We All Need to Accept that Volleyball is a Six Rotation Sport
Since I've been coaching in Alabama, I've noticed the tendency for both clubs and schools to make sure every player gets three rotations. It can be difficult and discouraging for athletes to sit on the bench and not get much playing time. On the other hand, breakdowns often lead to breakthroughs. Having true starters who play six complete rotations is the best approach, in my opinion.
When you move away from having six true starters who play six rotations, everyone loses. Those six starting spots should be earned, and the players who don't earn one of those spots need to be comfortable being on the bench unless:
someone is injured
a player is having a bad day and needs to be pulled
a tactical substitution is needed
the game is not as competitive and allows for second-strength players to get playing time
When athletes only get three rotations, they become either "front row" or "back row" players early in their career, which means they internalize the idea that they can only hit or only pass. Setters who play three rotations never fully grasp the game's flow, never learn the importance of solid block, and never become sufficiently aggressive on the net.
Volleyball is a six rotation sport. There is no division. If you play volleyball, you play on the front row and the back row. Every player needs to know all of the skills for six rotations and have experience playing six rotations. Obviously, liberos who are defense specialists will come in for middles, but outside of that, all great teams make sure their players play all around (outsides, right sides, and setters).
It's damaging to all of the players when coaches implement a three rotation system. The players who didn't earn a spot know they didn't earn time on the court, which can negatively affect confidence and lead to laziness and apathy. If you know you'll get three rotations anyway, why work hard to earn a team's starting spot? Why push yourself to improve and excel? Why dig deep to find out if you even want to earn that spot?
The players who have earned a starting spot become frustrated because they see others getting equal playing time who don't really deserve equal playing time. This pattern can also lead to a more lackadaisical attitude among a team's top players, which will slow their progress and development as athletes who have the potential to compete at the next level.
Team members who have the most talent and/or work the hardest deserve more time on the court. They deserve six rotations. They deserve experience playing the whole court. It harms them only to have an opportunity to excel in 50% of the positions. No one wants to be half good.
Using a three rotation system in junior high also sets athletes up for failure later on. If a volleyball player is established as a back-row player because of her height and physicality in 7th or 8th grade, she may be moved to the front row on her JV/Varsity team after a growth spurt and becomes stronger/ taller. I've even seen good athletes don't even make the team if that happens because they have zero experience/ skill than those who have grown up playing six rotations and have developed all-around skills.
When parents and athletic directors pressure coaches to give all of the girls equal playing time, they suffer, too. Because volleyball is a six rotation sport, some may think coaches who use a three rotation system are incompetent and less knowledgeable.
The coaches who try to do the right thing and play the best six people get backlash for not playing everyone, and they get stuck between knowing what's best for everyone and trying to keep everyone happy. So the coaches end up frustrated too.
Because it seems like there's no way to please all of the players, parents, and athletic directors, coaches end up quitting or going to the private sector. Schools are losing coaches because of this. (Too much stress and pressure, along with other things that I will address soon). We are seeing top school programs have a very high turnover rate for their volleyball coaching staff which only hurts the programs and negatively affects the athletes who are trying to compete on a high level and become the best volleyball players possible.
So, what's the solution?
Put 12 players on each team. Have six starters. Have a libero and a 5//1 system with a setter that plays all around. The six rotation spots need to be earned. Volleyball is also an equal opportunity sport. The kids who are spending too much time on the bench need to know if they work hard and improve, they can earn a starting spot.
This approach will lead to a higher level of play for all team members. The coaches will be more effective in their jobs. And everyone will be more inspired to do their best in every spot on the court.