errors (when an official calls a blocker for a violation such as going into the net, centerline violation, reaching over the net, etc.).

BUMP PASS - The use of joined forearms to pass or set a ball in an underhand manner.

CAMPFIRE - A ball that falls to the floor in an area that's surrounded by two, three, four or more players. At the instant after the ball hits the floor, it appears as if the players are encircling and staring at a campfire.

CENTER LINE - The boundary that runs directly under the net and divides the court into two equal halves.

CLOSING THE BLOCK - The responsibility of the assisting blocker(s) to join the primary blocker and create an impenetrable block in which a ball cannot fit between the two individual blockers.

CROSS COURT SHOT - An individual attack directed at an angle from one end of the offensive team's side of the net to the opposite sideline of the defensive team's court.

CUT SHOT - A spike from the hitter's strong side that travels at a sharp angle across the net.

DECOY - An offensive play meant to disguise the spiker who will receive the set.

DEEP SET - Set to be hit away from the net to confuse or disrupt the timing of the blockers.

DIG - Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball. Slang for the art of passing an attacked ball close to the floor.

DINK - A legal push of the ball around or over blockers.

DOUBLE BLOCK - Two players working in unison to deflect an attacked ball at the net back to the hitter’s side.

DOUBLE HIT - Successive hits or contacts by the same player. (Illegal)

DOUBLE QUICK - Two hitters approaching the setter for a quick inside hit.

DOUBLES - A game with two players on each side, most commonly played on a sand court.

DOWN BALL - A ball the blockers elect not to attempt to block because it has been set too far from the net or the hitter is not under control. A "Down Ball" is hit overhand and driven over the net with topspin while the player remains standing. "Down Ball," is usually called aloud by the defense when it becomes apparent the attacker has no chance of hitting a powerful spike.

FIVE-ONE – A 6-player offensive system that uses five hitters and one setter.

FIVE SET – A back set to the right front hitter.

FLARE – Inside-out path of an outside spiker who hid behind a quick hitter.

FLOATER - A serve which does not spin or rotate and therefore moves in an erratic path. This is similar to a "knuckle ball" pitch in baseball.

FOREARM PASS - Join your arms from the elbows to the wrists and strike the ball with the fleshy part of your forearms in an underhand motion.

FOUL - A violation of the rules.

FOUR SET - A set 1' from the sideline, and 1’ to 2' above the net.

FOUR-TWO - A 6-player offensive system using four hitters and two setters.

FREE BALL - A ball that will be returned by a pass rather than a spike. This is usually called aloud by the defense instructing players to move into serve receive positions.

HELD BALL - A ball that comes to rest during contact resulting in a foul.

HIT - To jump and strike the ball with an overhand, forceful shot.

HITTER - Also "spiker" or "attacker"

HITTING PERCENTAGE - kills vs. attempts

INSIDE SHOOT - A playset or a 33.

ISOLATION PLAY - Designed to isolate the attacker on a specific defender, normally to exploit a weakness or give a hitter a chance to hit against a single block.

JUNGLE BALL - Any volleyball game with people who don't really know how to play volleyball. A common euphemism for this type of game is "Picnic Volleyball."

JUMP SERVE - A serve that is started by the server tossing the ball into the air and jumping into and hitting the ball in its downward motion.

JOUST – When 2 opposing players are simultaneously attempting to play a ball above the net.

KEY - To predict a team's next play by observation of patterns or habits.

KILL - An attack that results in an immediate point or side out.

LINE - The marks that serve as boundaries of a court.

LINE SHOT - A ball spiked down an opponent's sideline, closest to the hitter and outside the block.

LET SERVE - A serve that contacts the net. If the ball dribbles over, it's playable just like any other ball that contacts the net on the way over. If the ball fails to clear the net, it will become dead when it either hits the serving team's court, or is contacted by a player on the serving team.

MIDDLE-BACK - A defensive system that uses the middle back player to cover deep spikes.

MIDDLE-UP - A defensive system that uses the middle back player to cover dinks or short shots.

MINTONETTE - The original name of the game of volleyball, created by William Morgan.

MULTIPLE OFFENSE - A system of play using different types of sets other than just normal outside sets.

OFFSIDE BLOCK - Player at the net, which is on the side away from the opponent's attack.

OFF-SPEED HIT - Any ball spiked with less than maximum force but with spin.

OUTSIDE HITTER – a left-front or right-front attacker normally taking an approach which starts from outside the court

OVERHAND PASS - A pass executed with both hands open, controlled by the fingers and thumbs, played just above the forehead.

OVERHAND SERVE - Serving the ball and striking it with the hand above the shoulder.

OVERLAP – refers to the positions of the players in the rotation prior to the contact of the ball when serving.

PANCAKE - A one-handed defensive technique where the hand is extended and the palm is slid along the floor as the player dives or extension rolls, and timed so that the ball bounces off the back of the hand.

PASS – see "Forearm Pass"

PENETRATION – The act of reaching across and breaking the plane of the net during blocking.

POINT OF SERVICE - A serve that results in a point (an ace by NCAA standards) as the serve is not returnable due to a bad pass by the receiver, this number includes aces.

POWER ALLEY - A cross-court hit traveling away from the spiker to the farthest point of the court.

POWER TIP – A ball that is pushed or directed with force by an attacking team.

POWER VOLLEYBALL - A competitive style of volleyball started by the Japanese.

QUICK – a player approaching the setter for a quick inside hit

QUICK SET – a set (usually 2’ above the net) in which the hitter is approaching the setter, and may even be in the air, before the setter delivers the ball. This type of set requires precise timing between the setter and hitter.

READY POSITION - The flexed, yet comfortable, posture a player assumes before moving to contact the ball.

RECEPTION ERROR - A serve that a player should have been able to return, but results in an ace (and only in the case of an ace). If it is a "husband/wife" play (where the ball splits the two receivers), the receiving team is given the reception error instead of an individual.

RED CARD – a severe penalty in which an official displays a red card. The result of a red card may be a player is disqualified, the team loses the serve, or the team loses a point. A red card may be given with or without a prior yellow card as a warning; it is up to the official’s discretion.

ROLL - a certain way to pass a ball in which the digger, or passer lays out an arm, passes the ball, and rolls over the shoulder (over the shoulder roll) or back (barrel roll) after passing the ball. This is a quick way to return to action after the play.

ROOF - A ball that when spiked is blocked by a defensive player such that the ball deflects straight to the floor on the attacker’s side.

ROTATION - The clockwise movement of players around the court and through the serving position following a side out.

SERVE - One of the six basic skills; used to put the ball into play. It is the only skill controlled exclusively by one player.

SERVER - The player who puts the ball into play.

SERVICE ERROR - An unsuccessful serve in which one or more of the following occurs: 1) the ball hits the net or fails to clear the net, 2) the ball lands out of bounds, or 3) the server commits a foot fault.

SERVICE WINNER - A point the serving team scores when this player has served the ball. The point can be an immediate (in the case of an ace) or delayed (a kill or opponent attack error after a long rally). Therefore, the sum of the team's service winners equals their score.

SET - The tactical skill in which a ball is directed to a point where a player can spike it into the opponent's court.

SETTER – the player who has the 2nd of 3 contacts of the ball who "sets" the ball with an "Overhand Pass" for a teammate to hit. The setter normally runs the offense.

SIDE OUT - Occurs when the receiving team successfully puts the ball away against the serving team, or when the serving team commits an unforced error, and the receiving team thus gains the right to serve.

SIX PACK – Occurs when a blocker gets hit in the head or face by a spiked ball.

SIX-TWO – A 6-player offense using 2 setters opposite one another in the rotation. Setter 1 becomes a hitter upon rotating into the front row as setter 2 rotates into the back row and becomes the setter.

SPIKE - Also hit or attack. A ball contacted with force by a player on the offensive team who intends to terminate the ball on the opponent's floor or off the opponent's blocker.

STRONG SIDE - When a right-handed hitter is hitting from the left-front position or when a left-handed hitter is hitting from the right-front position.

STUFF - A ball that is deflected back to the attacking team's floor by the opponent's blockers. A slang term for "block."

TURNING IN – the act of an outside blocker turning his/her body into the court so as to ensure the blocked ball is deflected into the court and lands in-bounds.

UNDERHAND SERVE – a serve in which the ball is given a slight under-hand toss from about waist high and then struck with the opposite closed fist in an "underhand pitching" motion.

WEAK SIDE – When a right-handed player is hitting from right-front position or when a left-handed player is hitting from the left-front position.

WIPE – when a hitter pushes the ball off of the opposing block so it lands out of bounds

YELLOW CARD – a warning from an official indicated by the display of a yellow card. Any player or coach who receives two yellow cards in a match is disqualified. A single yellow card does not result in loss of point or serve.

Air Ball-When an attacker swings at the ball and misses it completely. Air balls are always the fault of the setter and no correspondence will be entered into.

Assault Course Block-Where a blocker appears to be trying to climb up the (cargo) net in order to reach the ball.

Block Fodder-A set very tight to the net, under or into the hands of the block. Usually the result of a trap set.

Bomber-A hitter who always hits the ball as hard as they possibly can, irrespective of the state of the match, quality of the set, current form or previous results of using this tactic (cf. Sniper).

Campfire Defense-Players form a circle around the ball and let it drop between them (they often stretch our their hands to keep them warm, too).

Chicken wing defence Usually seen with a hard spike directly at a defender; the defender has little time to take evasive action and so merely raises his elbow to deflect the ball away in chicken wing-like pose.

Coach Kill-The opposition serve the ball into the net or out immediately after a time-out or substitution called by the coach. The coach is also awarded a point if he/she substitutes in a player to serve, and that player immediately scores an ace.

Couldn't Dig His Own Grave-A characteristic of a very tall middle blocker.

Couldn't Pass Water-Another characteristic of very tall middle blockers.

Credit Card Defense-Normally after a tip - the defence players are all charging.

Dark Side-What Cambridge call Oxford. The name arises because Cambridge's colour is Light Blue and Oxford's is Dark Blue. And also because Oxford are evil.

Deep Dish-A set, volley or overhand pass where the ball is dragged down to shoulder, chest or even navel level before being released. Contact time is often sufficient for the player in question to check the pressure of the ball or read the maker's name off it. The Loughborough Men's team receive serve thus. See also Edward Suckerhands.

Digging lips-Successfully defending hard-hit spikes. Thought to be so-called due to the lip-like shape that the arms make in the correct digging position. A player making successive spectacular plays would be said to have their "digging lips on".

Down-Ref-The second referee (cf. Up-Ref).

Downtown-A player is said to have 'gone downtown' when he/she serves the ball into the bottom of the net (or even short of the net).

Dump-Where an attacker feigns a hard attack but plays the ball gently over the net into space (ideally). See also tip. A setter dump occurs when the setter plays the first pass directly over the net rather than setting to an attacker. A setter who dumps on a good pass is a brave man, since failure to score will invariably invoke the wrath of his hitters.

Edward Suckerhands-A player who carries the ball when making a set (see also deep dish).
Eros Playing the ball with one arm whilst sticking one leg out the other way (in the manner of the statue).

Facial-What you get when a spike hits you in the face. See six-pack and Mikasa tattoo.

Floater-A float serve. When hit without spin, a volleyball will deviate unpredictably (or "float") in flight as it reaches a critical velocity. Good float serves are notoriously hard to pass. The advent of coloured balls has enabled passers to see when a ball is served without spin, and therefore helps them to predict when they are about to shank the ball.

Free Net-An attacker has no block and can pick their spot on court. Tragically players in such circumstances usually choose the bottom of the net or four metres up the back wall.

Friendly Fire-Being hit in the back of the head by a service from a team-mate.

Frontcourt hands-When the setter (the "hands") is in a front row position (cf. Backcourt hands)

Geisha-A roundarm floating service performed with a hook-like action originally used by Chinese and Japanese teams (i.e. Japanese hooker).
Go for the hands See tool shot.

Grenade Attack-Various attackers move all over the court in a fiendishly complex offensive combination - but the ball drops slowly to the ground between them.

Hammer-A very, very hard attack which sends the ball into the floor in the manner of a nail into a plank of wood.

Heat Hitting power-A player who hits the ball very hard is said to "bring the heat". Similarly, it can be said that a puny attacker "doesn't add much warmth to the offence".

Hitting in a phone booth-Description used for a hitter who is getting blocked repeatedly.

Hops Jumping ability-A player who regularly jumps out of the gym is said to possess "serious hops".

Husband And Wife-Play Two players completely fail to communicate with each other as the ball drops between them.

Jedi defence-A very rare play where a defender stands stock still and merely thrusts out one arm towards the ball, which somehow ends up on the setter's head. Only the mystical powers of the Force can explain such a defence.

Joust-Two opposing players contact the ball simultaneously above the plane of the net. Jousts are always won by setters, irrespective of the height or hand size of their opponents.

Jump Floater Hybrid floating serve performed with a jumping approach. It is compulsory to prance up to the service line in a camp fashion when making such serves.

Jumper-A jump serve. Such serves are usually hit with pace and plenty of topspin. Most male players will attempt a jumper when there are female spectators in the vicinity. There are two main types of jump serve: net and out. The much rarer third species, the ace, is not usually seen below national levels.

Lassie-The name bestowed upon a defender who deliberately intercepts a ball travelling miles out of the back of court, usually shanking it even further up into the wall/stands/balcony. Named after the popular canine matinee idol (since they have rushed in to save the day - for the attacker, at least). Bombers will often incorrectly describe winning a point in this way as "going for the hands".

Lollipop-A very gentle serve. So-called because if you serve too many lollipops you get licked.

Marble-A very hard, stinging ball with the tactile and ballistic characeristics of a small rock. Used to describe cheap volleyballs (frequently bearing the hilariously inaccurate promise of being "non-sting" or "soft touch").

Mickey Mouse Block-A blocker is slow getting his arms up, so that at the critical moment his hands are still at the side of his head - and look like large ears.

Mikasa Tattoo-Imprint of ball on forehead. Usually the result of a six-pack or a peek-a-boo block.

Moose UK-A stuff block. Traditional celebration is to raise the hands to the side of the head to symbolise antlers.

US-A very hard hitter of the ball.

Nectar-A sweet, sweeeet pass or set.

Obsolete Calls-Many team calls popular in the 80s and 90s are now obsolete and should not be heard outside of the primate enclosure of a zoo. Examples include "747... zoom", "The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire", "Let's go [name of team, preferably two syllables], let's go" and ANY call involving the phrase "Eh-up". Note that continental Europe lags behind Britain somewhat in its fashions, and obsolete calls may still be used there to good effect.

Passing nails-Receiving serve such that the ball lands directly on the setter's head without him/her having to move.

Peek-A-Boo Block-A blocker with his arms just wide enough apart for the ball to travel through the gap into his face/head.

Pins The antennae-A team relying on mainly outside sets is said to be playing 'pinball'.

Pinball Defense-Fast ball rebounds from player to player and back over the net without them knowing anything about it.

Pipe-Attack The pipe is the back middle channel and is a common position for a backrow attack. A player who is effective on this play is said to be "smoking the pipe".

Playing Sixpack-Playing the line digger position against an outside attack. This position is the closest to the attacker and is frequently exposed by the blockers choosing to block angle. A good, hard line spike will therefore give the line digger no time to defend himself, with often painful results.

Prince of Whales-A player whose spikes frequently endanger spectators in the viewers' balcony. See also whaling.

Redwood-A very tall middle blocker with the height and mobility of a very tall tree.

Roof-Big block at the net straight down to end a rally.

Shank-Awful pass that flies off the arms and goes way up into the cheap seats.

Six Pack-Giving an opponent a facial. Named after the traditional reward bestowed on the player who has dealt it out. See also Playing Sixpack.

Sniper-A hitter who uses cunning rather than power to pick off points through gaps in the block and defence. Shorter players are much more likely to be snipers than bombers (if they ever want to get a game, that is).

Stuff-Monstrous block straight down into the floor. A true stuff block should hit the ground before the hitter lands.

Tip An attack lobbed gently over the block by the attacker. Also known as a dump.

Tool Shot-Deliberately hitting the ball off the block to score a point. The staple attack of a sniper, "tooling the block" is a risky tactic, with unsuccessful attempts frequently ending up as whaling or stuff blocks.

Trap Set-A set very tight to the net and often very low, giving the hitter no options but to get stuffed. See also block fodder.

Trees and Bushes-Names commonly applied to tall and short players, respectively.

Twelve-Pack-Similar to a six-pack, but the victim is also knocked off his feet.

Up-Ref-The first referee (cf. Down-Ref).

Waiter-Slang term for the off-blocker in most defensive schemes (he's there to pick up tips - geddit?).

Whaling-Hitting the ball a very long way out.

Wipe-off-An attacker deliberately steers the ball into the block with the intention of it rebounding out of court. Also known as "going for the hands" and "tooling the block"