Block the line, dig the edges
Volleyball · Defence · 6 of your players and 3 opponents
Our opposite and middle blocker put up a double block on their outside hitter, the left-front player drops off the net for the sharp angle, and the back three spread to the edges of the court to dig.
Opens on a volleyball pitch with the shape already drawn. Free, no signup.
Who stands where
Perimeter defence is the base defence most club teams learn first. Their outside hitter is attacking from their left, which is our right, 0.9 m off the net with the ball. Our numbers are the zones. The opposite (2) and the middle blocker (3) are side by side at the net to block it, the opposite 7.65 m from our left sideline on the line and the middle beside them at 6.5 m. The front-row outside hitter (4) has dropped 3.4 m off the net, 1.8 m in from the left sideline, to dig the sharp cross-court angle.
The back row stays on the edges. The setter (1) plays right back, 7.7 m across and 5.9 m deep, to dig the line. The libero (5) is left back, 1.35 m in and 5.9 m deep, for the deep cross-court ball. The back-row outside hitter (6) is deep in the middle, 7.9 m from the net, for anything hit over the block. Their setter and middle blocker are drawn on their side of the net.
Why perimeter
Perimeter defence keeps every defender facing the ball with room in front of them. The block takes away the middle of the court; the diggers sit outside the block's shadow, where the ball can actually go. It is simple to teach because each player owns an edge.
The cost is the tip. Nobody is close behind the block, so a soft shot over it lands in the middle of the court. Teams that face a lot of tips switch to rotation defence, where the right back comes up behind the block instead.
Coaching it
- Feet set before the hit. Animate the play so the diggers arrive and stop before their hitter swings.
- Read the shoulder. Ask the back row to call line or angle from the hitter's approach.
- Then flip it. Use the designer's flip to draw the same defence against their right side.
Draw your own version in the volleyball play designer and share the link with the team.
Also known as
- perimeter defense
- base defence
- double block
- back row defence
- dig
Shapes to look at next
Rotation defence
Volleyball · Defence · 9 players
The same double block on their outside hitter, but the back row rotates towards the attack: the right back comes up behind the block for the tip, the middle back slides to the line and the left back covers the deep cross-court ball.
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Serving team set-up
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Our serve, setter serving from behind the end line: the front three at the net ready to block and the back two in front of the server, every player in their rotation order so the overlap rule holds.
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Hitter coverage
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Our outside hitter attacks from the left against a double block, and the other five close in behind them in a cup: the middle and libero tight, the back-row hitter deep, so a ball blocked straight down is still ours.
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Serve receive, setter in 1
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Three-passer serve receive with the setter in zone 1: both outside hitters and the libero share the court, the setter tucks in behind the right-side passer, and the opposite and middle wait at the net. Legal under the overlap rule at the moment of serve.
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Serve receive, setter in 4
Volleyball · Set piece · 7 players
The setter starts front left at the net and slides right to set, while the outside hitters and libero take the serve and the opposite hides deep behind the right-side passer. Legal under the overlap rule at the moment of serve.
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5-3-2 low block
Soccer · Defence · 11 players
A back five dropped onto the edge of the six-yard box with a midfield three in front and two strikers held back for the counter. What you set up when you are protecting a lead.
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Put the Perimeter defence on a pitch
It opens with the shape already drawn. Move the players your team does differently, drag the runs, and send your squad a link that animates.
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