One skill that often separates good players from great ones—is the ability to “read the game.” This skill is often referred to as Volleyball IQ, a term I first heard during the 2012 Olympics when Karch Kiraly described a player’s knack for knowing what was about to happen and how to respond effectively.
Volleyball is a visual motor sport, meaning it requires players to see and interpret situations in real time, then translate those observations into physical responses. Unlike static sports like archery or gymnastics, volleyball demands continuous pattern recognition and dynamic decision-making.
The Process: Read → Plan → Execute
At its core, playing volleyball boils down to this sequence for both offense and defense:
Read: Observe what’s happening on the court to determine the appropriate response.
Plan: Decide on the best course of action based on the read.
Execute: Carry out the planned response effectively.
Among these, reading is the foundational skill—it’s where all physical responses begin. Without it, planning and execution lack precision.
We encourage players to focus on the term SEE—to actively identify and process visual cues during play.
Reading: The Key to Volleyball IQ
Reading in volleyball is essentially pattern recognition. Players develop a mental library of patterns that help them predict what might happen next. For instance:
A professional baseball batter doesn’t see the full trajectory of a fastball; instead, they rely on recognizing patterns in the pitcher’s motion. Similarly, volleyball players must focus on key details—like an opponent’s body language or arm swing—to anticipate the next play.
Interestingly, players often over-focus on the ball. Once contact is made, the ball’s trajectory is largely predetermined, so focusing on the actions of opponents is more valuable.
Key Terms for Effective Reading
SEE the Actions: Players must observe specific details about how opponents handle the ball. Without this visual input, pattern recognition is impossible.
Eye Sequence: Each position has unique visual patterns they must track as the rally progresses. For example, a setter’s focus will differ from that of a libero or hitter.
Hinky: When a known pattern looks “off” or unusual. Example: A tight pass leading to a setter dump rather than a standard pass-set-hit sequence.
Assess, Don’t Guess: Players should rely on accurate reads rather than assumptions. Moving based on a guess often results in being out of position.
Still Before the Action: Players must be still when processing visual information. Movement, especially unnecessary shuffling, disrupts accurate reads. However, techniques like the split step can help maintain readiness without compromising balance.
How to Train Reading Skills
Training players to improve their reading abilities requires deliberate focus on:
Visual Cues: Teach athletes to focus on opponents’ body language and movement patterns rather than following the ball.
Eye Sequences: Help players understand where their eyes should track at different stages of a rally.
Simulation Drills: Use controlled scenarios to build players’ pattern recognition and response accuracy.
Final Thoughts
Developing strong reading skills is a cornerstone of Volleyball IQ. As players improve their ability to see and process the game, their confidence and decision-making improve significantly.
For more insights, check out Karch on Reading (Click Here). In this video, they show the eye movements of the national team libero go through her eye sequence using a special pair of glasses and camera.
Good readers of the game are created over time and are deliberate in seeing patterns in the game. As with most high level things this takes time and a lot of guesswork and testing to hone their understanding of patterns.
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