1-Ball- a set that is 1 ball length above the net, and 1 step away from the setter. The hitter of a 1-ball, must approach the setter as soon as the pass is made, and should be in the air when the setter makes contact.

2-Ball- a set that is 2 ball lengths above the net, and 1 step away from the setter. The hitter of a 2-ball, must approach the setter slightly later than 1 ball, and should jump as soon as the ball leaves the setters hands.

3-Ball- a set that is 3 ball lengths above the net and shot towards the outside of the net. The hitter must approach quicker than normal and be ready for a "line drive" set about 3 steps from the antenna. See shoot set, quickset.

4-Ball- a set that is 2 steps from the antenna and about 8 feet above the net. The hitter of a 4-ball, should wait until the setter sets the ball before he/she begins his approach to the net (See Hut).

5-ball- a set that is very close to the antenna, but half-way between the net and the 10-foot line. This set should be quite high.

6-2- an offensive setup, meaning 6 hitters and 2 setters. 2 setters are opposite each other (ie. 1 in front right, 1 in back left). When a setter is in the front row he becomes a hitter, and the setter in the back-row becomes the setter. This offense allows 3 hitters in the front row at all times.

4-2- an offensive setup, meaning 4 hitters and 2 hitters. Setters are opposite, as in 6-2, and when the setter is in the front row he/she is a setter, when in the back-row, the setter plays defense. This offense is not as complicated as 6-2, and is used primarily in women's collegiate volleyball.

5-1- an offensive setup, meaning 5 hitters and 1 setter. This is pretty self-explanatory if you've looked over the previous offenses. The setter is the primary setter no matter where he/she is located at time of serve. This setup has 1 deficiency, When the setter is in the front row, there are only two hitters, but if you have only 1 good setter, this is the offense for you.

10-Ball or Pipe- A high set around the 10-foot line, intended for a back- row hitter.

10-foot line, 3 meter line, attack line- a line on the court that is 10 feet from the net, parallel to the net that runs infinitely.

Ace- a Service Ace, A served ball that lands in the court of the opposing team, without being touched by any member of the team.

Angle- a cross-court shot

Antenna- a red and white striped pole that acts as a boundary line on the net, this pole runs infinitely and any ball hit between the two antennas is considered good, if a ball touches the antenna or crosses the path directly above it is considered out.

Assist- awarded when a player passes, sets the ball to a teammate for a kill.

Attack- An attempt by one team to terminate the play by hitting the ball to the floor on the opponent's side. The term refers to an individual effort or a combined team offensive pattern.

Audible- a play called in Mid-rally.

Auxiliary setter- a backup setter usually opposite from the setter, for emergency situations.

Back Set- a set put up behind the setter.

Baseline- the line of the court where service occurs.

Belly to Belly- a blocking phrase used when you must block one on one.

Big Cup- A defense used, with the team setup like a big C facing the net.

Block- an attempt by a player or players to interrupt the ball being hit by the opposing team, before, as, or just after it crosses the next.

Bump- a slang term for a pass.

Camel Toe- a ball that is struck with knurled fingers.

Carding- When a referee gives a sanction to an individual or a team, such as a yellow or red card. (See also Sanction)

Carry- a fault called if a ball comes to rest in the course of contact by one player. Note: if you contact a ball with your open hand and lift it up, it is a carry.

Cobra- a touch of the ball by the tips of stiff fingers that are squeezed together.

Crush- a powerfully hit ball sent down within the 10-foot line, for a kill.

Deep- a long hit ball away from the net.

Dig- a ball brought up, saved, with any part of the body, particularly from a spike attempt. For Serves, see Serve-Receive.

Dink- a ball played just over the net or blocker's hands, instead of spiking. (See Power-Dink, Roll)

Down-Referee- Secondary Referee. he/she stands on the floor at the opposite end of the net as the up-referee.

Dump- When the setter, instead of setting to the hitters, dinks the ball over the net.

Extension Roll- a defensive posture, used to recover from a dive to the ready position quickly.

Floater- A flat-footed serve that has no spin and "floats" across the net, usually to a location difficult for the receiving team to return.

Foot Fault- Stepping on the court or out of bounds before serving the ball.

Glide- a long smooth run that precedes a spike.

Hit- any ball contacted that is sent over the net, excluding serve.

Husband and Wife- a very bad error, that occurs when a ball penetrates a midline of two players with both players looking at each other. (ie. Honey, you take it, No sweetie, you take it)

Hut- a medium-height set on the left sideline.

Inside- towards the middle of the court.

J-Stroke- Using a "bent-elbow" passing technique to pull a ball out of the net.

Joust- a classic confrontation above the net featuring hitter and blocker, both hitting the ball at the same time.

Jump Serve- a hard hit serve, hit while the server is in the air. During a jump serve, the server may extend over the line while in the air, as long as he doesn't touch the line before jumping and hits the ball before he lands in bounds.

Jump Set- a set that is hit while the setter is in the air, the ball must be contacted at the height of the jump for it to be legal.

Junk- Slang term for off-speed shots.

Kill- A spike or dink that terminates a rally, ending in a point or sideout.

Line- a ball struck straight down the sideline from the outside hitters.

Line judge- 2 people who stand at opposite corners of the court, just off the court. Their responsibility is to call balls that land close to the lines in or out, to watch for blockers who touch spikes that go out of bounds, and to watch foot faults.

Middle- any player that is the middle position, whether front or back.

Net Block- a block classified by a player placing his hands straight at the net and letting the ball touch his hands, this does not constitute a net call, unless the player reaches for the net block, then it is the referee's discretion

Open-up- to step away from, and face the ball's path, as in receiving serve.

Overpass- a bump, pass, that is sent over the net prematurely

Pancake- A defensive technique in which you slip your flattened hand underneath the ball just before it hits the floor and the ball pops up and is still in play.

Pass- The term used for the first hit of three on a side.

Pepper- a common warm-up drill where two players face each other and bump, set, spike to each other.

Point- If the serving team hits a ball that is not returned, a point is awarded to the serving team.

Power dink- A ball contacted with fingers extended fully and slammed down using the wrist only. Warning: If you use any part of your arm other than you wrist and fingers, you may be called for a carry.

Pump- a play in which an attacker fakes spiking a quick set and then spikes, at the same location, a medium-height set.

Quick Set- a set that is sent to a hitter quickly. (See shoot set)

Rally- one series of play, from service to end of play.

Red Card- A more severe sanction given to an individual or team by a referee. (see Yellow Card)

Replay- the act of putting the ball in play again without awarding a point or a sideout.

Roll- a set ball touched towards the bottom while rolling your hand towards the top, creating severe topspin. The roll is normally used when the ball is set low and the hitter doesn’t have enough time to hit the ball down.

Roof- When the blocker blocks a spike and the ball is propelled straight down on the hitters side of the net. See stuff.

Rotate- the act of moving 1 position ahead clockwise.

Rotation- Positions on the court according to a predetermined list.

Sanction- When a player gets carded or warned about conduct or other illegal action.

Scoop- a slang term for J-Stroke

Screening- an attempt, by a player, to conceal the start of a teammates serve. By way of obstructing an opponents line of site. Screening is illegal.

Seam- a mid-point between to players.

Serve- the act of putting the ball in play.

Serve Receive- the service equivalent to a dig.

Set- the term used to describe the second hit of 3 on a side, Also the term for assisting a spike, hence setting up the ball for the Kill.

Shag- to retrieve balls that have been played missed or terminated during a match or drill, and running them to the Drill Runner or Current Server.

Shallow- near the net.

Shank-an error when receiving, passing, a soft hit ball, such as a serve receive, causing the ball to go out of the playing area.

Shoot Set- a low quickset sent out towards the antennas.

Side-out- should the team who receives the serve win the rally, a side-out is awarded. The team receives no point, but becomes the serving team for the next play.

Simultaneous contacts- contact of the ball made by two players at the same instant.

Spike- to hit the ball forcefully into the opponents court.

Stuff- to block the ball to the floor. See Roof.

Successive contacts- Two or more separate attempts to play the ball by one player with no interrupting contact by a different player.

Swing- to move from one sideline to another, usually in approaching a set.

Tandem- A combination in which one player attacks immediately behind another.

Tape- White stripe along the top of the net.

Tool- When the hitter hits the ball into the block (or swipes the ball across the block) and the ball hits off of the blocker’s hands or out of bounds.

Touch- When the spiked ball lands out-of-bounds, but not before contacting one of the opposing players.

Touch(def #2)- a call made by a blocker to inform the defenders that he has touched the spike.

Transition- the change from defense to offense.

Up-referee- the main referee. He/She stands upon a special chair, and conducts the match.

Use- See Tool.

Veer- to change direction quickly during an approach.

W- a serve receive formation with three players in the front and two in the back in the shape of a "W".

X- a cross in which the middle fakes a 1-ball and the right attacks a 2-ball to the left of the middle.

Yellow Card- Warning given by the up-referee.

Zipper-Pass- A phrase used to help coaches explain proper passing technique. Ideally, your hands should be in line with your zipper when passing.

Zone Block- the act of blocking a zone rather than the ball with any number of blockers.