Volleyball jargon

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This is a list of the more common English volleyball jargon terms:

1 General terms
2 Types of sets
3 Methods of contacting the ball
4 Slang terms

[edit] General terms

Ace : When the ball is served to the other team, and it lands in court with no one touching it; can also be used to refer to a serve which is played by the receiving team, but in a way that it is not possible for them to get a second touch on the ball.
Cut / Cut Shot : An attack with an extreme angle.
Dig : A defensive contact following an opponent's attack resulting in a playable ball.
Doubles : When each team consists of two members.
D.S. : The abbreviation for "defensive specialist", a position player similar to the libero.
Dump : A surprise attack usually executed by a front row setter to catch the defense off guard; many times executed with the left hand, sometimes with the right, aimed at the donut or area 4 on the court.
Five-One : Six player offense where a single designated setter sets regardless of court position.
Free Ball : A ball that is passed over the net because an attack wasn't possible.
Four-Two : Six player offense where there are two designated setters and the front row setter sets.
Fours : A game played with four players to a side.
Joust : when the ball is falling directly on top of the net, two opposing players jump and push against the ball, trying to push it onto the other's side.
Line shot : A shot which is aimed "down the line" (as opposed to cross-court) and very near the side boundary.
Kill : When a team attacks the ball and the defending team is unable to play the ball successfully.
Libero : Italian word meaning free. A special defensive indoor position.
Lift : An illegal contact where the ball is lifted or sticks in the player's hands.
Pass : First contact of the ball, typically with the arms. However, indoor players can pass the first ball open-handed, similar to a set.
Pepper : A drill in which players hit a ball back and forth, without a net.
Rainbow : A shot especially on the beach that is hit over the head of the defender to the far corner and lands cleanly. Also known as a Jumbo Shrimp (due to the arc/shape of the shot).
Seam : (When serving) The spot between passers. (When spiking) The spot between blockers.
Shank : When a player unintentionally passes a ball in a wild manner, rendering it unplayable to his or her teammates.
Shot : An offensive play in which a set ball, rather than being spiked hard, is directed to an open area of the court.
Side Out : When the team that served the ball loses the rally, causing the other team to serve the next point.
Six-Two : Six player offense where there are two designated setters and the back row setter sets leaving the front row setter free to attack the ball.
Sixes : A game played with six players to a side.
Spach/Spachey : When an attacking player mishits a ball and puts backspin on it causing the ball to go way out of bounds.
Spike : When an offensive player attacks the ball with a one-arm motion done over the head, attempting to get a kill.
Threes / Triples : A game played with three players to a side.
Tool : An attack which is deflected off an opponent (usually during a block) and is unplayable resulting in a point and/or side out for the attacking team.
Trap : A ball set too close to the block where the hitter typically gets stuffed.
Weak side : The right side of the court, so-called because it is generally easier for right-handed players to attack from the left ('strong') side.

[edit] Types of sets

A : A back row set aimed at the left side of the court. Also could be a quick set to the middle.
Bick : Similar to the "pipe", but set very low. Resembles a back row quick hit or one.
D : A back row set aimed at the right side of the court.
Five / Back : Same as a four set, but to the weak-side.
Four : A high set to the outside hitter.
Hut : A lower set to the outsider hitter. Higher than a shoot.
One / Quick : A type of middle hit when the middle jumps before the setter sets, with the ball being set directly to the middle hitter's hand.
Pipe : A ball set toward the middle of the court for a back-row attack.
Shoot : A variation on the quick set except instead of setting the ball to the middle the ball is set to the outside hitter.
Slide : An attack where the hitter jumps off one foot and moves parallel to the net, hitting the ball close to the antenna on the weak-side.
Ten : A ball set for a back row attack.
Three : A quick lower set to the outside.
Two : A ball set to the middle hitter. Also, a "back two" is the same set set behind the setter.
X : A play in which the middle hitter jumps for a one, and the weak-side hitter, having moved to the middle of the court, takes an approach for a two at the same location.

[edit] Methods of contacting the ball

Beach Dig : A dig made using both hands and fingers to surround the ball, squeeze and actually slightly lift the ball. Allowed when defending against a hard hit on the beach.
Bump : Similar in motion to a pass, but used to set a ball for an attack.
Chicken Wing : When a defending player is forced to react very quickly to a ball coming at their upper torso, the player may lift a bent arm in the shape of a chicken wing to dig the ball.
Cobra : With the fingers extended straight and stiff, the ball is poked with the fingertips.
Flipper : A reaching contact made with the outstretched back of the hand in a flipping motion. Popularized by beach player Andy Fishburn.
Floater/Float : A non-spinning serve that is unpredictable because its path is perturbed by air currents above the court, similar to a knuckleball in baseball.
Gator : A defensive digging technique used on the beach in the defense of a hard hit ball. The hands are formed into the shape of 2 gator jaws (the left hand on top and the right hand on bottom). The maneuver involves digging the ball with the bottom right hand and then directing it with the upper left hand.
Jump Float : A jumping float server.
Jump serve / Jumper : a serve made famous by Karch Kiraly; the serving player tosses the ball in the air and into the court, then uses an attack approach to jump and serve the ball.
Kong : A one-handed block, usually because the blocker is late. Initially popularized by Sinjin Smith.
Pancake : When a player digs the ball by extending his or her hand flat on the floor, bouncing the ball off the back of the hand.
Pokey / Camel toe : A ball contacted with the knuckles especially on the beach.
Roll Shot : An attacker hits the set softly putting extreme topspin on the ball so that it will clear the block and drop quickly and directly over the block.
Sprawl : A type of dig in which the player does not dive forward, but rather places his hands on the ground and pushes his body forward and down. Similar to diving for a ball, but not actually leaving the ground.
Sky Ball : A unique underhand serve in which the ball is shot unusually high into the air above the oppossing team's court in the attempt to confuse the receiver.
Tip : A softer or off-speed finesse attack, usually committed with more of the fingers and fingertips than the whole hand as used in an attack.
Wipe / Swipe : When one player pushes the ball against the opponents block and physically wipes the ball out of bounds. Similar to a tool.

[edit] Slang terms

Bang / Bounce : A ball spiked very hard with a steep downward angle. A hit that lands inside the 10 foot line.
Butter / Nectar : A perfect set.
Deep Dish : An illegal set that is held excessively long, typically set from below the shoulders and seen in beach volleyball.
Facial / Six-Pack / Tattoo : When a defending player gets hit in the face with the ball either from an attack by the opposing team or by a deflection off the block. The term "six-pack" comes from a tradition where the player hit by the spike must buy the hitter a six-pack, usually of beer. The term "tattoo" refers to marks left on the skin of the hit player by the seams/lettering on the ball.
House / Stuff / Roof : When the defensive player blocks a ball so hard that it is immediately returned to the hitter and goes straight to the floor.
Nail : A perfect pass.
Popcorn setting : When an unskilled setter is sending sets in a random pattern (like popcorn being popped).