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Libero Lingo: Fun Volleyball Defensive Terms Every Mom Should Know

Unlock The Secret Language Of Volleyball Defensive Terms To Boost Your Volleyball IQ Become Your Child's Ultimate Supporter On and Off The Court.


As a volleyball mom, understanding the volleyball defensive terms used in a game or practice can make a world of difference in supporting your young player.


Volleyball Defensive Terms- What is a dig? When a player creates a platform with their forearms to contact the ball while lowering their hips and watching the hitter attacking the ball towards them or to an open spot on their court near them that they're required to chase down to keep the ball off the floor. (photo Al Case)Volleyball Defensive Terms- What is a dig? When a player creates a platform with their forearms to contact the ball while lowering their hips and watching the hitter attacking the ball towards them or to an open spot on their court near them that they're required to chase down to keep the ball off the floor. (photo Al Case)

Volleyball Digging Drills: The 'Hit and Dig" volleyball drill is used in warmups to improve hitting technique and digging technique skills. 



Let's dive into the essential defensive terms that will have you speaking libero in no time!


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Dig Deep: How To Excel At This Important Defensive Move


- What is a dig?

When a player creates a platform with their forearms to contact the ball while lowering their hips and watching the hitter attacking the ball towards them or to an open spot on their court near them that they're required to chase down to keep the ball off the floor. 

A dig is one of the volleyball defensive terms that describes the defensive skill of preventing the ball from hitting the floor after an opponent's attack. It's the libero's bread and butter!


Example in action:

Your child

which continues the play.


4 Digging Drills For Volleyball Players Like A Fun Game of Hitter vs. Digger - Winner scores 10 points First




A fun game of Hitter vs. Digger: Winner scores 10 points

First the Hitter hits hard deep cross court and scores a point when digger can’t touch it or digs an unplayable ball.

Digger scores a point when they dig a playable ball.

For beginners, hitter errors may not count but for more advanced players hits in the net or out of bounds are points scored for the digger.


Mom Tip:

Celebrate successful digs with enthusiasm. It boosts your child's confidence and reinforces the importance of this digging skill.


Up and At 'Em: The Power of Positive Communication

Basic Volleyball Drills 
How To Touch More Balls When You're Digging

is the key to touching more balls hit right at you and controlling those balls so they’re more likely to reach their target .


What is an "up?"

"Up" is a communication call made by defenders to alert teammates that they've successfully dug the ball.

It's a quick way to say, "I've got it, and it's playable, so someone step in and take the next ball!"


Example in action:

You hear players yelling "Up!" after someone in defense digs up a powerful spike. This lets the setter know the ball is coming their way.


              Mom Tip:

Encourage your child to use clear, loud communication during practice and games. It's a skill that translates well off the court too!


The Magic Touch: Understanding Ball Contact


What is a "touch?"

A touch occurs when a defender makes contact with the ball, even if they don't control it fully.

When a defender makes contact with the ball, even if they don't control it. Blockers who go up to block a ball and one of their blocking hands make contact with the ball as it crosses over the net and as they land will yell to their backrow teammates "touch" so they know how many more contacts they have before they need to get the ball back over the net


Example in action:

Your child barely grazes a hard-hit ball with their fingertips. Even though they didn't control it, that's still considered a touch.

Volleyball Defensive Terms: When a defender makes contact with the ball, even if they don't control it. Blockers who go up to block a ball and one of their blocking hands make contact with the ball as it crosses over the net and as they land will yell to their backrow teammates "touch" so they know how many more contacts they have before they need to get the ball back over the net (photo Ralph Arvesen)Volleyball Defensive Terms: When a defender makes contact with the ball, even if they don't control it. Blockers who go up to block a ball and one of their blocking hands make contact with the ball as it crosses over the net and as they land will yell to their backrow teammates "touch" so they know how many more contacts they have before they need to get the ball back over the net (photo Ralph Arvesen)


When the serving team serves, they have three blockers "on defense" up at the net positioned to stop an oncoming attack by the opposing team's hitters while behind them their three defenders/diggers or positioned in Zones, 1, 6 and 5 ready to dig up, play up or run down, any balls that get past the blockers....this is called team defense. (Varsity high school blocker watches the hitter. photo Ralph Arvesen)


Mom tip:

Help your child understand the importance of owning up to touches. It's not just about the rules; it's about sportsmanship and honesty.


Defense Never Rests: The Art of Protecting the Court


Defense is the overall act of protecting against opponent attacks. It's a team effort, but the libero often leads the charge.


Example in action:

Watch how the entire back row shifts and adjusts based on the opponent's attack formation. That's defense in action!


Mom tip:

Encourage your child to take pride in their defensive skills. While spiking might get the glory, great defense wins games.


Beyond the Basics: Advanced Defensive Moves


As players advance, they'll encounter more complex defensive terms:


- What Is A Pancake?:

A pancake is one of the volleyball defensive terms that describes a last-resort move where a player slides their hand along the floor to get under a low ball.

A last-resort defensive technique where a player places their hand on the floor, palm down, to get under a ball so that the ball contacts their hand and bounces back into the air making it a playable ball, the idea being that the ball touches the hand instead of the floor


- What Is A Roll?:

A technique to quickly recover after diving for a ball.

A defensive technique used after a player runs to get to a ball that has not been hit right to them.


The roll or barrel roll is one of the several acrobatic individual defense techniques you can use to collapse to the ground after finishing a volleyball dig that takes you off balance.


This is a way that players can cover more court area to dig a ball. 

The roll is how a player approaches or runs down a ball to play it before finishing to the floor, recovering and getting up to play another ball


The passing platform is the flat surface, two inches above the wrists and 2-3 inches below the inside of your elbows, created when a player holds their wrists together with both thumbs point to the ground,The passing platform is the flat surface, two inches above the wrists and 2-3 inches below the inside of your elbows, created when a player holds their wrists together with both thumbs point to the ground,


- What Is Your Platform?:

The flat surface created by a player's forearms for passing or digging.

The passing platform is the flat surface, two inches above the wrists and 2-3 inches below the inside of your elbows, created when a player holds their wrists together with both thumbs point to the ground, while contacting the ball, deflecting it back up into the air towards their intended target (without swinging the arms above the level of the chest). 


Example in action:

Your child makes a spectacular save by extending their arm and getting a pancake under a ball that seemed impossible to reach!


Mom tip:

Praise effort and creativity in defensive plays. These advanced moves often come from quick thinking and determination.


Putting It All Together: The Libero's Defensive Dance

- What is Positioning? Placing oneself in the best spot to defend against attacks. How a backcourt player positions themselves behind a blocker in front of them in the front row (photo Erik Drost)- What is Positioning? Placing oneself in the best spot to defend against attacks. How a backcourt player positions themselves behind a blocker in front of them in the front row (photo Erik Drost)


Understanding these terms helps you appreciate the complexity of the libero's role:

- What is Reading the game?

The skill a player uses to watch every move the ball makes while on the opposing team's court in order to anticipate what moves the next  opposing player to touch the ball will make...and then moving to a spot on their court based on what they see is about to happen


- What is Positioning?:

Placing oneself in the best spot to defend against attacks.

How a backcourt player positions themselves behind a blocker in front of them in the front row 

When a team is on defense this is how the front row blockers work together with the backrow defensive players in order to cover the primary areas on the court, the opposing team's attacker could attack or spike to

- What is Transition?:

Quickly moving from defense to an offensive ready position.

Transition which means "change" takes place when during a rally when one team that sends a ball over the net now goes from offense to defense and as play continues...once a team sends the ball over the net its on offense and when the ball crosses the net towards them....that same team now sets up in defense...


Example in action:

Watch how the libero adjusts their position based on the opponent's hitters and the set they receive.


Mom Tip:

Discuss defensive strategies with your child after games. Ask what they noticed about the opponent's attacks and how they adjusted their defense.

Moving Forward...


When you learn these defensive terms, you're not just learning volleyball jargon – you're gaining insight into your child's world on the court.

Use this knowledge to

  • have more meaningful conversations about the game,
  • offer informed support during challenging times and
  • celebrate the nuances of great defensive plays

Remember, your understanding and enthusiasm can be a powerful motivator for your young player.

So the next time you're cheering from the sidelines, you'll be ready with the right words to encourage and support your budding libero.


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