How to fill out a volleyball line-up/roster sheet
Published on: 8/3/2024
Last updated: 2/8/2026
Author: Thalia U.
How to fill out a volleyball line-up/roster sheet
Whether you’re a new coach to volleyball, or an experienced coach who needs a refresher… this blog post will help you correctly fill out your lineup sheet before your next game.
Ensuring your game line up sheet is filled out correctly keeps you and your athletes calm/confident during an already high intensity match. While referees can be kind and help you fill it out, it is empowering to walk into your first matchup knowing exactly how to fill it out. Focusing on your game performance can be at the forefront of your mind!
I filmed a YouTube video (linked above) if you would prefer to follow along with a visual example.
Otherwise lets dive right into our blog post with our first step.
1) Find + print out your area’s lineup sheet
When I get to my games (home or away) the scores table and referees need you to bring your own printed out lineup sheets. On occasion I’ve had nice coaches who have an extra sheet when I forget mine, but that is for accidents and should not be your default. Coming prepared by printing out your own lineup sheets (or having your athletic director print them out for you) well before your matchup helps you stay professional, and prepared.
I live in the United States in the state of Massachusetts… so when I’m googling the lineup sheet I need, I type in “Massachusetts Volleyball lineup and roster sheet” and click on a link from my states athletic association (MIAA). It is often a PDF document/link.
My game lineup sheet for Massachusetts looks like this:
This PDF document is downloaded onto my computer so that I can easily access it when getting prepared for a long week of matches… especially when I have to coach JV and Varsity games back to back.
I typically print out 10+ sheets at a time (not double sided) so that I can have extras in case other coaches need it (I on average get asked 3-4 times a season by other coaches for an extra lineup sheet) and also so I have enough for a few weeks of matchups without having to print every game day.
2) Fill out the roster section
Your second step is filling out the roster section of your game line up sheet. This is the section that lists your athlete’s jersey number, with their first name within that same boxed section.
The roster section looks like this:
As you can see on the left hand column you will fill out jersey numbers, and on the right hand side you will fill out those athletes names.
For example: On the first line of the left hand column I would write 9, then directly to the right of that in the longer column I would write “Jerry”… who’s jersey number is 9.
Filling out your team’s roster is helpful for coaches who don’t memorize their players jerseys (I am that coach… kudos to those that can but my brain doesn’t have space for it!).
Some of your opponents will also ask for your roster if they are taking statistics for their team and yours, or if they plan on announcing each athlete from both teams before the start of the game.
3) Coin toss
Step 3 involves the coin toss, and warm-ups. During warmups the referees will call over both team’s coaches and captains for the coin toss. The coin toss is where referees go over logistics for the match and also determine which team will be serving first.
Knowing which team is serving first helps us as coaches finalize our game line up sheet because we need to indicate who is serving first (even if we lose the coin toss) on our lineup sheet before each set starts.
If the coin toss happened, and your captains won the coin toss and then chose to serve first then you’d circle the athlete who (you’re about to put) in rotation position number 1. If your opponent’s won the coin toss and chose first serve, you would then have to circle the athlete who you put in position number 2 as your first server.
Below I’ve listed the spots on the court to help indicate where the serving spot is (#1) all the way to spot number 6.
4) Fill out first set’s lineup
Now that the coin toss has happened you can fully complete your first set’s game line up. It’s hard to find a quiet space to fill out your line up sheet, so I typically try to do it during my opponents warm up, or my team’s warm up (if I have assistant coaches to help run them for me).
The most important thing to note is that similar positions need to be set up across from their similar position. This means setters need to be “across” the opposite (or 2nd setter). Middles need to be “across” middles, and outsides need to be “across” outsides/DS.
The easiest way I found to do this when I first started coaching was to start with placing my 1st server lineup sheet. Lets say we won the coin toss, and my captains chose to serve first. The first server I want to serve is our starting setter, so that means I would set up my setter in position 1. This then means I place my opposite in position number 4.
Below is a visual example of this:
This is what I use for my experiencing teams who can handle a tough 5-1 rotation where I utilize one setter, and a fast-paced rotation.
For my beginner teams I typically use simpler starting line ups, so they don’t have to think/run as much in the first rotation. This would look like starting my setter in position 2, and my 2nd setter in position 5. Then I would put my two middles in positions 3 and 6 (when using a libero), and my outsides in positions 4 and 1.
Below is an example of what that would look like:
The main thing to take away however is that positions need to be across from each other, like I mentioned earlier in the blog post. No matter the level of the rotation (5-1, 4-2, or 6-2) this is expected on every lineup sheet.
We need to do this to ensure there is always an outside, middle, and setter/opposite in the front row. It would be a disaster if you filled out your starting lineup sheet incorrectly by placing both setters (for example) in the backrow… so just keep reminding yourself that this is the main rule of thumb for your line up sheets.
You will be filling out set line up sheets sometimes 5 times a match (one for each new set) so you will quickly get the hang of it however!
when using a libero…
If you plan to use a libero during a set, then you need to indicate that by writing your liberos jersey number on the “L” line you see above each set’s court line up sheet.
Below is an example of the L line, and a made up jersey # for a libero
If you’re using a libero you need to remember to still write both middles jersey numbers on the line up sheet. Do not list the liberos jersey number at the top and also write their number in a back-row position… this will be incorrect!
If you’re not using a libero, you should still indicate that by writing a 0 with a strike through it (Example: 0 ).
If you forget to fill out the libero line the referees will likely ask you “Are you using a libero this set?”. Which isn’t a big deal but this saves you and the referees a bit of mental space each set.
5) Indicate who’s first server + floor captain
Our last few step before we can hand in our line up sheet to the scores table and referees is indicating who will be serving first, and who your floor captain will be for that set.
When you recall the coin toss, did your team win the first serve, or did your opponents? If your team won first serve you will circle the athlete you placed in position number 1.
Below is an example of what this would look like:
If your team lost the coin toss, and your opponent chose to serve first then you would still have to circle who your first server would be. Since we rotate each time we earn a point/possession of the serve, we would circle the player who’s in position 2.
Below is an example of what this would look like:
So, to keep it simple you will either circle the athlete who is starting in position 1 when you win the first serve of the game, or you will circle the athlete in position 2 when your opponent wins the first serve of the game.
When you’re indicating who the set’s floor captain is…
you need to consider choosing a player who is a great leader and advocate for the team, but also who will most likely stay on the court for the entirely of the set.
The reason we want a player who will likely stay on the court without substitution is because each time your floor captain subs out the scores table and down referee will need to ask you, “who’s your new floor captain?”. This takes up both the coaches, and referees mental space/time so it’s better to choose someone who typically stays in for the entirely of the set.
I usually pick my setter, and I would never choose a middle or libero. My middles and liberos are switching every 3 rotations so that would be a disaster to keep up with as I’m taking live game statistics, coaching my 6 players on, and managing the bench + scores table/referee.
In conclusion…
A completed roster/game line up sheet for the first set will look something like this:
Usually there will be a nice coach, referee, or person running the scores table (but no promises…haha!) so try to drop your ego and ask questions when you’re unsure.
Referees and coaches can be wrong on numerous occasions, but asking questions is an easy way to show you’re open to looking vulnerable and learning from others as a head coach.
If you have any more question leave them in my comments down below, otherwise I hope to see you in another blog post!
Warmly,
-Coach T