Rotate towards the attack

Who stands where

Rotation defence starts from the same attack as perimeter defence: their outside hitter is swinging from their left, our right, with the ball, 0.9 m their side of the net. Our zones are the numbers. The opposite (2) and the middle blocker (3) double block at the net, 7.65 m and 6.5 m from our left sideline. The front-row outside hitter (4) is off the net, 2 m in and 3.6 m back, for the sharp angle.

Then the back row rotates. The setter (1), playing right back, comes up to 3.6 m from the net, 7.2 m across, close behind the block, where a tip lands. The back-row outside hitter (6) has rotated from the middle of the back court to the line, 7 m across and 8.1 m deep. The libero (5) stays left back, 1.8 m in and 6.8 m deep, for the hard cross-court ball.

When to use it

Rotation defence wins against teams that tip and roll shots over the block, because a defender is standing exactly where that ball falls. It gives up some of the deep middle: if their hitter swings hard over the top, only the line digger and the left back are deep. Many coaches use perimeter as their base and call rotation when an opponent's hitter is tipping, so it is worth having both diagrams in the playbook and a word for each.

Coaching it

• Right back moves late. Leave on the hitter's jump, not before, or the hitter sees the hole you left.
• Line digger stays deep. The middle back's job is the ball down the line and over the block.
• Talk. The tip coverage calls the tip; the left back calls the cross-court ball.

Animate the rotation in the volleyball play designer so each player sees where they start and where they finish, then send the link to the team.