Mom's Guide To Volleyball Defensive Terminology And Back Court Lingo

Elevate your volleyball mom game! Polish up your volleyball defensive terminology and court communication terms and impress your kids with your new vocabulary.

Mom's Guide To Volleyball Defensive Terminology And Back Court Lingo-

As a volleyball mom, you've likely found yourself in the stands, cheering on your child while trying to decipher the complex world of volleyball defense terms.

Understanding the words and jargon used in defensive situations can greatly enhance your appreciation of the game and help you support your young athlete more effectively.

In my comprehensive guide, I'll break down volleyball defensive terminology in a way that's easy for moms like you to understand, get comfortable using and relating to.

By the end of this article, my intention is for you to have a solid grasp of the language used to describe defensive actions on the court, allowing you to better connect with your child's volleyball experience and even impress other parents with your newfound knowledge!

When it comes to volleyball defensive terminology, there are a few fundamental terms that every mom should be familiar with.

Let's start with the basics:

1. Dig:

This is the act of preventing the ball from hitting the ground after an opponent's attack.

When you hear "Great dig!" from the coach, your child has just made a fantastic defensive play.

Players, like the one's on your child's team will learn how to dig in volleyball by creating a platform with their forearms holding hands together that're used to deflect a spike up in the air to be re-played.  

The Passing or Digging Platform: This refers to the flat surface created when a player holds their wrists and forearms together when they're about to pass or dig a ball.

2. Platform:

This refers to the flat surface created by a player's forearms when they're about to pass or dig a ball.

You might hear coaches yelling, "Create a good platform!" or "keep your wrists" together during practice.

3. Ready Position:

This is the athletic stance players adopt when preparing to dig a ball hit over the net by the opposing team.

It involves keeping shoulders over slightly bent knees, body weight leaning slightly forward on the balls of the feet, and arms out in front of the body with palms turned up towards the ceiling.

Ready Position: This is the athletic stance players adopt when preparing to dig a ball hit over the net by the opposing team.

In practice your child will be or should be coached to stay in their "ready position" before and after they play the ball in defense and in serve receive. 

Understanding this basic volleyball defensive  terminology will help you follow the action and appreciate your child's defensive efforts on the court.

As your child progresses in volleyball, you'll start hearing more advanced digging terms.

Here are a few to add to your vocabulary:

1. Pancake:

This is when a player slides their hand along the floor, palm down, to get under a ball that's about to hit the ground. It's a last-ditch effort that can be quite exciting to watch!

Volleyball Defensive Terminology: The Pancake: This is when a player slides their hand along the floor, palm down, to get under a ball that's about to hit the ground. (Photo by Nooccar)

2. The Roll or Barrel Roll:

A defensive technique where a player digs the ball and then rolls to the side to absorb the impact and quickly get back up.

You might hear, "Nice roll!" after a particularly impressive save.

3. Sprawl:

This involves quickly dropping to the floor with arms outstretched to dig a hard-driven ball. It's a dramatic move that often elicits cheers from the crowd.

You might also hear some interesting slang terms like

• "six pack" -when a player gets hit directly in the chest by a spike
• "facial" -taking a ball to the face without putting your hands up in defense in time to stop it
• "chester" - when a player doesn't get their hands up in time to stop a spiked ball from hitting their chest

Words like "facial" or "chester" are frequently used volleyball defense terminology that describes ways a player can legally dig a ball using body parts other than their hands. 

What does a "facial" have to do with how you dig a volleyball?

One of the slang terms used to describe taking a spike to the face, is a facial which actually is a special kind of 'six pack'.

When I say "special" I'm joking but still, it is similar to a six pack, because a facial describes what happens when a player digs a ball with their face.

• dig lips

This volleyball term "dig lips" or "digging lips" is volleyball jargon referring to a defensive player who digs a hard hitter multiple times in the same play. 

Lipping a ball is a strong impressive volleyball dig used to keep the ball off the floor. 

Volleyball Defense Terminology: Blocking is a crucial part of volleyball defense, and it comes with its own set of terms like "Seal The Net" - This refers to the action of pressing your arms over the net to prevent the ball from crossing into your court.

Blocking is a crucial part of volleyball defense, and it comes with its own set of terms:

1. Seal The Net:

This refers to the action of the blocker pressing their arms over the net to prevent the ball from coming across the net into the defense's court .

You might hear coaches yelling, "Seal the net!"

This refers to the action of the blocker pressing their arms over the net to prevent the ball from coming across the net into the defense's court . (Photo by Al Case)

2. Penetrate The Net:

When blockers reach their arms elbows and hands over the net to stop the ball from crossing into their court with the intent of pushing the ball back into the hitter's court before the blocker's feet hit the floor from their block jump.

Good penetration can make it difficult for attackers to find open court.

3. Stuff Block:

This exciting play occurs when a blocker times their block jump so well that they send the ball straight down into the opponent's court for a point.

It's definitely something to cheer about!

Understanding these blocking terms will help you appreciate the strategy involved in front-row defense.

Volleyball defense isn't just about individual skills; it's also about team defense strategy.

Here are some terms related to defensive formations:

1. Perimeter Defense:

A defensive strategy where players position themselves around the edges of the court in defense.

2. Rotational Defense:

A defensive system where players move or "rotate" to different positions to cover the four corners of the court against a team that continuously hits the ball to the deep corners as the play develops.

3. Commit Block:

A strategy where the middle blocker commits to blocking the opponent's middle hitter, regardless of where the set goes.

Understanding these strategic terms will give you insight into the complex world of volleyball defensive planning.

Effective communication is crucial in volleyball defense.

Here are some common terms you'll hear players shouting during a game:

1. "Mine!":

This is called out by a player claiming responsibility for playing the ball.

2. "Help!":

A call for assistance from teammates, often used when a player is out of position.

3. "Free!":

This indicates that the opponent's attack is not very aggressive and a ball has been sent over to your court, not as a spiked hard driven ball but an easy passed ball over the net allowing the team to easily set up their offense.

Encouraging your child to use these communication terms can help them become a better communicator and team player on the court.

As a volleyball mom, understanding defensive terminology can significantly enhance your experience of the game.

It allows you to better appreciate your child's efforts, understand the coach's instructions, and even offer more specific encouragement should your volleyball player ever need or ask for it.

Remember, learning these terms takes time, so don't be afraid to ask questions or look things up as you go along.

By showing interest in the language of the game, you're not only supporting your child's volleyball journey but also deepening your connection to their passion.

So the next time you're at a game, listen out for these terms and don't be surprised if you find yourself explaining a "pancake" or a "stuff block" to the parent sitting next to you!

The dig volleyball definition for two terms with explanations for an "up" and what "tagged" means which describe what happens in back court defense.(M.Johnston)

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I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list. 

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