Serve reception formation with a setter

In this line-up five players defend the area uniformly and at equal proportion. The setter here is the first player in the front row. We speak of a star formation if the center front row player is near the net, the other players perform the task of serve reception, positioning at equal distance from him. A major advantage of this line-up is that the location of the set is precisely defined (at the center), therefore the fellow players can precisely align the ball to him. The successful performance of serve reception is very difficult for beginners; therefore they cannot be expected to pass the ball to the setter in a controlled manner. In this case the positions are not yet differentiated; therefore it is always the center player to make the second ball contact.

If five players defend, the one who does not receive the serve is in the right or left corner near the net; this is called supported block or screen. The setting player moving out to the side is not at the same distance as the defensive players, but they are in an advantageous position, as they can see the server and the coming ball.

The creation of other, special formations already requires major technical and tactical skills; first we should try to achieve that the basic plays, positions and serve receptions can be passed precisely to the given area, the ball can be played and a counter-attack can be launched.