See it. Place it. Understand it.
Understand volleyball rotations
Where do you stand at the serve, and where do you move next? See the rotation, then place the players yourself.
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Number = rotational position · letters = role · arrow = example movement
Your role: Setter
Rotational position 1 (back row). You are the active setter. After the serve, move to setting on the right of the net in our example. You remain a back-row player even when you move to the net.
5–1 · Rotation 1
Setter sets as a back-row player
At the opponent’s serve, relative foot positions matter. Afterwards Setter moves from position 1 to set on the right of the net.
System and display options
One setter runs the offence in all six rotations. There are three front-row attackers when the setter is back row, and two alongside a front-row setter.
Both 4–2 examples play without a libero. A libero can generally replace any back-row player. Placement practice uses the six original roles without a libero.
All roles and destinations in this rotation
| Role | Rotational position | After the serve in this example |
|---|---|---|
| Setter | 1 · back row | setting on the right of the net |
| Middle blocker 1 | 2 · front row | middle attack |
| Outside hitter 1 | 3 · front row | left-side attack |
| Opposite | 4 · front row | right-side attack |
| Middle blocker 2 | 5 · back row | middle-back coverage |
| Outside hitter 2 | 6 · back row | left-back coverage |
Rotation 1 here starts with S in position 1. Other teams may start differently. Movements and formations are examples.
FIVB basic rules 2025–2028 · excludes 2026 experimental rules and US league variations · selections and results are not saved
Volleyball positions and rotation rules: the basics
The movements are learning examples. Your team may use a different tactic in the same rotation.
How do rotation and switching positions work?
When the receiving team wins the rally, it gains the right to serve and rotates clockwise: 2 → 1 → 6 → 5 → 4 → 3 → 2. Winning another point while serving does not cause a rotation. Position 1 serves.
Your rotational position and tactical location are different. After the serve you can move to your tactical position. Your front- or back-row status remains for the rally. In a penetration system, the active setter moves from their rotational position to the setting area.
Where are the six positions and what do the labels mean?
Looking towards the net from our side: front row left to right is 4, 3, 2; back row is 5, 6, 1. The net is at the top. Small numbers next to players show rotational positions. S = setter, OPP = opposite, OH = outside hitter, MB = middle blocker, L = libero. OH1/OH2 and MB1/MB2 distinguish players of the same role.
Our rotation 1 starts with S or S1 in position 1. Other teams may number their rotations differently.
What is the difference between 5–1, 4–2 and 6–2?
5–1: one setter sets in all six rotations. A back-row setter has three front-row attackers; a front-row setter has two alongside them.
4–2: the front-row setter sets. We show two variants: setting from the middle, or from the right of the net. The latter is called “international” in our German version. Both examples use five-player reception without a libero.
6–2: the back-row setter moves forward to set and the front-row setter attacks on the right, giving three front-row attackers in every rotation. Both setters stay on court; US substitution models are not shown.
Which FIVB positional rules apply since 2025?
At service contact, the receiving team must respect relative foot positions: lateral order within each row and the three corresponding front/back pairs. Level or sufficiently overlapping feet can be allowed. For jumping players, the last ground contact counts.
The serving team is exempt from relative positional restrictions. Service order, front/back status, screening restrictions and court/service boundaries still matter. Our trainer simplifies boundaries and does not assess special cases at the centre line.
How is the libero shown?
In System and display options, you can replace the back-row middle with a libero in 5–1 and 6–2. A libero can generally replace any back-row player. When the middle in position 1 serves, they stay on court here for that rally. FIVB rules do not allow the libero to serve. Placement practice uses no libero.
A libero cannot block, attempt to block, or complete an attack hit when the ball is entirely above the net at contact. After the libero makes an overhand finger pass from the front zone, a teammate cannot complete such an attack either. The finger pass itself is allowed.
Can back-row players move to the net and attack?
Yes. They can move freely after the serve but remain back-row players. They can complete an attack above net height from the back zone. For a jump, neither foot may touch or cross the attack line at take-off; landing in the front zone is allowed. From the front zone, the ball must not be entirely above the top of the net at attack contact. Back-row players cannot complete a block; the libero has additional restrictions.
How is placement practice assessed?
The six players start in the tray at the bottom. Rebuild the starting formation, then the destinations from Learn. Check positions reveals which players are inside their example target areas. Each target circle has a radius of 10% of court width. The starting formation also checks foot relationships and model boundaries. Rotational restrictions no longer apply after the serve.
Other team tactics can also be valid. Target hints and repositioning after feedback count as guided practice. The separate overlap trainer checks simplified foot rules without requiring a particular tactic. Neither mode replaces a referee’s decision.
Which rules and data does this site use?
FIVB basic rules 2025–2028 for indoor volleyball. Excludes league-specific rules, USAV/NCAA/NFHS variations, beach volleyball and 2026 experimental international rules. FIVB Official Rules · FIVB Casebook 2025 (7.4, 7.6, 12.4, 13, 14, 19.3; cases 2.6–2.8).
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