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Volleyball · Level 4: Intermediate · Sub-level 4.2

Defensive Systems

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 25 October 2026 · markdown

Perimeter, rotational and man-up defence, defending the setter's dump, the off-blocker, choosing a defence for each opponent, tip coverage, defending the back-row attack, the libero's place and teaching a defensive system.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1Perimeter defenceTake a test

  1. Perimeter defence keeps the middle back deep.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  2. The wings guard the side lines, outside the block's shadow.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  3. Defenders spread around the edge are ready for power.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  4. With everyone deep, the short middle behind the block is open.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  5. She covers the sharp angle and short balls inside the court.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  6. A two-player block plus four defenders around it.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  7. Each player has a clear area around the edge of the court.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  8. Base, set read, block and the defenders in their spots.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  9. Block at the net, off-blocker in front, middle back deepest.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  10. Deep middle and wings on the lines is the perimeter shape.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

Test 2Rotational defenceTake a test

  1. The defender behind the block rotates up toward the tip area.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  2. She rotates toward the line to fill the deep corner.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  3. The back row turns as a group toward the hitter's side.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  4. A defender moves up to the short ball behind the block.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  5. With the line defender up, the deep line corner gets thinner.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  6. If tips are the threat, the rotation puts a player on them.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  7. She keeps the cross-court area while the others turn.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  8. Base, read, the line defender up and the middle back over.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  9. Scout, notice, choose and train.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  10. Arrows of defenders turning toward the attack show a rotation.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

Test 3Man-up defenceTake a test

  1. In man-up, player six moves up behind the block.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  2. She takes the short balls behind the block.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  3. With player six up, nobody stands deep in the middle.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  4. It is named after player six moving up.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  5. Many tips at lower levels make an extra short defender useful.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  6. Positions one and five guard the deep corners.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  7. Hard, deep attacks punish an empty back middle.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  8. Base, read, six up and the wings deep.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  9. Block, the up player, then the deep wings.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  10. Area A, deep in the middle, is empty in a man-up defence.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

Test 4Defending the setter's dumpTake a test

  1. A front-row setter may tip the second ball straight over.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  2. Their right front stands across from our left front.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  3. A dump is a soft ball just over the net.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  4. Setters often turn the hands or the body before a dump.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  5. A jump set lets her set or attack from the same move.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  6. She must stop the dump yet still help block the outside.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  7. The defender behind the left-front blocker can run up for it.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  8. Pass, hands, decision and the move.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  9. Pass, jump, tip and the short landing.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  10. Our left front, marked C, faces their right-front setter.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

Test 5The off-blockerTake a test

  1. The off-blocker is the front-row player left out of the block.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  2. She drops back to help defend inside the court.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  3. The sharp angle lands inside the court near her.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  4. Being in the front row, she is part of the next attack.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  5. A player who stays at the net leaves the short area open.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  6. Against a quick, the nearest front-row player may close in.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  7. From the attack line she can reach short balls inside the block.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  8. Read, drop, defend and attack.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  9. Two block near the hitter; the far one drops off.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  10. Dropping away from the net marks her role.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

Test 6Choosing a defenceTake a test

  1. Knowing the shots tells the coach where to put defenders.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  2. Deep defenders suit a hard-hitting team.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  3. A player moving up covers the short shots.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  4. Each hitter's favourite shots call for a different shape.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  5. Too many changes leave players unsure of their spots.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  6. A short call or hand signal sets the defence before the rally.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  7. A well-trained system can beat a better plan played badly.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  8. Video, notes, a plan and the practice.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  9. Power suits the perimeter, tips the man-up.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  10. Deep landings call for deep defenders.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

Test 7Tip coverageTake a test

  1. Tip coverage names the player who takes short balls.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  2. A tip arrives fast, so each player must already know her job.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  3. From the attack line the off-blocker is closest to the middle.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  4. Weight forward lets her run in for a short ball.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  5. A slowing arm often turns into a soft touch.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  6. Clear roles stop collisions and balls falling between players.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  7. A quick low touch keeps the short ball alive.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  8. Read, push, get low and play it up.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  9. The tip is shortest; the drive goes deepest.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  10. A defender moving in under a soft ball is covering the tip.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

Test 8Defending the back-row attackTake a test

  1. Taking off behind the attack line pushes the hit deeper.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  2. The middle blocker covers the centre of the net.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  3. A deeper hit means a deeper start for the dig.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  4. The hitter starts deep and arrives last, after the decoys.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  5. A back-row attack through the middle is called the pipe.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  6. A running back-row player is the first sign of the pipe.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  7. Setters can choose the back-row hitter at the last moment.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  8. Pass, run, take-off and the hit.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  9. Sign, block, depth and the dig.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  10. The centre of the net belongs to the middle blocker.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

Test 9The libero in the defenceTake a test

  1. Many attacks from the opponents' left side go cross to zone 5.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  2. Cross-court is the hitter's most common hard shot.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  3. The libero is a back-row specialist.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  4. She replaces back-row players and keeps defending.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  5. From the back she sees the court and calls the shape.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  6. If the setter digs, the libero often makes the second touch.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  7. Against attacks down the middle, the deep middle matters most.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  8. Read, move, dig and call.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  9. Left back is 5, middle back 6, right back 1.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  10. The libero often defends from left back.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

Test 10Teaching a defensive systemTake a test

  1. Base positions come before any movement.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  2. A coach on a box hits from the height of a real attack.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  3. Real hitters bring real choices and speed.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  4. Several balls in a row train getting back into shape.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  5. Calls practised daily come naturally in matches.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  6. Every good dig should become a counter-attack.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  7. Video shows players where they really stood.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · recall

  8. From walking to live play, step by step.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  9. Each step adds speed.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

  10. The box puts the coach's hand where a hitter's would be.

    Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references · applied

Sources

FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II) and general coaching references; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered FIVB rules belong to the Rules category.

  • FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references100