Volley-ball · Niveau 1 : Débutant · Sous-niveau 1.4

Talking Volleyball

10 tests · 100 faits · mis à jour le 25 octobre 2026 · markdown

The words players and coaches use for serving, passing, setting, attacking, blocking and defending, for the team and the bench, the slang of the game and the stat sheet.

Chaque test ci-dessous compte dix questions sur Insporta. La liste sous un test indique ce que les questions vérifient : un fait par question, avec la source dont il est tiré. Lisez-la avant le test, ou revenez-y après une mauvaise réponse.

Test 1Serving wordsFaire un test

A service error is a serve that fails: into the net, out of the court or another fault.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Serve receive is the receiving team's job of passing the serve to the setter.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A short serve falls in front of the receivers, close to the net.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Tough serving takes risk to make the opponents' pass difficult.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A serve that touches the net and goes over is played on; only one that stays on the server's side is a fault.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Many servers bounce the ball and breathe the same way each time to stay calm and consistent.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
The server jumps but hits the ball without spin, so it still floats and wobbles.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
The underhand serve is gentlest; the jump topspin serve is the fastest of all.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Get the ball, prepare, wait for the whistle, then toss and hit.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
The gap between two receivers is the seam; serving into it causes doubt about who takes it.
Source : General volleyball reference · application

Test 2Passing wordsFaire un test

A perfect pass reaches the setter's target spot, so every attack option is open.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A shank is a mishit pass that sprays off the arms, often out of the court.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
The first touch is usually a pass from a serve or a dig from an attack.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A free ball is an easy return without an attack, so the team gets ready to build its own attack.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A down ball is attacked from the ground, without a jump, so it comes over more slowly.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Off the net means the pass is a few metres back, which makes the set harder.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A tight pass arrives very close to the net, where the opponents' blockers can reach it.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
On target is best, a pass off target is playable, a shank usually loses the point.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
A call, quick positioning, a pass to the setter and an attack.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
A pass that goes straight over the net gives the opponents an easy ball.
Source : General volleyball reference · application

Test 3Setting wordsFaire un test

A quick goes just above the net to a middle hitter who is already in the air.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A bump set uses a forearm pass to set, when an overhead set is not possible.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Instead of setting, the setter sends the second touch over, often with a soft tip.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Setting from a jump makes the set quicker and lets the setter threaten to attack.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
When the pass is poor, the setter often sends a high, safe set to the outside.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A shoot set travels low and fast along the net to a hitter at the antenna.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Like a quarterback, the setter decides which hitter gets each ball.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Quick sets barely clear the net; shoot sets are flat; high balls go well above it.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
The dump looks like a set until the last moment, then drops into open court.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Setting backwards over the head to the right side is a back set.
Source : General volleyball reference · application

Test 4Attacking wordsFaire un test

A kill is an attack that ends the rally in the attacking team's favour.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
The hitter aims at a blocker's hands so the ball deflects off them and out of the court.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
The hitter swings slowly and rolls the ball over the block with topspin into open court.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Taking pace off the attack catches defenders who expect a hard hit.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A cross-court attack travels diagonally across the opponents' court.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
In a pipe, a back-row player attacks from behind the attack line in the middle of the court.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
The middle hitter runs behind the setter and takes off from one foot, like a lay-up.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A tip is a touch, a roll shot a slow swing, a spike a full hit.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Aim at the outside hand, glance the ball off it and send it out.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
A line shot goes straight down the side line, as path A does.
Source : General volleyball reference · application

Test 5Blocking wordsFaire un test

A stuff sends the attack straight back down for a point.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Good blockers press their hands over the net into the opponents' space.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
The second blocker joins the first so the ball cannot pass between their hands.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Blockers watch the setter's body and the ball to judge where the set will go.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Blockers may touch it and the team still has three hits left to play.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A commit blocker jumps with a chosen hitter, often the middle, whatever the set.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Like a hitter's approach, a swing block uses a run and arm swing to jump higher.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Short moves use a step-close, longer ones a crossover, the longest a run.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
A closed block sends the attack straight back down on the attackers' side.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
A joust is a fight for the ball above the net between two opposing players.
Source : General volleyball reference · application

Test 6Les mots de la défenseFaire un test

Base is where defenders wait before they read the attack and move.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Attacks aimed at the seam make two defenders hesitate.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
In a sprawl the defender stretches out flat on the floor to reach a low ball.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Collapsing lets a defender go straight down to play a ball that is hit at the feet.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
One defender stays close behind the block to pick up tips and roll shots.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
An out call warns the player not to touch a ball that will land out.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Hustle is effort: going after balls that look lost.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Leave base, read, be still at contact, then dig.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Cover keeps a blocked ball alive for another attack.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Team-mates cover the hitter, ready to dig a ball that comes back off the block.
Source : General volleyball reference · application

Test 7Les mots de l'équipeFaire un test

Three players are in the front row and three in the back row.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
As the team rotates, it passes through six line-ups, called rotations.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
The opposite stands opposite the setter in the line-up, usually attacking from the right.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Middles block in the centre and hit quick sets.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Outside hitters attack from the left side and also pass serves.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A DS is a back-row substitute who comes on to pass and defend.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
The starting six are on court for the first serve of a set.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Positions run 1 back right, 2 front right, 3 front middle, 4 front left.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Squad, starting six, line-up sheet, then play.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Position 1 is back right, the spot the server rotates into.
Source : General volleyball reference · application

Test 8Les mots du banc et de l'entraînementFaire un test

Momentum is the feeling of a team on a run, often broken by a time-out.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A sub replaces a player on court.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Calling balls and encouraging each other keeps a team organised.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A game plan sets out how to serve, block and attack against one opponent.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Scouting means watching and analysing opponents to prepare a plan.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A team can challenge a call and have it checked on video.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Assistants help with tactics, statistics and practice.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Request, huddle, instructions, back to play.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Scouting leads to a game plan that is shared before the match.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
A short huddle with the coach during a set is a time-out.
Source : General volleyball reference · application

Test 9Nicknames of playsFaire un test

A six-pack is a spike that hits a defender in the face.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Each player thinks the other will take it, and the ball drops between them.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Several players stand around the ball as it falls, like people round a campfire.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A hitter who is roofed sees the attack come straight down off the block.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A kong is a block made with one arm, usually when the blocker is late.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A chicken wing pops the ball up off a bent arm when there is no time for a proper pass.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
An ugly win is a win in a poor performance, still worth the points.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Doubt between two players leaves the ball to fall.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
A roof scores, a soft block keeps the ball alive, a miss lets it through.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
The sky ball is a very high underhand serve, made famous on the beach.
Source : General volleyball reference · application

Test 10Words from the stat sheetFaire un test

An assist is credited, mostly to the setter, for a set that a team-mate kills.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
Hitting efficiency is (kills - errors) / attempts.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A player's points are kills plus stuff blocks plus aces.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
(10 - 2) / 20 = 0.400.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Reception figures show how many serves a player passed and how well.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
The setter sets most balls, so most assists go to the setter.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
When two or three players stuff a ball together, each gets a block assist.
Source : General volleyball reference · restitution
A higher figure means more kills and fewer errors per attempt.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Kills minus errors, then divided by the attempts.
Source : General volleyball reference · application
Teams use statisticians who log every touch for the coaches.
Source : General volleyball reference · application

Sources

General volleyball references, FIVB (beach, snow), World ParaVolley (sitting), FIVB Coaches Manual; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered FIVB rules belong to the Rules category.

General volleyball reference100