SKILL DIVISIONS

RECREATIONAL

A Recreational player is a beginner who may or may not know the basics of volleyball. They may or may not have played volleyball before, but they are just beginning to serve, bump, set and attack. Recreational level players are still in the early learning stage of the game. They enjoy playing volleyball but don’t really know positioning, and don’t always use three hits during the match.

INTERMEDIATE

An Intermediate player is still pretty new to volleyball. They should be gaining knowledge about different offenses and developing basic skills.

  • Player should be able to build a good platform. Player should be able to receive serves about 60% of the time. Player should be able to get the ball into the air for the setter, but it may not be accurately placed.

  • Player should be able to get the ball over the net and in-bounds at least 50% of the time. Player should be starting to develop accuracy and power in serves.

  • Player should have a firm knowledge of 4-2. Player should be building knowledge of 5-1 and 6-2 offenses. The player may not know where to be all of the time, but should not seem “lost” when in rotation.

  • Player is developing hitting, and can hit the ball in-bounds at least 60% of the time. Player should be developing proper hitting form. Player should be developing transitional skills from Defense to Offense.

  • Player should be able to perform a clean block. Player should be jumping straight up and down without floating into the net. Player should only be called “net” 10-15% of the time.

  • Player should know about hand placement. Player should be able to set to Outside Hitter and Middle. Player should be developing proper setting form using both hands and should only be setting “doubles” no more than 20%-30% of the time. Player should be developing court awareness and while out of place sometimes, should be developing knowledge of when to play defense and when to release. Player may utilize “bump sets”, but should not utilize them 100% of the time. Player should know when and how to push up on rotation and should be able to somewhat control the court and play.

  • Player may not know where to be at all times, but is gaining knowledge on where to be when on defense.

COMPETITIVE

A Competitive player has a strong foundation, of skills, but is building consistency in those skills.

  • Player should be able to receive serve at least 80-85% of the time. Player should be able to build a good platform and should be able to direct the ball towards the front of the net to the general area of the setter at least 75% of the time.

  • Player should be able to serve the ball over the net, in-bounds at least 75% of the time. Player should be able to serve to different areas of the court.

  • Player should be able to utilize a 5-1 and 6-2 offense. Player should very rarely get out of rotation. Player should know when to push up, when to drop back, and when to stack.

  • Player should be able to transition from defense to offense and be ready for the hit 75% of the time. Player may not have perfect form, but is able to direct the ball with power across court and may only hit out of bounds at most 25% of the time. Player should be starting to identify blockers and should be developing the ability to vary their hits to avoid the block.

  • Player should be able to get clean blocks that are straight up and down. Player should know how to position hands to prevent the ball from going out of bounds or landing in front of them. Player should have court awareness and should know where other players are at. Player should rarely be getting “net” or “under the net” calls. Player should be developing and using double blocks when possible.

  • Player should know proper hand placement and should only be utilizing “bump sets” no more than 20% of the time. Player should only be setting “doubles” 10-15% of the time. Player should know when to play defense and when to release. Player should know when and where to push up on serve receive. Player should have court awareness and be able to utilize all areas of the court. Player should know the difference between basic sets for each attacker (1,2,4,5,10 etc), and should be developing accuracy and ability to place all sets. Player should be able to utilize all 3 hitters on front row, and should be able to place most sets appropriately for the hitter.

  • Players should know defensive positioning and know where to be 65% of the time to receive the ball. Players should know the functions of a Libero and how to rotate a Libero in and out of the game.

SKILLED

A Skilled Player has a firm foundation of volleyball knowledge and skill. They are generally consistent in skills and abilities, but may need small adjustments to play. Skilled players have athletic ability and can keep up with the speed of play.

  • Player should be able to receive serve at least 85-90% of the time. Player should be able to build a good platform and should be able to direct the ball towards the front of the net to the setter.

  • Player should be able to serve the ball over the net, in-bounds at least 85% of the time. Player should be able to identify specific areas on the court and serve to those areas.

  • Player should be able to utilize a 5-1 and 6-2 offense. Player should know when to push up, when to drop back, and when to stack. Player should be able to quickly transition from Offense to Defense.

  • Player should be able to smoothly transition from defense to offense and be ready for the hit. Player should be able to hit with reasonable power and good form. Player should be hitting to different areas of the court and be developing accuracy in those hits. Player should be able to identify blockers and should be able to vary their hits to avoid the block. Player should be able to hit a variety of sets and should be able to adjust to sets.

  • Player should be able to get clean blocks that are straight up and down. Player should know how to position hands to prevent the ball from going out of bounds or landing in front of them. Player should have court awareness and should know where other players are at. Player should be developing and using double blocks safely when possible.

  • Player should know proper hand placement and should only be utilizing “bump sets” when necessary. Player should only be setting “doubles” no more than 10% of the time. Player should know when to play defense and when to release. Player should know when and where to push up on serve receive. Player should have court awareness and be able to utilize all areas of the court. Player should know the difference between basic sets for each attacker (1,2,4,5,10 etc.), and should be able to accurately place all sets and be developing accuracy with back-sets.

  • Player should know defensive positioning and know where to be 75% of the time to receive the ball. Players should know the functions of a Libero and how to rotate a Libero in and out of the game. Players should be able to dig powerful hits although they may not always direct the passes from the digs to the setters. They should have great court awareness and know defensive positioning.

ADVANCED

An Advanced player has excellent court awareness and know all the skills well, but cannot always execute the super-high level plays extremely effectively all the time. Advanced players can run combination plays (slides, tandems, crosses, and back-row hitting) in a basic way if passes are good.

  • Player should be able to receive serve at least 90% of the time. Player should be able to build a good platform and should be able to direct the ball towards the front of the net to the setter.

  • Player should be able to serve the ball over the net, in-bounds at least 90% of the time usually accurately placing serves in weak parts of the defense.

  • Player should be able to utilize a 5-1 and 6-2 offense. Player should know when to push up, when to drop back, and when to stack. Player should be able to quickly transition from Offense to Defense.

  • Player should be able to smoothly transition from defense to offense and be consistently ready for the hit. Player should be able to hit with power and good form. Player should be hitting to different areas of the court with accuracy. Player should be able to identify blockers and should be able to vary their hits to avoid the block. Player should be able to hit a variety of sets and should be able to adjust to sets. Player should be able to hit from back row.

  • Player should be able to get clean blocks that are straight up and down and with proper hand placement. Player should have court awareness and should know where other players are at. Players should be utilizing double and triple blocks (where applicable).

  • Player should rarely be setting doubles. Player should know when to play defense and when to release. Player should know when and where to push up on serve receive. Player should have court awareness and be able to utilize all areas of the court. Player should be able to utilize a variety of sets with accuracy. Setters should be able to utilize back row hitters.

  • Player should know defensive positioning and know where to be 85% of the time to receive the ball. Players should know the functions of a Libero and how to rotate a Libero in and out of the game. Players should be able to dig powerful hits and get the ball into the air.

POWER

A Power player has a great understanding of the game and its objectives. Players are above average in multiple skills. They have an in depth knowledge of offense, defensive, and advanced strategies of the game. Next highest level of play.

  • Player should be able to receive serve at least 90% of the time. Player should be able to build a good platform and should be able to direct the ball towards the front of the court to the setter. Tempo passing should be developing and improving at this stage.

  • Player has the ability to place the ball where they want targeting seams, line, and weaker passers. Player also has and understands the difference between types of serves (Float, Jump Float, Jump Top-Spin) and can perform these serves consistently.

  • Player understands perimeter, red, rotational defensive systems and be able to adapt during the play if a teammate changes the expected system. Hitting coverage should be present 100% of the time against a triple block, at least 75% of the time against a double block, and at least 50% of the time against a single block.

  • Player understands the footwork, the approach and arm swing to hitting. Player can attack the ball with high velocity and can hit multiple shots (cross court, line, roll shot, tipping) with purpose and accuracy. Player can adjust to sets consistently.

ELITE

An Elite player has a great understanding of the game and its objectives. Players are above average in multiple skills. They have an in depth knowledge of offense, defensive, and advanced strategies of the game. Highest level of play.

  • Player has the ability to pass a variety level and type of serves majority of the time in front of the 10 foot line.

  • Player has the ability to place the ball where they want. Player also has and understands the difference between types of serves (Float, Jump Float, Jump Top-Spin) and can perform these serves

  • Player understands overlapping and rotation order. Player should also have the knowledge of different serve receive patterns.

  • Player understands the footwork, the approach and arm swing to hitting. Player can attack the ball with high velocity and can hit multiple shots (cross court, line, roll shot, tipping) with purpose.

  • Player understands different blocking techniques including static and swing blocking. Player knows footwork for each type of blocking and perform the act of blocking without touching the net a majority of the time.

  • Player knows and can perform a variety of different sets at different tempos. Players knows how to run an offense and has a high volleyball IQ. They consistently set in front of the 10 foot line.

  • Player understands different types of defense and can perform defensive moves with the correct form.