Broadcasting Volleyball: FAQ’s of a Starting Lineup
A Guide To Broadcasting Volleyball is back!
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's lesson is a little bit behind the scheming of a starting lineup. We'll go over the basics how substitutions work, how coaching pick a starting lineup, and the chess game that happens between the two sides over the course of a match.
Yes, this is a picture of my coaching a Junior Varsity team and for those who have coached at the lower levels, you have all been in this position explaining the lineup and rotations to your team.
The Basics - How Does a Lineup Work?
For those maybe not familiar with substitutions in volleyball, the easiest way to compare a volleyball lineup would be similar rules to a baseball/softball line up. Coaches submit a lineup with the serving order, however those in the lineup initially may not be serving. For example, a front row player may be substituted for a backrow player to serve and play their backrow, to then sub back in when it comes to their time in the rotation to play front row.
When it comes to substitutions, players can only enter in for one specific player in the lineup. For example, if Suzy subs in for Sally in set one, those are the only two who can sub in and out for each other. One Suzy goes in for Sally and comes out, she cannot sub in for another player. Again, similar to baseball/softball. In basketball and football, athletes are going in and out for different athletes all the time. Not the case in volleyball. Once an athlete has entered the game, they can only sub in and out with that one particular athlete.
Do Coaches Make Their Lineup Focuses on the Best Servers First?
There are so many metrics at the collegiate level that determine the best rotations for coaches and chances are, it's not based on who has the best serve. Coaches will put the rotation first where they are going to score the most points. For example, many coaches will put their top attacker in left back or left front because they will start the match with three full in the front row where they can score the most points. This may be different for every team depending on who their best attacker is. For some it's their outside, others it's their middle, or even the right side.
Do Coaches Have To Keep The Same Lineup The Whole Match?
Coaches put in a lineup each set. This lineup may change with new players or they may even start in a different rotation. What does this mean? I like to use the term “Spin the Dial”. The majority of the time coaches refer to their lineups as rotations where they start in “Rotation 1” where the setter is in right back. However, they may spin the dial to start in rotation three where the setter is in left back. Why? There might be a more favorable matchup for an attacker or maybe there is a better blocking matchup. The metrics that some coaches use are mind boggling, they are studying and analyzing everything on both sides of the net. They are preparing for team tendencies on who they are going to set when they are in certain rotations, but like any sport they are prepared to make changes throughout the match.
Key Review Points (I might just make a quiz)
- Think of a lineup in volleyball similar to baseball/softball lineup where the lineup is entered based on serving order.
- Players can only sub in and out for one player currently in the line up.
- Coaches can change the lineup each set.
- Coaches will look for matchups that may favor certain rotations and will start in that particular lineup.
