Choosing the right offensive system depends entirely on your personnel. Here is a breakdown of the two most common systems.

The 5-1 System (5 Hitters, 1 Setter)

The same setter sets for all six rotations, meaning they play in both the front row and the back row.

• Pros: Maximum consistency for the hitters, as they only have to adjust to one setter’s timing. Allows for a true Right-Side (Opposite) hitter who is a primary attacker.
• Cons: For three rotations, the setter is in the front row, meaning you only have two primary attackers (Outside and Middle). The setter must also be competent at blocking.

The 6-2 System (6 Hitters, 2 Setters)

Two setters play opposite each other in the rotation. The setter in the back row sets, while the setter in the front row acts as a hitter (or is substituted out for a hitter).

• Pros: You always have three front-row attackers, maximizing offensive firepower. You can use smaller, highly skilled setters in the back row and sub them out in the front row regularly to maintain a tall blocking line as a possible option to add even more net fire power.
• Cons: Hitters must adjust to two different setters and as setters are often smaller faster players, they may not be able to contribute to a team’s offence the way taller players are able. This has the capacity to somewhat neutralize the advantage of always having three attackers in the front row in some situations. Substituting taller players into the front row for a smaller setter can be one strategy to counter this limitation, however it requires using substitutions that may be of more value used for other situations and a team may also find themselves unable to substitute out a setter in the critical moments at the end of a set, if the substitutions were used too early. Especially in leagues where international limited sub rules apply.