VOLLEYBALL PLAYBOOK: 5-1 1

VOLLEYBALL

Playbook:5-1

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VOLLEYBALL PLAYBOOK: 5-1 2

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VOLLEYBALL PLAYBOOK: 5-1 3

Volleyball Playbook: Running the 5-1

Introduction
The 5-1 formation is perhaps the hardest volleyball formation to run because it requires a very talented and in-
tense setter. The setter, since there is only one of them, must be accurate and in great shape, because they will
be constantly on guard. This formation, though a bit harder for the offense, is the perfect way to confuse the
opposing team, who will not be expecting a setter who can also block or attack. Since there is only one setter,
that setter should be able to jump over the net to attack or block, because it will highly interfere with the other
team’s plans.

One of the best things about using the 5-1 formation is that the team gets comfortable with the setting style of
the one setter, which improves performance. The bad thing is that there is only one setter, so he/she must be in
great shape to keep up the energy to be the only setter.

Formation
The formation for the 5-1 is five hitters and one setter. The setter is always in the front row and sets to the back
or the side. Having only one setter allows the team to change rotations and have different numbers of hitters,
either two or three.

The setter, while on offense, should always be in the front right position. On defense, the setter should be in the
back right position and then move to the front right position as the opposing team returns the ball.

Basic 5-1 Formation

The following formations are basic starting positions for the game. There are variations provided so that a
coach can choose where he/she wants to start each player. As a rule, the players with the same position play
opposite each other.

The player opposite the setter in any rotation for the 5-1 formation is called the opposite hitter. The opposite
hitter is often the weakest player on the team and acts as a third hitter when in the back row. The opposite hitter
usually does not pass.

Since the opposite hitter is probably the weakest player on the team, the middle blocker next to the opposite hit-
ter should be one of the strongest players, so that they can assist as necessary. This will make sure that there is
an even distribution of talent and cover up any weak spots in the team.

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Opposing team

OH M H

H M

Figure 1 S

This is the most common formation for the 5-1, with the setter in the serving position. From here, the setter will
move up to the front right position and switch with the front right hitter.

Opposing team

H M S

OH M

Figure 2 H

In this rotation, the setter starts in the front right position, where they will want to end up eventually anyway.
One of the hitters is the server while the opposite hitter is in the back left position.

The serving position may be filled by any of the players, but it is ideal to have the setter either in the serving
position or in the front right position, where they need to be to set or attack.

Offensive Scenarios
The 5-1 formation is probably the most advanced formation, so it has many variations. The setter, as discussed
already, can serve as a setter or as an attacker. By jumping up, the setter can dig and keep the other team guess-
ing.

Opposing team

M
OH H

H
M

Figure 3 S

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VOLLEYBALL PLAYBOOK: 5-1 5

This is a simple serving position with the setter as the server. The front row is clustered in the middle but will
spread out after the serve. The final formation will look like this:

Opposing team

M
H OH

S
H
M

Figure 4

Another scenario starts with the opposite hitter as the server.

Opposing team

M
S H

M
Figure 5 OH

From here, the setter switches positions with the front hitter so that they are ready to set when the ball is re-
turned. The end of the scenario looks like this:

Opposing team

H M S

H OH

M
Figure 6

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The next offensive scenario has one of the hitters serving with the setter just behind the middle blocker and the
opposite hitter.

Opposing team

H M
OH
S

Figure 7 H

After the serve, the opposite hitter and middle blocker will switch positions. The hitters will back up, and the
setter will move up into the standard setting position of front right/middle.

Opposing team

H M OH

M H

Figure 8

Defensive Scenarios
Defensively, coaches must remember that the opposite hitter needs to be caddy-corner to the setter at all times.
As the weakest of all the hitters, their position must be protected by stronger players, such as the middle blocker
and another hitter. The setter always wants to be in front on defense because they are the only ones who will set
after the ball is received.

The setter generally sits in the front right position, but it is also common for the setter to move into more of a
middle front position. They set the ball for the other players or, if they want to confuse the opposing team and
possibly score a point, they will jump and hit it on the second pass instead of setting it. This is why it is impor-
tant to have a quick, talented, and strong setter for the 5-1.

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Opposing team

M H
H
OH
M
Figure 9

In Figure 9, the attackers are all in the back court, ready to receive the return from the opposing team. Once this
is done, the attackers will spread out and push forward while still allowing the setter enough room to set to a
specific attacker. In this case, one of the hitters is not an option for the setter, leaving only the middle attack and
back row attack possibilities.

Opposing team

H M

OH H
M
Figure 10

This defensive position puts the heavy hitters in the back right position, allowing the setter to set to either the
outside hitter or the opposite hitter, while the other players defend their positions from the return from the op-
posing team.

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Opposing team

S
M

OH M
H

Figure 11

This is one of the best receiving positions a team can have, because it allows the setter to set to the entire back
row. In this formation, the middle blocker and hitter are back to help pass the ball to the setter, who will set to
anyone in the back row.

5-1 Plays
The following plays include a serving position, a receiving position, and an attack position. This should help
coaches understand how the game will play out and offer a sequence for handling each situation. Each part of
each play can be combined with other scenarios to create an endless lineup of plays. The most probable and
logical combinations are offered here as a basis for a team’s playing strategy.

Play 1

Play 1 begins with the setter in the preferred position—serving. From here, the setter will move up but still hug
the front right position until it is time to attack, when they will move to the front middle position.

This serving position has the opposite hitter and one each of the hitters and middle blockers clustered together
in the front middle position. This provides protection for the setter just after the serve because these players can
disperse to handle the front row however they need to.

Opposing team

M
OH H

H
M

Figure 12–serve S

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From the serving position, the setter pushes up almost to the front line while the hitter moves to the front right
position very near the setter. The opposite hitter moves to cover the front left area while the back hitter and
back middle blocker maintain their positions covering the back. It is the back middle blocker’s job to cover
nearly the entire back area of the court.

Opposing team

OH M
H
S

H
M
Figure 13–receive

For the attack, the front middle blocker moves back a bit to allow the setter to move to the front middle posi-
tion. This gives the setter optimum moving capabilities and assures that no matter where the ball is received,
the setter is always ready to set so that their teammates can return the ball with an attack.

Like many of the plays presented, this requires the most work from the setter. Coaches should be aware of this
when choosing to run Play 1.

Opposing team

S
OH
M H

H
M
Figure 14–attack

Play 2

To start Play 2, the setter stands very close between the opposite hitter and the front middle blocker. One of the
hitters and the other middle blocker handle the left court.

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Opposing team

H M
OH
S

Figure 15–serve H

There is not much change between the serving and the receiving positions for Play 2. The setter moves forward
into the front middle position, assisted by the opposite hitter. The other players all move back to cover the back
court and ensure a proper hit for the setter to set.

Opposing team

OH
S
H
M
M H

Figure 16–receive

To finish Play 2, the setter moves a bit forward into the optimum setting position. The opposite hitter moves
right to cover the front right position and the left hitter moves forward again to attack from that side if neces-
sary.

Opposing team

H OH
S

H M
M

Figure 17–attack

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Play 3

In Play 3, the opposite hitter starts by serving. The setter is pushed nearly to front left and has help from the
front middle blocker and front hitter if necessary. The back middle blocker has the responsibility of the back
court while the back hitter is protecting the left court, both front and back.

Opposing team

M
S H

M
Figure 18–serve OH

For the receiving position of Play 2, the setter and the front middle blocker move left, a somewhat unusual
move for a setter. This will confuse the opposing team somewhat and still leave your team with enough strong
players to cover all the areas of the court if necessary. The opposite hitter, who was the server, now moves up to
protect the entire right side of the court, while the front hitter moves back to help the back middle blocker de-
fend his or her area.

Opposing team

S
H OH
H
M

Figure 19–receive

Because the setter is already on the left side, this attack will come with the setter still on the left. This will re-
quire a team to be comfortable with the setter setting from the right or the left and may require some extra prac-
tice. To ensure that there are hitters available for the setter, the two hitters move more to the middle position,
with one of the hitters moving forward. The front middle blocker also moves in with the setter to assist if
needed.

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VOLLEYBALL PLAYBOOK: 5-1 12

Opposing team

S H
H OH

Figure 20–attack

Conclusion
Defense can be a challenge with the 5-1 formation because of the existence of only one setter. This means that
coaches and players must be aware at all times of the relationships between the players, so that the setter always
has someone around to set to and so the hitters and blockers know to assist the setter.

With offense, there are several attack options for the 5-1 formation. They all require the setter to be in the front
row, but other than that one requirement, there are really no rules for the attack. The setter usually sets from the
right side, but as Play 3 demonstrates, it is possible to run an entire play with the setter on the left. This will
confuse your opponent and give you an upper hand during the play as they scramble to reform their defense.

The setter is also a great weapon in the 5-1 formation if they are strong and can jump high. When this is the
case, the setter can actually dig instead of setting on the second hit, which will catch the other team’s defense
off guard and force them to move quickly. If their reactions are not quite quick enough, your team will score.
For the 5-1, it is ideal to have a setter who can do all these things so that the team has maximum versatility.

Finally, although the opposite hitter has been named the weakest player for the 5-1, there is no reason to avoid
using that player. Coaches and other players have a tendency to avoid using an opposite hitter because of the
stereotype associated with the position, but acting in this way severely limits the choices a team has in attackers
and defenders. The team as a whole should recognize the talents of the opposite hitter and use them whenever
possible so that they become a resource for the team and improve their skills at the same time.

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