How to Keep Volleyball Statistics

Coaches and players place great importance on statistics to evaluate an athlete's performance and skill level during competition. They use these numbers in evaluating the team's development areas and strengths. Coaches produce game plans and strategies based on these numbers. Taking statistics for slow-paced sports such as baseball or softball can be easy. However, when dealing with a fast-paced game like volleyball, taking statistics can be difficult, but not impossible.

Instructions

    • 1

      Study the terminology. Taking volleyball statistics can be confusing if you do not understand the basic terminology. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the rules and understand the six categories of statistics: attacks, setting, serving, passing, defense and blocks.

    • 2

      An attack is an attempt by a player to score a point whether the volleyball is spiked, set, tipped or hit.

    • 3

      Three possible outcomes result from an attack. A kill refers to an attack on the ball that is unreturnable by the opposing team, thus earning a point. An attack error, such as the ball getting hit out of bounds or hit into the net directly results in a point for the opposing team. When a player hits the ball over the net without the intention to score such as passing it over the net to keep the play alive, this is referred as a "zero attack."

    • 4

      Calculate hitting percentage. The American Volleyball Coaches Association uses a simple division formula to find hitting percentage. Subtract the number of errors (E) from the number of kills (K), and then divide that total by the number of total attacks (K-E/TA).

    • 5

      An assist happens when the player passes the ball by any legal means to another player who earns a kill. An assist error refers to a ball-handling mistake such as a lift or double contact.

    • 6

      A service ace and a service error represent results of a serve. A service ace usually means that the ball went onto the court without being touched, or it made contact, but the team could not keep it in play. A service error results in the other team receiving the ball because the player either served it out of bounds, into the net, touched the antenna or had a foot fault.

    • 7

      Passing involves serve receive. The player who receives the serve should be credited for the attempt. If the ball falls on the floor or the player makes a bad pass, you should mark this as a serve receive error. Team reception errors happen when the ball falls between two players, or the team is out of rotation.

    • 8

      Pay attention during long rallies. Digs happen during defense when the player keeps the ball in play after an attack by the opposing team. If a dig is unsuccessful, then the player should be charged with a ball-handling error.

    • 9

      Three types of blocks exist: solo block, block assist and a block error. A solo block means that only one player blocked the ball and it led to a point. A block assist happens when two or three players touch a ball during a block and it results in a point for their team. A block error is when the player makes a mistake such as touching the net, crossing the center line or reaching over the net.