Best Volleyball Positions For Short Players in 2024

For a reason, volleyball, the tallest sport in the world, greatly benefits from height.

Despite being said, every position on the court doesn’t need to have a giant of a human being playing there.

For short players, the best volleyball positions are primarily libero, occasionally setter, or outside hitter.

Firstly, by identifying the extent to which being short is a handicap in volleyball, we can then explain the roles that are best suited to shorter athletes.

After running through the identification of how much of a handicap being short poses in volleyball, I’ll delve into practical tips on enhancing the value of short players on the volleyball court.

Best volleyball positions for short players, developing an exceptional vertical jump remains crucial for short players aiming to thrive in positions beyond libero.

Is Volleyball Possible for Short Players?

It is nowhere written in law that playing volleyball is prohibited for those who are short.

Though you may be aware of this, I want to emphasize unequivocally that succeeding at the highest levels of the sport is entirely feasible for shorter athletes.

While being a middle blocker or opposite may not be feasible, numerous examples exist of remarkably short athletes excelling in every other position on the court, suggesting that there’s no reason why you can’t do the same.

Having said that, it’s important to understand that reaching the professional or Olympic level in this sport becomes significantly more challenging for you.

What Height Is Considered Too Short for Volleyball?

While there isn’t a minimum height requirement for volleyball players, being exceptionally short often limits opportunities to excel in positions, leaving the role of an outstanding libero as the primary option.

If you’re engaging in social play, you can likely opt for any position you prefer. However, in competitive volleyball teams, your options for positions might be restricted to avoid compromising your team’s winning prospects.

Optimal Positions for Focus in Volleyball

As a primary choice, without a doubt, the libero position should be your focus.

Your Best Bet Is Becoming A Libero

In reality, the significance of the libero as a crucial position lies in its role as the foundation for offense, built upon a strong defense and serve-reception.

Requiring strong passing and exceptional digging skills, liberos must exhibit high agility.

None of these responsibilities are significantly impacted by height.

Is Short Stature Necessary for Liberos?

Contrary to popular belief, liberos aren’t necessarily short.

When seen on TV, they might appear short due to standing among taller players on the court, but that’s not necessarily the case.

In reality, most of them are fairly tall.

The average height for men’s liberos is 185cm, significantly taller than the average height for men.

If you’re considering being a 6’8″ libero, you might find greater success aiming for a slightly shorter height.

Desiring to Become a Professional Libero?

For short athletes aspiring for a volleyball career, excelling as an exceptional libero remains the primary pathway.

As it turns out, becoming a professional libero is one of the most challenging positions to secure in the sport.

With increased competition, smaller average contract sizes, and fewer opportunities, the path to a professional career as a libero is notably challenging.

While it’s not impossible, achieving success as a professional libero demands nothing less than being the absolute best in the field.

Ensure to explore my complete article elaborating on How Much Do Pro Volleyball Players Make for a deeper understanding of why the professional path for liberos is challenging.

Can A Volleyball Setter Be Short?

This largely hinges on the level of volleyball you aim to pursue.

If your interest lies in social or club volleyball, being short as a setter is entirely feasible.

However, in professional leagues, the presence of short setters is increasingly rare.

As you ascend in levels of play, height progressively becomes a more significant factor for setters.

Typically, Olympic setters exhibit an average height that’s 4 inches (10cm) taller than the liberos within their team.

The distinction between being 5’8″ and 6′ is substantial in terms of playing this position.

However, highlighting exceptions like Matías Sánchez from the Argentina national team, who stands at just 5’8″ (173cm) as a professional setter, clearly demonstrates that it’s achievable.

Considerably more challenging than aiming for a libero position, becoming a short setter is estimated to be tenfold harder in professional volleyball.

Can I Be An Outside Hitter If I’m Short?

Being short doesn’t restrict you from playing as an outside hitter.

It’s better if you’re able to jump ridiculously high!

The average height of an Olympic men’s outside hitter, who is almost 6 and a half feet tall, showcases their incredible ability to jump!

For those considerably shorter, reaching such high levels in the sport demands either a freakish jumping ability or the chance to play at that elevated level becomes improbable.

Try To Emaulate Mireya Luis

Mireya Luis of Cuba, as of about 10 years ago, held the world record for the highest spike height among women’s volleyball players at an astonishing 339cm.

What made this feat incredible was her stature: at only 175cm tall (5’9″), she stood 3″ shorter than the current average Olympic women’s outside hitter, adding to the marvel of her achievement.

Mireya is the perfect example of an athlete who, despite her height, refused to let it hinder her progress.

While achieving the same insane jump might be improbable, aiming to come close is worthwhile!

In that article, you’ll encounter numerous instances of shorter outside hitters who successfully made it happen!

Developing Volleyball Skills for Short Players

For those aiming to become a libero, dedicating ample time to passing and digging is crucial.

Additionally, incorporating setting into your practice routine is essential, given the occasional need for you to step in and set the ball.

For those aspiring to play as a setter or outside hitter, an intense focus on enhancing your vertical jump is essential.

There’s simply no avoiding it—essential for success.

How Do You Spike When You’re Short?

When dealing with a low spike height, precision in ball placement becomes significantly more crucial, requiring deliberate actions while spiking.

Given the slim possibility of hitting over the block, focus on practicing aiming for the fingertips and opting for a high trajectory of the hands whenever facing a block.

Depending on your spike height, consistency in hitting sharp cross-court angles may be a challenge, prompting the need to prioritize hitting the ball into the back corners of the court whenever feasible.

How Do You Block When You’re Short?

In technical terms, there’s little out-of-the-ordinary maneuvering possible in this scenario.

Attempting swing blocking whenever feasible becomes an option, often coupled with the hope that the ball won’t be set to the towering 205cm opposite player you’re facing.

Ultimately, being able to jump exceptionally high is likely the key determinant of success in this situation.

Final Thoughts: Best Volleyball Positions For Short Players

The clarity should prevail by now: being short in volleyball, while a significant challenge, doesn’t condemn your aspirations to compete among the world’s best players.

The preferred positions, in order, are libero, followed by setter and outside hitter.

For short volleyball players not inclined towards the libero position, the best advice is to channel all your energy into enhancing your vertical jump.

Success in volleyball might hinge solely on your ability to achieve remarkable jumping prowess!

Also Read: 7 Shortest Female Volleyball Players 2024