Back Row Attack
An attack by a back-row player who jumps from behind the 3-meter line while the ball is above the net. The rule only cares about where you take off—landing in the front row after contact is fine. Back-row attacks (pipes, Ds, and high balls from zone 1) give modern offenses scoring threats from all six positions.
Example
The opposite in zone 1 lines up a four-step, jumps from a foot inside the back zone, and finishes inside zone 2 after the swing. The contact was legal because the takeoff was behind the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rule for back-row attacks in volleyball?
If you are back row and the ball is above net level, you may only complete that attack if your last takeoff is from the back zone (behind the attack line). On or in front of the line at takeoff, and you spike above the tape, you hand the other side a point.
What is a pipe in volleyball?
A pipe is a set to a back-row attacker coming through zone 6, middle back. The hitter has to stay behind the line at takeoff like any other back-row attack, but the angle is nasty because the ball travels late through the block’s blind spot.