How to Run a 4-2 Rotation in Volleyball [Serve Receive]

In this video, I go over how to run a 4-2 rotation for serve receive in volleyball.
There are a lot of different variations to a 4-2 such as the Setter following Middle vs. the Setter following the Outside.
Also, how you stack your players depends on the strengths of your team. Do you stack in the middle or to the left?
In this video, the Setter is following the Middle.
I have another video where the Middle is following the Setter. Each team is a little different and each team has its own strengths: • 4-2 Serve Receive Rota...
Having the Setter follow the Middle is more common in volleyball rotations.

[@ThriveVolleyball]

What types of volleyball training videos would you like to see? Post your suggestions in the comments!

[@Jasneetsooch]

Home positions

[@liahlee5218]

Definitely needed this I’m in high school and I’m in volleyball! Everything is Different because of corona. So we’re all trying to have games and to keep practicing and when we were learning this rotation I felt I was the worse one because I was so confused! Thank you!

[@maddy5773]

I’m so glad I ran into this bc I’m in middle school and I do not understand this so this really helped me a lot👍🏻

[@fightrrrrr]

Great explanation

[@francesmorris9978]

Only change I make for rotation names is change them to rotation 1(when s1 is in zone 1) rotation 6(when s1 is in zone 6) etc. This is mainly for when I am coaching and teaching 6-2/5-1 so the kids reinforce zones and can easily see where the setter is and line up where they should be.

[@kellyc8985]

this is so helpful, thank you

[@angelbiddy6963]

thank you, you helped a lot

[@zacharygreen5209]

Thanks cuh

[@jennyhorvatic1088]

Once the ball played by back row and hit to the setter in serve receive, do the players go to base defense or is that just when we serve?

[@ThriveVolleyball]

Great question. Once your team sends the ball back over the net, that is when they will switch to Base Defense

[@kellilane3375]

Hi, Can you explain to me why most 4-2s have the outside next to setter and not the middle? So your front row (from position 2-4) is Setter, Outside, Middle. Why not S, M, O? Thanks...Old dog trying to understand a new trick.

[@ThriveVolleyball]

This is a great question. There are reasons for either way. In a 4-2, it may not matter as much. I have run a 4-2 doing S-M-O instead of S-O-M. For less experienced team, S-M-O may be easier because there isn't as much switching on Serve Receive. In a 6-2 and a 5-1, S-O-M tends to be more beneficial.

[@Subsessor]

So… what does H now stands for?

[@ThriveVolleyball]

@@Subsessor Sorry, that is supposed to be an "M". I edited it for you.

[@Subsessor]

@@ThriveVolleyball all right, thanks a lot :)

[@ArgeXx-dz3ow]

Hi Thrive, I am also a coach and have been looking for a good program to use to demonstrate roles, responsibilities, and movement. What software program(s) did you use for this video or do you recommend? Thanks!

[@ThriveVolleyball]

Hi, coach! For these, I use Adobe After Effects and animate them myself. There are some other apps that are easier that might accomplish something like this -- PlayDrill.com and Rotate123 are the more popular ones I hear other coaches talk about.

[@ArgeXx-dz3ow]

@@ThriveVolleyball Great, thank you!

[@kurtgolden4432]

Hello, Just curious on why you have the middle serving in rotation 1? I am used to seeing the setter start in rotation 1. Does it make any difference in your opinion?

[@ThriveVolleyball]

That's a good question. This rotation video was made for a particular team in mind. And if I remember correctly, the Setter was one of the better servers who we wanted to be our first server. Since we are starting with SERVE RECEIVE, once we side out, our Setter will be the first server in this video. Ultimately, it does not matter who the first server is. With my upcoming season, I may actually start in Rotation 4 (running a 5-1) because that server and the 2 servers after that are my best servers. Every team is a little different and I like to play to my strengths. I hope that helps :)

[@allandoel9541]

What software are you using for diagrams?

[@ThriveVolleyball]

I make the courts in Photoshop and then animate them I Adobe After Effects. It's not the most practical way but it's what I know.. I believe there are some free apps that allows a person to create diagrams and animate them.

[@Joe-ip2ky]

I’m wondering if it’s not more appropriate to switch once your team has returned the ball than during the serve receive. What if the serve end up in the front zone during the switch. 4-2 is used mostly for beginners, that’s the reason I’d keep the front where they are until we return the ball then we switch. Am I wrong ?

[@ThriveVolleyball]

You are correct! I would typically use that option for less experienced teams. We simply call it "Stay 1" where you stay in the position you are in until the ball is returned to the other side. It still takes a lot of repetitions to get players to remember to switch. Another option is to run a 6-6 where everyone plays the position they are I. with the Setter being in Right Front.

[@jennifercrowe7399]

So you don’t have the back row switch during serve receive? I know you stay for one. I like to keep my front row staying for one and then we switch after the ball goes over. Do you switch the back row after the ball goes over?

[@ThriveVolleyball]

Each team is a little different. With most teams, I like my Outsides to be on the Left side, my Middles to be in the middles and my Setters to be on the right side. Typically, I would switch the back row after the ball goes back over the net. But it depends on the personnel and which rotation we are in.

[@samanthacarlota4787]

Hi! Can you also upload serving rotations please?

[@samanthacarlota4787]

Thank you! :)

[@jamzyjam3299]

Daft question but can you have a libero on a 4 2 formation

[@ThriveVolleyball]

Good question! You sure can. I see a lot of younger teams run a 4-2 and use a libero (or two) so that more players get a chance to play

[@jamzyjam3299]

@@ThriveVolleyball thanks for the fast reply yeah were a brand new team with alot of members so wanted to see if i could play libero to involve an extra middle player great to know keep up the good work 😁😁

[@bren3943]

Can u please do the 5-1 rotation

[@ThriveVolleyball]

I know that I have made one before, I just need to find it. I know I have this video which I made specifically for my team and it goes over a 6-2 and 5-1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIHKd2SegJp-pqs

[@lucygolub1762]

"in a 4-2 there are only 3 rotations" My brain sees six athletes therefore six rotations. Could you explain what is meant by only 3?

[@ThriveVolleyball]

Great question. Technically 6 rotations because of 6 players, but after the first 3 rotations, the next 3 rotations look exactly the same in a 4-2 system. Hope that helps :)

[@franklinleung4253]

is there an advantage to have the setter follow the middle vs setter follow the OS on the initial setup

[@ThriveVolleyball]

That is a great question and as with most things volleyball -- it depends. If you are running a 4-2, it may not have a big impact. I have run a 4-2 with my Setter following my Middle. But if you are running a 6-2 or a 5-1, you need to be a little more strategic with how you do you Serve Receive. With most teams, having the Setter follow the Outside tends to work better but one year I had a Middle who was also my best passer

[@711colonel]

The front row don’t receive? Then who gets the super short serves?

[@vblxze_r1947]

The two back who suppose to get short balls

[@jonescrew1000]

Does anyone know what app or program he is using

[@ThriveVolleyball]

Great question. I use Adobe After Effects because I also do film editing. However, there is an app called Coach Tactic Board that is probably simpler to use for animations.

[@nehemiahisiah3630]

“Listen to your coach” mans wasn’t sure😹🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️

[@nhoemponloek674]

If you put video player it's more easy to understand.