1.

Ace - serve that no player of the opposition team touches before it hits the
ground. It results in a point for the server.
2. Assist - setting the ball up for a teammate who attacks the ball and then scores a
point. An assist is counted only if the very next shot results in a point.
3. Attack - the act of actually approaching the volleyball and hitting it, in order to
gain a point.
4. Attacker - the person who attacks the ball. Also known as the HITTER or the
SPIKER.
5. Attack line - also known as the ’10-foot line’, it is 3 meters away from the net and
is present on both sides of the court.
6. Back row attack - a move where a player behind the attack line hits the ball. At
the moment when he jumps to hit the ball, he must be behind the attack line.
7. Block - an action where a spiker’s move is deflected back into his court by
blocking the ball.
8. Ball handling error - the referee may call this error, if he notices that there has
been a double hit, or a ball is thrown or lifted.
9. Bump pass - the action of clasping one’s fingers together and using the forearms
to hit pass the ball to a teammate or over the net.
10. Center line - the line under the net that divides the entire court into 2 equal parts.
11. Decoy - a move in which the actual spiker of the ball is disguised. This takes the
opposing team by surprise.
12. Dig - the act of reaching a ball spiked by the opponents and passing it to a
teammate.
13. Double hit - an illegal move that implies that the same player has touched the
ball twice in succession.
14. Floater - a serve that has often been mis-hit and its direction cannot be predicted
as there is no spin or rotation on the ball.
15. Foul - any illegal violation of the rules.
16. Hit - act of jumping up and forcefully ‘spiking’ or hitting the ball to the opposing
court.
17. Jump serve - a method of service where the ball is flung in the air and the server
jumps to strike it.
18. Kill - a move or a strike that results in the gaining of a point.
19. Mintonette - this is what volleyball was officially known as earlier. The name was
created by William Morgan.
20. Ready position - the position and stance that any player takes just before hitting
the ball.
21. Red card - a disqualification by the referee. This implies that either a player must
leave the game, the team forfeits a point, or a team forfeits a serve.
22. Rotation - after a server has made his serve, all the players rotate in a clockwise
movement.
23. Serve - the game starts when one player serves the ball from the end line of his
side of the court, into the opposing team’s half.
24. Service error - a wrong service. This occurs when the service hits the net, or
does not cross the net, or the ball falls out-of-bounds or the server’s foot crosses
the line while serving.
25. Setter - the person who has the crucial second touch of the ball. The third touch
will be by a spiker, and the setter must set up the ball in a nice way for the spiker.
He is one of the most important offensive players in a volleyball team.
26. Side out - a situation where the receiving team wins the right to serve. This
occurs either because they have won a point, or because the serving team
committed an error.
27. Yellow card - a warning issued to any player. This does not accompany a loss.
28. Antenna - Vertical rods mounted to the net, directly above the sidelines. These
rods are technically out-of-bounds, and as such, any ball striking them is out of
play.
29. Back Set: A set from a setter to an attacker directly behind them.
30. Beach Dig: Digging or receiving the ball with an open hand.
31. Campfire: When a ball lands in the middle of several players who all watch it hit
the floor.
32. Chester: A spike or serve that hits directly into an opponent’s chest.
33. Closing the Block: When one player joins another player with the intent to block
creating one unified block. The term close comes from closing the gap between
the two players.
34. Covering: Staying near a hitter to recover the play if the attack is blocked back
into the attacking court.Cross Court Shot: An attack directed from one side of the
net to the opposite corner of the court on the opponent's side.
35. Cut Shot: A crafty hit that starts as a normal swing but hits the hitter's hand
toward their pinky, allowing the ball to travel at a sharp angle across the net.
36. Dig: Passing a ball that has been sharply struck. Typically passing a well hit ball
that is near the floor before being passed.
37. Dink: A light push of the ball over blockers. Often executed by a setter.
38. Deep Set: A set well off the net to limit the effect of an opponent block.
39. Defensive Specialist: A player designated to play only in the back row. Typically,
they will replace a less skilled defensive player as they enter the back row of the
rotation. The defensive specialist can be called on to serve as well.
40. Double Hit: An illegal play in which a player hits the ball twice successively or
contacts the ball separately with two different body parts.
41. Down Ball: A ball that is set so far off the net that it will not be attacked from the
front row. It will either be attacked from the back or passed over the net. The
defensive players will yell, “Down”, indicating they should forego blocks and drift
back in anticipation of passing.
42. Error (Or Unforced Error): A play in which a player makes a mistake on their
own. For example, hitting a well-set ball directly out of bounds or serving a ball
into the net.
43. Extension Roll: A controlled dive in order to pass a ball that is out of reach
standing. Finished with a roll to allow a player to get back to their feet.
44. Follow: Term used in reference to a blocker following the same attacker on their
side of the net, as opposed to blocking one position.
45. Free Ball: A ball that will be sent over the net via pass rather than attack. This
alerts the defense to drop back into passing positions, as no spike is coming.
46. Front: Term used to indicate a blocker being direct across from the attacker. This
is the most effective way to establish a block.
47. Front Row Attack: An attack from a player in the front row rotation.
48. Game: One segment of a volleyball match. Depending on scoring, can be played
to 15 or 25 points (often with a win-by-two requirement). Most matches are either
two out of three games or three out of five games.
49. Game Plan: A predetermined plan, often set by the coaching staff, on how to
attack an opponent by attacking their noticeable weaknesses.
50. Inside: A reference to anything toward the middle of the net.
51. Isolation: A game plan intended to isolate a specific attack against a specific
defensive player. Most often to exploit a weakness in the defender.
52. Jungle Volleyball: Also known as picnic volleyball. Refers to a game of volleyball
being played with participants that do not know how to play volleyball.
53. Joust: Two opposing players playing the same ball at the net. A joust often
occurs when a bad pass has been made resulting in the ball coming down at the
top of the net.
54. Key: A “tell” that an opponent gives unknowingly which allows the defense to
predict their next play or move.
55. Libero: A player who can only play the back row, often substituting a poor
defensive player. A libero can substitute any back-row player at any time without
substitution limits.