As you know, there are 5 positions in volleyball. A lot of beginners don’t know which one is the best for them. Not every position is the same and some are harder than others. Today, I’m going to explain which one might be for you, because it’s not so complex.
Which volleyball position is the easiest?
The easiest volleyball position is libero. Liberos don’t attack, don’t jump, so you don’t need to have much strength or be tall. It only involves defensive and in some cases setting skills.
Now let’s explain in detail why it’s the easiest to be a libero and why other positions might be also right (or not) for you.
Why libero is the easiest positions?
Volleyball isn’t the easiest sport. The same applies to the positions. We can’t say there is the easiest and the hardest position. It all depends on a person. But from my own experience, I know that beginning players most of the time do better as a libero. Why is libero also good for you?
Compared to the other positions, it doesn’t demand any sophisticated physical conditions. It’s the only volleyball position, in which you don’t have to care about your height and strength. The shorter you are, the better it might be. Usually, players below 180 cm (5.91 ft) are more athletic and have better coordination and it’s crucial in the defense. Shortest liberos are under 165 cm (5.41 ft), but most liberos are between 180 cm and 185 cm. Who is the best libero in the world? Find it out in this article.
Liberos don’t have to be strong either. Outside or opposite hitters usually spend lots of time in the gym. It’s especially important in men’s volleyball. Of course, strength isn’t everything and you also have to be precise, but it helps a lot. Even the worst hits can be successful if it’s hit powerfully. So, if you don’t like going to the gym or you aren’t naturally powerful, think about being a libero.
There is also a mental aspect. Usually, liberos don’t have many responsibilities. If they save a ball- it’s fine, if they miss it- there will be more opportunities. Players on the other positions have to be responsible. Imagine being an outside hitter and playing in the final of the World Championship. It’s the final action. The whole world is watching you and it’s up to you whether your team is going to win or not. If you’re a libero- you can only look at it and pray.
Cons of being a libero
But libero position isn’t only about easy duties. Sometimes libero’s life can be hard.
Liberos are players who get injured quite often. Not because they break their fingers during a block. It’s because they have to dig and save the ball, which is actually hard. When you’re digging on the floor, you have to be experienced to do it properly. Even one false move can get you injured. You don’t have a lot of time to react. So you better train digging before you play in a real game. Injuries often happen when a libero runs to save the ball somewhere outside the court. It’s always risky. They don’t have time to look down and it’s frequent that libero in that kind of situation even breaks a leg.
If you are fine with all the dangers of being a libero, think about one more duty. Setting the ball. A few times per set liberos have to set the ball. It usually happens when his team makes a mistake receiving the ball. If the setter can’t reach it, in lots of cases, libero must set it. I know from my experience, that liberos usually neglect this duty, and they aren’t good at it. So, if you want to be a libero, train this skill and be a setter in your team if possible.
What libero can and can’t do? Whether libero can be a captain or not? You can get to know it here.
Absolutely the hardest volleyball position is…
As I said, all volleyball positions are relatively hard, but in my opinion, there is one that is harder than the others. It’s a setter. This position demands the most amount of skills and it’s the hardest to master.
The setter’s main role is setting the ball. This task itself is hard. It’s very technical, so setters sometimes get called for doubles and touching the net if they don’t have the best position. These 2 mistakes are typical beginner mistakes, but even experience setters do them. What’s hard when it comes to the setter position is precision. The setter has to set the ball with the right power and in the right place for a hitter to be able to earn a point. In the beginning, it’s really, really difficult to set the perfect ball and it demands months or even years of practice.
Not without a reason, setters are often called the brains of their teams. They are the ones who get under the second ball almost every single play, and they decide where the ball is going to go. If they see their outside hitter is having problems, they have to lighten him by setting the ball to another player, for example to the middle blocker. If they see the opponents blocking well, he should react properly. They should be prepared for every possible scenario.
It’s definitely the hardest position. It’s tough, because of the technical, but also the tactical aspect. If you want to play in this position, you need to be at least 180 cm (5.91 ft), think logically, be unpredictable, and do right the most sophisticated things with the ball.
If you don’t want to be a libero, why don’t you be a middle blocker?
The second easiest volleyball position? Middle blocker. It’s not so complex, but not everyone can play it.
The biggest obstacle is height. Usually, middle blockers are the tallest players in the team, and they are 190 cm (6.23 ft) and above. They need to be able to get past even the highest block. And they should be the tallest guys in the block to stop the opposite team from earning points. In addition, they need to jump high.
And of course, good cooperation with the setter is crucial. If you want to call yourself a good blocker, you have to communicate with the setter and practice the most complex combination to surprise your opponent.
Middle blockers aren’t athletic, they don’t run fast, and they are rather phlegmatic. If you are tall, and you’re not afraid of clashes above the net, go all for it. One of the most famous middle blockers is Dmitriy Muserskyi who is 218 cm (7.15 ft), but he’s not the tallest. You can find out the tallest volleyball player in this ranking.
Outside hitter or opposite hitter for the ones who want to be famous
Outside hitter and opposite hitter are similar positions. The most famous volleyball players in the world are playing in these positions. If you want to see who’s the best, click here.
They are so famous because they earn most of the points for the team. What’s hard and easy about this position?
Outside hitter: Probably the hardest task for an outside hitter is to receive a ball. In men’s volleyball some serves are incredibly fast. You can see the fastest serves in the world in this post. It’s tough to receive a ball with 134 km/h speed. It also needs to be trained. There are 2 types of newbies. The ones who naturally receive the ball well, and the ones who can’t do it at all. You should check out your skills. If you can receive a ball without pieces of training, maybe it’s a good position for you. And outside hitters attacks. Most volleyball players love it, but not everyone does it well. It’s a huge responsibility. If the outside hitter is blocked a couple of times in the row, he’s usually substituted. In addition, outside hitters block, and they are usually 185 cm+ (6.07 ft).
Opposite hitter: This position is a bit easier than outside hitter. Opposite hitter isn’t in charge of receiving a ball, so he isn’t so responsible. To be defined as a good opposite hitter, he or she must master the attack and the block. He needs to be as tall as the outside hitter and spike at least 330 cm (10.83 ft). You have to get ready for many jumps, attack,s and blocks during a game. You better be in a good form. Opposite hitters often earn the most points for their teams, so he needs to be able to handle the pressure and be the leading player of the team.
Conclusion
I can’t say there is one easiest position in volleyball. All of them demand certain skills. The one that is the easiest for beginners is libero, because you don’t have to be tall. If you are tall, think about being a middle blocker. A good idea can be outside hitter or opposite hitter, but they need to be very athletic. Hands down the hardest position is setter who has to take care of almost everything on the court.
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