The 6-2 Volleyball Rotation: The Pros & Cons
Published on: 6/11/25
Last Updated: 6/11/25
Author: Thalia A. U.
WHAT IS THE 6-2 VOLLEYBALL ROTATION?
The 6-2 volleyball rotation can be defined as a volleyball rotation which has 6 hitters and 2 setters. In the 6-2 rotation the setter only sets when in the back row, meaning that there are 3 hitters in the front row at all times (all 6 rotations). That also means both setter sets for 3 rotations total and those 3 rotations are when they are rotationally in the back-row (positions 1, 6, and 5).
The 6-2 rotation is an option which is commonly used with developing-experienced teams (ex: High school JV/Varsity teams, collegiate, etc). Let’s dive into what are the pros and cons of running this rotation so you can see if it would suit your team this season!
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A 6-2 ROTATION?
There are advantages and disadvantages for every rotation option, but its vital as a coach to ensure you are choosing the best option for your current teams needs and developmental level. Each season will bring different dynamics, talent, and challenges with your athletes so knowing all your rotation options advantages and disadvantages will help you make the correct choice that best suits your team.
Pros:
3 hitting options at all times: Unlike the 5-1 rotation which have either 3 or 2 hitters depending on the rotation, the 6-2 offers you the ability to always have 3 front-row hitting options on offense for all 6 rotations (Outside, middle, right-side).
Good for short (or non offensive) setters: Since the setters are setting out of the back-row this means they are not able to be an offensive threat of their own (setter dump, setter attack, etc) and they are not blocking at the net. This is great news for setters who are shorter, or want to focus solely on setting and not blocking, and attacking.
Substitution opportunties: Following the last point this means the head coach can strategically substitute in taller, or more defensive players for each setter when they are in the front-row positions rotationally (positions 2, 3, and 4). This is great not only for more playing opportunities for athletes, but it’s also a perfect way to enhance your teams offense and defense.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF A 6-2 ROTATION?
Lets also discuss the disadvantages of running a 6-2 rotation because this will help you make the best decision for your team based on their current needs, talent, and goals of the season.
Cons
Different setting styles: Since the 6-2 rotation uses 2 setters this means every 3 rotations your hitters are adjusting to new setting styles frequently. This is unlike the 5-1 rotation where we use 1 setter for all 6 rotations, keeping the sets consistent and predictable for your offense.
Substitution restrictions and requirements: With the amount of substitutions a coach will need to do to enhance the teams offense every 3 rotations (when one setter is in the front-row) this can quickly deplete a coaches set substitution allotment. A coach has 12 total substitutions they can use each set, so this can become tricky when sets are going point-for-point and you find yourself without more substitutions. Think about subbing in servers, or defensive specialists… and quickly this bullet point becomes tricky!
Setting out of the back-row: Setting out of the back-row can cause difficult serve receive situations where you must hide the setter to ensure they don’t touch the first pass. This can disrupt the back-rows ability to defend, as well as force the setter to run a lot when transitioning to the front row to set.
HOW TO RUN A 6-2 ROTATION
Now that we have learned what a 6-2 rotation is, and the pros and cons of choosing to use the rotation… we can move into what the 6-2 rotation looks like!
When teaching rotations you need a lot of visuals, and verbal instructions to ensure your athletes can deeply understand it plus remember it throughout the season. That being said there is no way I could type out a description of all 6 serve receive rotations for the 6-2 system I’ve run with my teams… but I can offer a free Youtube video description and a downloadable copy of my 6-2 system + an in-game cheat sheet of it!
Link to Downloadable template of my 6-2 rotation + In-game cheatsheet:
Coming by June 20th, 2025!
Link to Youtube video:
Uploaded by June 20th, 2025!
IN CONCLUSION…
Learning new rotations as an athlete or coach can be a frustrating, time consuming, and overwhelming process… but the pay off is often times worth it! As someone who played using numerous rotations as an athlete, but also taught it and ran it as a head coach… I know both sides of this coin and the hard work was worth it in the end! I hope my blog, Youtube video, and downloadable templates help you (and your team) excel in your season.
See you in the next blog post!
-Coach T