Volleyball Terminologies
• Attack – the offensive team attempting
a score.
• Block– a defensive play used to
intercept a hard-driven spike. Players
generally leap with their arms
outstretched in front of the spiker in an
attempt to defect the ball either back to
the spiker’s court or to one of their own
players.
• Dead ball – ball is dead when the play
stops with the whistle of the referee.
• Double foul – both teams committing a
foul on the same play. In the case the
service is to be replayed.
• Dribbling – when a player touches the
ball more than once with whatever part
of his body when no other player has
touched it meanwhile.
• Foul – a violation of the rules.
• Game – one team reaches 15 points.
• Holding – when the ball comes to rest
momentarily in the hands or arms of
the player. Scooping, lifting, shoving, or
following the ball are considered
holding.
• Pass – to bat the ball to a teammate.
• Placement – hitting the ball to an
intended sport.
• Point – a score made by the serving
team.
• Service – the act of putting the ball in
play.
• Set – equivalent to the word “game” as
in the 15-point game.
• Set-up – a high pass, close to the net,
hit so that the spiker can drive the ball
into the opponent’s court.
• Side-out – failure of the serving team to
score.
• Spike – hitting the ball in play at net
level or above so that it is driven
downward.
Assist:
Passing or setting the ball to a
teammate who attacks the
ball for a kill.
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.
Back row:
the three players who court position is
near the baseline.
Baseline:
the back boundary of the court.
Block:
A defensive play by one or more front
row players meant to intercept a spiked ball.
The combination of one, two or three players
jumping in front of the opposing spiker and
contacting the spiked ball with the hands.
Center Line:
The boundary that runs under the net
and divides the court into two equal halfs.
Dig:
Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball. Slang
for the art of retrieving an attacked ball close to
the floor.
Front-row:
Three players whose court position is
near the net.
Hit:
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.
Lineup:
Players serving order, which reflects
their starting position on the court.
Setter:
The second passer whose job it is to
position a pass to the hitter.