Learn Volley
Learn Volleyball: Rules, Positions & Animated Formations
Learn Volley is a free volleyball guide for everyone from first-time players to coaches. Start with the basics — rules, court zones and positions — then watch animated formations from the beginner 6-6 to the advanced 5-1, and sharpen each skill with technique and training guides.
Start here
New to volleyball? Work through these three groups in order.
The Basics
Rules, court zones, positions and the words you will hear at practice.
Formations
Animated rotations, from the beginner 6-6 to the advanced 5-1.
Skills & Training
Technique for every contact, plus a 7-day plan for beginners.
October 1, 2026 — Website updated with new content
To master volleyball, learn its stages (see the diagram below), formations, rotations, positions and roles by heart, so you can focus on skill and improvisation in the heat of the moment. Keep in mind that the animations are simplified models that should be adjusted to your team's ability.
We recommend r/volleyball on Reddit for posting, discussing or commenting on anything related to volleyball.
Tip: On any formation page, click the court to toggle the zone numbers (4-3-2 along the net, 5-6-1 in the back row) — the zones are the core of what these animations teach.
Learn Volley Guide by Coach Christian
In this instructional video, Coach Christian introduces viewers to Learn Volley. He guides you through the website's features and explains the basics of the full rotation system, a Basic Rotation 6-6 and a 4-2 for beginners. Stressing the importance of understanding formations and rules, he demonstrates how to navigate the tool and emphasizes the need for proper positioning and coverage on the court.
We extend our gratitude to Coach Christian of DrivenDragonsVolleyballAcademy for his invaluable guide. Thanks to his input, we have also substantially decreased the advertising load on Learn Volley.