Broadcasting Volleyball: The Zones of the Court

Within the volleyball community, there is a major shout from the top of the mountains that we are in a spot where we need more coverage.  This goes for all forms of media, but there is definitely demand for more in regards to TV.  However, volleyball isn't the same as football, baseball, and basketball where there are plenty of people with the background of knowledge who can also write and more importantly, broadcast the game.  

I don't need to educate the already, well versed volleyball fan - they know the game.  However, high level high school and college programs are speaking a language and looking at statistics that even the most intense volleyball fans will have questions on.  What is the middle ground? What is that next level of the game where I can help someone getting into broadcasting know a little more about the game?  What about the student who wants to get into broadcasting and has a chance to call matches for their college team over a livestream?  What about the local media who will be broadcasting and streaming high school matches for the first time?  Or  the college who is looking to get eyes on their program, but might not have someone knowledgeable about the game to even understand strategy? 

I have worked with athletes coming into their freshman year of high school where the most volleyball experience may be a unit in gym class.  I've also worked with college athletes where their skill and IQ of the game is extremely advanced.  Coaches must meet the athlete at their level to expand their knowledge and skill.  As someone who has a voice in the volleyball community, this is my attempt at catching someone up to speed of the game in regards to knowledge of volleyball that isn't too basic, yet not too advanced where it all sounds foreign. 

Today, we're going over zones of the court.  This is standard across volleyball, this isn't specific to any team or program, everyone uses this language.  If you are broadcasting a game, you can use this language too.  I can also help you use the zones properly during your broadcast. This would be comparable to basketball when you say “The Elbow” where if you have a knowledge of basketball, you know that is where the free throw line and the side of the lane meet.  This would be comparable to 5-6 hole in baseball or softball where its the spot between third base and shortstop.  There are spots on the volleyball court labeled with numbered zones. 

How are zones used in serving? 

If you watch a coach during a match, they are giving hand signals to the server.  This would be comparable to what a catcher gives a pitcher in baseball/softball.  They are giving the server a zone to serve at or what zones to serve between.  Coaches will take a look across the net and see what scenarios would play into their advantage.  This could be to pick on a weak serve receiver, take a powerful offensive attacker out of the play, tire out an offensive attacker, or disrupt the setter's route to the net.  

For example, if the coach gives the server a number one, they are looking to serve the ball to the right back part of the court that could interrupt a setter in coming to the net.  Coaches might give two numbers, where athletes are looking to serve between two zones.  I've heard plenty of coaches say, “Serve at seams, not at people”.  Serve to an open spot where there is no one playing making the serve receivers move or communicate (similar to a center and right fielder having to call for a ball driven into the gap).  There might also be a secondary signal (for those with a baseball/softball background) that might indicate what type of serve to give that zone. Some signals could be a jump float, a drop, top spin, or even that amount of aggressiveness to have the serve.  What does the amount of aggressiveness mean?  Teams will have different serves for different situations.  After a timeout, or the other team has set point, they probably aren't going for aces every time.  Every team wants to put pressure on the other side with their serve, but the situation (just like in pitching with baseball and softball) will determine the type of serve coming over the net. 

How are zones used in the offensive and defensive scheme? 

A typical base defense will have an athlete in each zone (2-4 are the front row players and 5, 6, and 1 are the backrow).  Why is zone one in the backrow?  That is where the server is and is followed by the serving order.  Do they have to stay in that zone?  No, athletes start in that zone and are allowed to move freely around the court, however if athletes are starting in zone 1, 6, or 5 (backrow players) they cannot attack with their hand above the net or else that is a backrow attack violation.  This is probably the biggest difference between the basic gym class volleyball and competitive volleyball.  After the serve, players will go to their position rather than stay in the particular spot they are in the rotation.  Prior to the serve, you will see front row players stack or wait to move to their position where they will have the most success. 

Offensively, players (and coaches) are looking through the net to see what is open.  There could be a zone that teams will leave open because they will scout tendencies of the opposing teams knowing they won't attack that spot, or a certain attacker might be more likely to hit to one spot more than another (think of spots on a football field and tendencies of what a football team will do on certain down and distances).  If I am a coach, I am looking to see what zone 5 (typically a libero) is doing.  If they are playing deep, I would tell the middle blocker to tip to zone 4.  Once they are cheating up, I would tell the middle blocker to look to hit or push it to deep zone 5.  This is comparable to any sport where the defense is looking to take away what the offense wants to do.  By having a number on the zones, it helps designate the areas on the court that everyone can identify.  

Stay Tuned

Coaches, please share this with people who will be broadcasting your matches.  Parents, this will help you get to know the game a little more and have a little bit of a common language with your athlete.  There will be more lessons to come, maybe even a quiz (the former teacher in me loves a good assessment). 

Good Luck this season (coaches, athletes, and even to the ones reporting on the game!)