2-0-4 Perimeter Defense System
The most common defensive set-up is called a "perimeter defense". This 2-0-4 system has two blockers, no player behind the block and four defenders where they themselves along the perimeter of the court, with one foot on the line. In this formation players are always ready to move into the center. This way players know when balls are out; and their movements are directed into the court.
Staying Low and Moving: Back-row defense is played low - knees bent and butt low. Hands should be out in front of your body. Defense is never played standing up. Defenders should constantly be moving through the entire play, adjusting and anticipating the direction of the ball.
Be In Place: When the opposing hitter is attacking the ball, STOP! Even if you are out of position, STOP! Be low and get ready. You have a much better chance of passing the ball from a stationary position, then when you are moving. As the level of play improves, increasingly it's just about getting a good touch on the ball.
The most common defensive set-up is called a "perimeter defense". This 2-0-4 system has two blockers, no player behind the block and four defenders where they themselves along the perimeter of the court, with one foot on the line. In this formation players are always ready to move into the center. This way players know when balls are out; and their movements are directed into the court.
Staying Low and Moving: Back-row defense is played low - knees bent and butt low. Hands should be out in front of your body. Defense is never played standing up. Defenders should constantly be moving through the entire play, adjusting and anticipating the direction of the ball.
Be In Place: When the opposing hitter is attacking the ball, STOP! Even if you are out of position, STOP! Be low and get ready. You have a much better chance of passing the ball from a stationary position, then when you are moving. As the level of play improves, increasingly it's just about getting a good touch on the ball.
The strength of the perimeter is in covering the hard spike with four diggers. The weakness of this defense is that it is vulnerable to tips, especially those tips to the center of the court.
Perimeter defense for a rightside attack
1. The middle back takes a position on the endline in line with the hitter's approach. She covers the attack
that goes through or over the block.
2. The rightback and leftback diggers take a position on the sidelines outside the blocker or blockers'
shoulders and face the attack. They read the hitter's intentions (attack or tip) and react accordingly. If
the hitter attacks the set, then the rightback and leftback take a position to dig the ball. If the hitter tips
the ball, then they run forward and pass the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
3. The fourth digger, the leftside blocker, positions herself near or on the attack line behind her starting
point at the net. She reads the hitter's intentions (attack or tip.) If the hitter attacks, the leftside blocker
positions herself to dig a sharp angle spike. If the attacker tips toward the middle of the court, the
leftside blocker runs forward and passes the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
4. As the hitter's point of attack moves closer to the center of the net, the rightback digger moves forward.
Perimeter defense for a leftside attack
that goes through or over the block.
2. The rightback and leftback diggers take a position on the sidelines outside the blocker or blockers'
shoulders and face the attack. They read the hitter's intentions (attack or tip) and react accordingly. If
the hitter attacks the set, then the rightback and leftback take a position to dig the ball. If the hitter tips
the ball, then they run forward and pass the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
3. The fourth digger, the leftside blocker, positions herself near or on the attack line behind her starting
point at the net. She reads the hitter's intentions (attack or tip.) If the hitter attacks, the leftside blocker
positions herself to dig a sharp angle spike. If the attacker tips toward the middle of the court, the
leftside blocker runs forward and passes the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
4. As the hitter's point of attack moves closer to the center of the net, the rightback digger moves forward.
Perimeter defense for a leftside attack
1. The middle back takes a position on the endline in line with the hitter's approach. She covers the attack
that goes through or over the block.
2. The rightback and leftback diggers take a position on the sidelines outside the blocker or blockers'
shoulders and face the attack. They read the hitter's intentions (attack or tip) and react accordingly. If
the hitter attacks the set, then the rightback and leftback take a position to dig the ball. If the hitter tips
the ball, then they run forward and pass the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
3. The fourth digger, the rightside blocker, positions herself near or on the attack line behind her starting
point at the net. She reads the hitter's intentions (attack or tip.) If the hitter attacks, the rightside blocker
positions herself to dig a sharp angle spike. If the attacker tips toward the middle of the court, the
rightside blocker runs forward and passes the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
4. As the hitter's point of attack moves closer to the center of the net, the leftback digger moves forward.
The positions in the perimeter defense for a middle attack depend upon whether an outside blocker helps the middle blocker. Generally, if a double block is to be used, the leftside blocker will combine with the middle blocker to prevent the middle attack.
Perimeter defense for a middle attack with leftside and middle blocker
that goes through or over the block.
2. The rightback and leftback diggers take a position on the sidelines outside the blocker or blockers'
shoulders and face the attack. They read the hitter's intentions (attack or tip) and react accordingly. If
the hitter attacks the set, then the rightback and leftback take a position to dig the ball. If the hitter tips
the ball, then they run forward and pass the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
3. The fourth digger, the rightside blocker, positions herself near or on the attack line behind her starting
point at the net. She reads the hitter's intentions (attack or tip.) If the hitter attacks, the rightside blocker
positions herself to dig a sharp angle spike. If the attacker tips toward the middle of the court, the
rightside blocker runs forward and passes the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
4. As the hitter's point of attack moves closer to the center of the net, the leftback digger moves forward.
The positions in the perimeter defense for a middle attack depend upon whether an outside blocker helps the middle blocker. Generally, if a double block is to be used, the leftside blocker will combine with the middle blocker to prevent the middle attack.
Perimeter defense for a middle attack with leftside and middle blocker
1. The middleback must read the position and height of the set before she adjusts her defensive position. If
she determines that a quick attack will occur she maintains her position and prepares to dig any spikes
directed toward her. If the set is high, she can take a position on the endline in line with the hitter's
approach. She covers the attack that goes through or over the block.
2. The rightback and leftback diggers take a position on the sidelines outside the blockers' shoulders and
face the attack. The rightback is normally deeper toward the endline. They read the hitter's intentions
(attack or tip) and react accordingly. If the hitter attacks the set, then the rightback and leftback take a
position to dig the ball. If the hitter tips the ball, then they run forward and pass the ball keeping in mind
the rule of parallels.
3. The fourth digger, the rightside blocker, positions herself near or on the attack line behind her starting
point at the net. She reads the hitter's intentions (attack or tip.) If the hitter attacks, the rightside blocker
positions herself to dig a sharp angle spike. If the attacker tips toward the middle of the court, the
rightside blocker runs forward and passes the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
Perimeter defense for a middle attack with rightside and middle blocker
she determines that a quick attack will occur she maintains her position and prepares to dig any spikes
directed toward her. If the set is high, she can take a position on the endline in line with the hitter's
approach. She covers the attack that goes through or over the block.
2. The rightback and leftback diggers take a position on the sidelines outside the blockers' shoulders and
face the attack. The rightback is normally deeper toward the endline. They read the hitter's intentions
(attack or tip) and react accordingly. If the hitter attacks the set, then the rightback and leftback take a
position to dig the ball. If the hitter tips the ball, then they run forward and pass the ball keeping in mind
the rule of parallels.
3. The fourth digger, the rightside blocker, positions herself near or on the attack line behind her starting
point at the net. She reads the hitter's intentions (attack or tip.) If the hitter attacks, the rightside blocker
positions herself to dig a sharp angle spike. If the attacker tips toward the middle of the court, the
rightside blocker runs forward and passes the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
Perimeter defense for a middle attack with rightside and middle blocker
1. The middleback must read the position and height of the set before she adjusts her defensive position. If
she determines that a quick attack will occur she maintains her position and prepares to dig any spikes
directed toward her. If the set is high, she can take a position on the endline in line with the hitter's
approach. She covers the attack that goes through or over the block.
2. The rightback and leftback diggers take a position on the sidelines outside the blocker or blockers'
shoulders and face the attack. They read the hitter's intentions (attack or tip) and react accordingly. If
the hitter attacks the set, then the rightback and leftback take a position to dig the ball. If the hitter tips
the ball, then they run forward and pass the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
3. The fourth digger, the leftside blocker, positions herself near or on the attack line behind her starting
point at the net. She reads the hitter's intentions (attack or tip.) If the hitter attacks, the leftside blocker
positions herself to dig a sharp angle spike. If the attacker tips toward the middle of the court, the
leftside blocker runs forward and passes the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
she determines that a quick attack will occur she maintains her position and prepares to dig any spikes
directed toward her. If the set is high, she can take a position on the endline in line with the hitter's
approach. She covers the attack that goes through or over the block.
2. The rightback and leftback diggers take a position on the sidelines outside the blocker or blockers'
shoulders and face the attack. They read the hitter's intentions (attack or tip) and react accordingly. If
the hitter attacks the set, then the rightback and leftback take a position to dig the ball. If the hitter tips
the ball, then they run forward and pass the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.
3. The fourth digger, the leftside blocker, positions herself near or on the attack line behind her starting
point at the net. She reads the hitter's intentions (attack or tip.) If the hitter attacks, the leftside blocker
positions herself to dig a sharp angle spike. If the attacker tips toward the middle of the court, the
leftside blocker runs forward and passes the ball keeping in mind the rule of parallels.