A utility player in volleyball is a player without a fixed position in the team’s strategy. This means that he can be a libero, a hitter or a setter in certain occasions during play. A utility player is trained in all facets of the game and therefore must be a jack-of-all-trades. As such, a utility player must be prepared to jump into the game and fill in a needed spot in an instant.
Preparing as a Libero
Training as a libero, even if you are not officially designated as one, means working on defense, particularly floor defense. Liberos are tasked to receive the hits from the opposing team and pass them to the setter. Liberos should have good ball stopping skills since they must still deliver the ball nicely to the setter to make an effective offense.
Training as a Hitter
A utility player should train as a hitter, since the coach’s strategy could be that two or more hitters are needed in the game. A front or middle hitter is responsible for spiking the ball after being set up by the setter. A front hitter specializes in sharper spikes nearer the net while an outside hitter specializes in long distance hits from the back court.
Training as a Setter
The setter is responsible for setting the pace for the offense. The second hit is always for the setter, unless the setter instructs the other players to help him out. A setter can then either dump the ball over the net, as an unexpected offensive tactic or set it up for the hitter to bring it over the net on the third hit. Setters must know how to control the spin of the ball and direct the ball effectively to the selected hitter. The utility player is considered the secondary setter of the team when the primary setter is unavailable to set the offense in motion.
Preparing as a Blocker
Blockers can be liberos placed at the front court, but they can also be dedicated blockers that are stationed directly in front of the net. Blockers are not only responsible for blocking an incoming hit from an opponent, but they should also bounce this ball back properly into the opposing team’s court. Otherwise, they risk losing a point for their team. Normally, three blockers are needed in a team’s setup, and a utility player can be one of those blockers. Sometimes, a middle blocker can also double as a middle hitter for more hitting options for the team.
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