Home
Before the Match 1-20
Referees 21-40
Dead Ball 41-60
Live Ball 61-80
Rule Changes 81-100
Beat Bob
Contact
Free E-zine!
Heaven
NFHS State Associations
Links
Training DVD
Training to the Max
  

Volleyball Positions. Alignment.


The different volleyball positions starting with the server and proceeding in order are as follows: right back (RB), right front (RF), center front (CF), left front (LF), left back (LB), and center back (CB). These names allow us to refer to them and learn their relationship to each other.

This relationship to each other is called alignment. When positioning on the court, a player on the front row must be closer to the center line than the player directly behind her (see diagram) when the serve is struck. Likewise, a player on the back row must be closer to the end line than the player directly in front of her.

Additionally, positions are required to be aligned left to right. A player must be closer to the right side line than the player directly to her left. And, a player must be closer to the left side line than the player directly in the position to her right.

NET
---------
LF CF RF
LB CB RB

49. T F The CF must be closer to the center line than the LB.

50. T F The RF has only to worry about alignment with the CF and RB.

51. T F The CB may be closer to the right side line than the RB when their team serves the volleyball.

52. T F The LF may be closer to the right side line than the CB at the moment the serve is struck.

Understanding positions and their relationship to each other can be tricky until you get the hang of it. See how well you did! Check your answers below.























Answers:

49. F - In this case, the CF must be closer to the center line than the CB because the CB is directly behind her. If the LB or RB are lined up closer to the center line than the CF, it is legal. But the LB cannot be closer to the center line than the LF, and the RB cannot be closer to the center line than the RF position.

50. T The RF must be in front/back alignment with the player directly behind her (RB) and in right/left alignment with the player directly to her left (CF) and to her right (none). All other players do not affect RF's alignment since their positions are not directly next to her.

51. T Normally, this would be false. In the situation above, the key phrase is "when their team serves the volleyball." Where is the RB "when their team is serving"? Serving, of course. So, if she is off of the court, as all servers are when they're serving, then the CB has NO player directly to her right and may be as close to the right side line as she wishes, even if she physically locates TO THE RIGHT of the RB volleyball position.

52. T The LF only aligns with the CF and the LB.

Volleyball positions and their relationships determine the serve reception formations allowed at the moment the serve is struck. Let's move on, now, to questions 53-56 by clicking onvolleyball positions.