The outside hitter is a versatile position which generally plays on the left-side of the court. As the name implies, the position has a very offensive focus but it also plays a crucial role in serve receive and digging.
Most positions in volleyball have one skill which serves as the main role for the position (e.g. setters predominantly focus on setting and liberos focus on passing). But, the outside hitter must be able to pass effectively and consistently both in serve receive and defense and still able to quickly transition to offense. They have huge responsibilities in the front court and in the back court. As such, individuals who play as outside hitters need to be well-balanced in their skill set.
Crucial Skills
- Great passing- Outside hitters will have to pass as many balls as a libero. This necessitates that outside hitters are as skilled in passing as liberos.
- Conditioning- Generally, the outside hitter will receive a majority of the sets. As such, outside hitters need to be in top physical condition to be effective.
- Effective hitting- As mentioned before, outside hitters receive a large number of sets. To be a valuable offensive tool their hitting needs to be top-notched.
- Consistency- The outside hitter is so active in every rally that consistency is imperative.
Secondary Skills
- Blocking- While outside hitters must assist in blocking quick hitters and any dumps the opposing setter may send over, they will not block nearly as often as a middle blocker or right-side player.
- Setting- While passing with your hands is a necessary skill for any passer, it is not often that the outside hitter will need to set a hittable ball to another player.
