Volleyball

Volleyball is a sport that is played all around the world. It is one of the most watched and favored Olympic sports and brings about some of the most mentally and physically talented athletes. 

The game of volleyball only allows six players to be on the court at one time; three in the back row and three in the front row. There can be a combination of 1 or 2 setters in at one time, but only one of them can be designated as a setter at a time. I may want to back up a little and explain what a setter is. A setter is the person that sets each of the hitters in the front row. They always touch the ball second and raise their hands above their heads to form a triangle and push out. Coaches may say she has “soft hands.” They aren’t literally referring to the texture of her hands, they are talking about the elegance that she has when she sets the ball. A good setter can take a ball with any kind of spin on it and once it leaves her hands it is just floating in the air with no spin.

                The back row players are usually the shorter ones of the group that have quick movements on the floor. They are able to dive and throw their bodies for hard driven balls. They can take the impact of a ball coming at them at 30 miles per hour and transfer that energy away from the ball and be able to make the pass go to target (where the setter is typically stationed). They have to have the most horizontal range, whereas the front row players need to have the most vertical range. Back row is responsible for receiving the serve from the opposite side, this is called serve receive. They are also supposed to cover the hitters when they are hitting to get any balls that are blocked. They are also the main people that dig and hits or tips coming from the other side. They are the sole sisters of defense when it comes to volleyball. There are three spots in the back simply names right back, left back, and middle back.  When the setter is in the back row she plays right back.

                The front row players are usually the tallest girls out there; especially the middle hitter. There are three spots; left front also known as strong side, middle front, and left side also known as weak side. When the setter is in the front row she plays right side. They have the job of blocking the ball that is being attempted to be penetrated onto our side. They are also supposed to pick up the short tips and setter dumps. These are usually balls that are right over the net and have no spin or force to them at all; they kind of just float down like a piece of paper being let go from the top of a stair well.

                Volleyball is a broad basic sense can be thought of as don’t let the ball touch the floor. It is a passion of mine and one of the best sports out there. (536)