Mount Olive Volleyball Association

1. Call the Ball- Call it Early and Call it Loud.  Try to call it before it crosses the net.  If another player calls the ball at the same time either back off and call out the other player's name to let them know to get the ball or play it anyway. 

2. Expect every ball to come to You-  Don't be a spectator when you're on court.  Be ready to play the ball and be ready to move.

3. Know which area you're responsible for.

4. Pursue every ball-  Try to get to shanked passes - if it's the second or third hit and the ball has gone out of bounds on your side- run it down and get the ball off the floor. If the ball hits the ceiling after the first bump- It will usually come down to the person that hit that ball-  Get to that spot and wait for the ball to come down.

5. Go to Your Line-  Go to the line to see if a ball is in or out.

6. Stay Low on Defense- Get low and stay low.

7. Play from the Outside In- Face into the court toward your setter's spot on the net.

8. Face the Target- Your body wants the ball to go to where it thinks you are going. Face the target and let your body do the steering.

9. Stay on your feet if possible.

10.  Attitude is Everything!  Work on your skills and you'll find that you'll be hoping that the ball comes your way. 

Ace- A serve not returned by the opposing team.

Attack- An attempt by the offensive team to end the rally by hitting the ball to the floor of the defensive team.

Attacker- A player who spikes or hits the ball over the net.

Block-
A skill executed above the net by one or more players to prevent a spike from entering their side of the court.

Dig- A basic skill used to receive an opponents attack. (Also called a bump)

DownBall- An attacked ball the blockers judge as not having enough speed or good enough court position to require a block.

Foul- Any rule infraction that causes the referee to blow the whistle.

Forearm Pass- A basic skill where the ball is rebounded off the player’s forearms to the desired target.

Free Ball- A ball returned by the opposing team that cannot be attacked and, instead, is passed over the net.

Hit- Another term used for an attack or spike.

Kill- An attack not returned by the defense.

Overhead Pass- A basic skill where the ball is contacted above the head with both hands. It can be used on defense, serve receive and setting.

Rally- The time from the start of the serve until the play is ended by a point or side out.

Rally Scoring- An alternative scoring system incorporated in the deciding game of a match where a point is scored when either team wins the rally.

Rotation- When a team earns a side out, the team moves one position clockwise on the court before the next serve.

Serve- A basic volleyball skill used to put the ball into play.

Set - An overhead pass directed to an attacker.

Side out- When the serving team loses the rally and the receiving team gets the ball and the next serve attempt. (Does not result in a point unless rally scoring is being used.)

Spike- A powerful attack that incorporates jumping and hitting the ball into the opponent’s court with one hand.

Sprawl- A defensive technique used to retrieve a ball in front of the defender.

Tip- An offspeed shot used by the attacker directed at the holes in the defense. Also called a dump or dink.