The Rally

The volleyball rally technically begins with the referee's whistle, beckoning the serve, and ends when the whistle sounds again. For those unfamiliar with volleyball, all of the activity that happens between those whistles (assuming the ball crosses the net more than once), might seem like a lot of uncoordinated motion unrelated to actual contacts with the ball. Even novice players, with a few seasons of rotational substitution play under their belts, may not understand why that tall girl in the middle does nothing more than move back and forth from the net to the first line on her court, sometimes even faking a swing at the ball but perhaps never even touching the ball. We can find tons of information on playing defense and even more on how to serve, but try and find a concise, understandable explanation of everything that happens in a rally, you won't find it. Breaking the rally down into phases will help clarify each player's changing role and position in a rally timeline.

Initiating The Rally

The Serve

In volleyball, the serve is the only way to initiate play, the first phase of a volleyball rally. Preparation for the Serve and Serve Receive phases happen simultaneously on opposite sides of the court. The server is not the only player on his/her team involved in this phase, the non-serving players also have roles - preparing to move to their position in the Base Defense while staying in rotational alignment until after the serve is contacted, and to begin reading the opponents for clues about their impending attack. Upon contact of the serve, all players move to their Base Defensive positions.

Serve Recieve

The Serve Receive Phase of the volleyball rally happens simultaneously with the Serve Phase and occurs only once during the course of a rally. The preparation for this phase actually begins at the previous whistle, if the team is not serving, or as they take the floor to start the set. The ultimate goal of serve/receive base is to receive the serve in the best possible manner that allows the team to begin its offense. Some of the players in serve/receive are designated as the primary passers, the players that the team would prefer to play the serve and initiate the transition to offense. Other players are positioned to begin the attack phase but are usually prepared to assist in serve reception, if need be. The active setter's position on the floor should be as close to the setter's playing position as possible, keeping the player 'in rotation' and minimizing the possibility that the setter might have to actually receive the serve.

Continuing The Rally

Base Defense

Whenever the ball is played to the opponent's side of the court, the team should move to their Base Defense positions (following serve and attack phases). From the Base Defense, the team should be able to defend against any attack from the opponent and be able to move to a Specifc Defense once the opponent's attack strategy is recognized. The Base Defense places all player within three steps of their anticipate Specific Defense positions, more than three steps away will not allow the player enough time to transition. The Base Defensive positioning should allow effecient handling of overpasses on the opponent's first contact.

Specific Defense

Movement to Specific Defense positions occurs as soon as the players determine where the opponent's attack is likely to originate from. The goals of the Specific Defense are to defeat the opponent's attack and to restart the team's offense. To achieve these goals, one of several different defensive alignments can be executed, depending upon the team's defensive strategy and the abilities of the players.

Attack Transition

The Attack Transition Phase is dependent upon the level of success of the team's specific defense or serve reception. Ideally, the defense has produced a perfect pass to the setter and during the transition, all players have moved into their attack positions from which any of a number of varied attacks can be executed. The quality of the defensive pass may dictate the positions the players assume in transition with the ultimate goal in the attack phase of terminating the attack on the opponent's side or at least sending a safe ball over the net. The opponent's defense is also being read determine what types of attacks could be employed to exploit weaknesses in the defense or attack areas of the court that are not well covered.

Attack

Flowing seamlessly from the Attack Transition Phase, the Attack Phase has the ultimate goal of delivering the ball to the opponent's side with such force or placement that the opponent is unable to return the ball.

Phases Serve Receive Attack Transition Attack 4 - 2 I 4 - 2 6 - 2 6 - 6 Serve Base Defense 4 - 2 I 4 - 2 6 - 2 Specific Defense No Blocker 2 - 1 - 3 2 - 4 Last Updated: January 26, 2007		Volleyball Rally Phases The Rally The volleyball rally technically begins with the referee's whistle, beckoning the serve, and ends when the whistle sounds again. For those unfamiliar with volleyball, all of the activity that happens between those whistles (assuming the ball crosses the net more than once), might seem like a lot of uncoordinated motion unrelated to actual contacts with the ball. Even novice players, with a few seasons of rotational substitution play under their belts, may not understand why that tall girl in the middle does nothing more than move back and forth from the net to the first line on her court, sometimes even faking a swing at the ball but perhaps never even touching the ball. We can find tons of information on playing defense and even more on how to serve, but try and find a concise, understandable explanation of everything that happens in a rally, you won't find it. Breaking the rally down into phases will help clarify each player's changing role and position in a rally timeline. Initiating The Rally The Serve In volleyball, the serve is the only way to initiate play, the first phase of a volleyball rally. Preparation for the Serve and Serve Receive phases happen simultaneously on opposite sides of the court. The server is not the only player on his/her team involved in this phase, the non-serving players also have roles - preparing to move to their position in the Base Defense while staying in rotational alignment until after the serve is contacted, and to begin reading the opponents for clues about their impending attack. Upon contact of the serve, all players move to their Base Defensive positions. Serve Recieve The Serve Receive Phase of the volleyball rally happens simultaneously with the Serve Phase and occurs only once during the course of a rally. The preparation for this phase actually begins at the previous whistle, if the team is not serving, or as they take the floor to start the set. The ultimate goal of serve/receive base is to receive the serve in the best possible manner that allows the team to begin its offense. Some of the players in serve/receive are designated as the primary passers, the players that the team would prefer to play the serve and initiate the transition to offense. Other players are positioned to begin the attack phase but are usually prepared to assist in serve reception, if need be. The active setter's position on the floor should be as close to the setter's playing position as possible, keeping the player 'in rotation' and minimizing the possibility that the setter might have to actually receive the serve. Continuing The Rally Base Defense Whenever the ball is played to the opponent's side of the court, the team should move to their Base Defense positions (following serve and attack phases). From the Base Defense, the team should be able to defend against any attack from the opponent and be able to move to a Specifc Defense once the opponent's attack strategy is recognized. The Base Defense places all player within three steps of their anticipate Specific Defense positions, more than three steps away will not allow the player enough time to transition. The Base Defensive positioning should allow effecient handling of overpasses on the opponent's first contact. Specific Defense Movement to Specific Defense positions occurs as soon as the players determine where the opponent's attack is likely to originate from. The goals of the Specific Defense are to defeat the opponent's attack and to restart the team's offense. To achieve these goals, one of several different defensive alignments can be executed, depending upon the team's defensive strategy and the abilities of the players. Attack Transition The Attack Transition Phase is dependent upon the level of success of the team's specific defense or serve reception. Ideally, the defense has produced a perfect pass to the setter and during the transition, all players have moved into their attack positions from which any of a number of varied attacks can be executed. The quality of the defensive pass may dictate the positions the players assume in transition with the ultimate goal in the attack phase of terminating the attack on the opponent's side or at least sending a safe ball over the net. The opponent's defense is also being read determine what types of attacks could be employed to exploit weaknesses in the defense or attack areas of the court that are not well covered. Attack Flowing seamlessly from the Attack Transition Phase, the Attack Phase has the ultimate goal of delivering the ball to the opponent's side with such force or placement that the opponent is unable to return the ball.