Rotato has five defense views in every rotation (Base, OH Block, Middle Block, RS Block and Backrow) and six defense systems: Perimeter, Rotation, Modified Rotation, Man-Up, Middle-Middle and Pinch. Pick a system on the Defense page and Rotato places your block and diggers for each attack; then drag anyone to adjust.
What do the defense views mean?
| View | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Base | Where everyone starts before the opponent attacks. |
| OH Block | Defending their outside hitter: the block forms on your right side. |
| Middle Block | Defending their middle attack. |
| RS Block | Defending their right side: the block forms on your left side. |
| Backrow | Defending a back-row attack, such as a pipe. |
The board shades the block's shadow and draws a lane from the ball to each defender, so you can see what the block takes away and who covers what.
Which defense systems are there?
Perimeter
Back-row defenders stay deep around the edges of the court, and the off-blocker drops off the net. A common starting point for most teams.
Rotation
The defenders rotate toward the attack: the line digger moves up to cover tips, the middle back slides toward the line, and the off-blocker comes in.
Modified Rotation
A milder version of rotation defense: the line defender plays a little shorter to help with tips without leaving the line wide open.
Man-Up
One back-row player moves up behind the block to take tips and off-speed shots, and the other two cover deep. Choose who comes up: the middle back (middle up) or the setter from right back (setter up).
Middle-Middle
The middle-back defender plays in the middle of the court at mid-depth instead of on the end line, because that's where many attacks land.
Pinch
The block pinches in to take away the angle and the seam, and the defenders adjust around it.
Set up your defense
- Open Defense. Choose Defense in the sidebar and pick the team's lineup.
- Pick a system. Choose the team's defense system. For man-up, choose whether the setter comes up instead of the middle back.
- Change single rotations if you need to. Each rotation can use the team's system ("Same as team") or a different one.
- Add a blocking note. Record your blocking scheme for each rotation (Read, Commit, Swing, Spread or Bunch) as a reminder for you and your players.
- Fine-tune on the board. On Rotations, pick a defense view and drag anyone where you want them.
Who plays which defensive spot?
Rotato uses the lineup as it is after your serve, with the serving libero in, and puts players in the usual spots for their role, such as the setter defending right back so she can release to set. Tap a player and use their player card to trade defensive spots with a teammate.
Will changing the system erase my changes?
Switching systems resets the defense positions it affects, so Rotato asks before it does (Switch and reset positions). Your serve receive and offense positions aren't touched.