3.0 Overview

This player is probably starting to attend pick-up games and tournaments regularly to play against and learn from higher level players. This player is starting to display consistency in the skills they're building.

3.0 Rules

This player understands basic tournament rules such as serving rotation, pockets versus rims, and scorekeeping. This player might be starting to understand and implement the soft-touch rule (or consecutive touch rule).

3.0 Serving

This player is able to land medium-paced serves. They might be starting to use a side step before their serve or a cheeky drop serve, but generally aren’t landing these serves consistently.

3.0 Serve Receive

This player understands how to adjust their positioning based on the server’s side step and wind-up. When receiving a standard serve, they are able to control their serve receive most of the time, but might error every so often.

3.0 Setting

This player is still developing setting consistency and precision, but they are able to see where a set needs to go and deliver the set in that direction. When a defensive touch is within ten feet of the net, they are generally able to deliver a good recovery set that their teammate can land on the net.

3.0 Finishing

When a player in this division receives a good set, they are able to land the ball on the net. This player is starting to hit with power or hit a cheeky little drop shot. Their finishes are more controlled and consistent but often without regard of the defenders’ positioning.

3.0 Defense

This player is starting to predict the path of the ball based on the set. They are able to control some defensive touches and run down a high ball. However, this player might struggle to successfully land the ball back on the net from far away.

4.0 Overview

This player is probably starting to attend pick-up games and tournaments regularly to play against and learn from higher level players. This player is starting to display consistency in the skills they're building.

4.0 Rules

This player understands basic tournament rules such as serving rotation, pockets versus rims, and scorekeeping. This player might be starting to understand and implement the soft-touch rule (or consecutive touch rule).

4.0 Serving

This player is able to land medium-paced serves. They might be starting to use a side step before their serve or a cheeky drop serve, but generally aren’t landing these serves consistently.

4.0 Serve Receive

This player understands how to adjust their positioning based on the server’s side step and wind-up. When receiving a standard serve, they are able to control their serve receive most of the time, but might error every so often.

4.0 Setting

This player is still developing setting consistency and precision, but they are able to see where a set needs to go and deliver the set in that direction. When a defensive touch is within ten feet of the net, they are generally able to deliver a good recovery set that their teammate can land on the net.

4.0 Finishing

When a player in this division receives a good set, they are able to land the ball on the net. This player is starting to hit with power or hit a cheeky little drop shot. Their finishes are more controlled and consistent but often without regard of the defenders’ positioning.

4.0 Defense

This player is starting to predict the path of the ball based on the set. They are able to control some defensive touches and run down a high ball. However, this player might struggle to successfully land the ball back on the net from far away.

4.5 Overview

This player has played a lot of roundnet and is starting to implement the the skills required in pro-level matches. This player is becoming highly competitive and probably plays with others in organized pick-up games, leagues, and tournaments fairly regularly. They’re building the ability to know other players’ strengths and weaknesses and are actively working to improve their skills as dedicated roundnet athletes.

4.5 Rules

This player understands and implements the more complex tournament rules such as the soft-touch (or consecutive touch), carries, and pockets on serves.

4.5 Serving

This player no longer relies on one strong serve but has two, three, or more serves in their arsenal or in the works. They serve with more speed and spin than 4.0 players and below. This player is able to notice their opponents strengths and weaknesses and base their serving strategy around attacking those weaknesses.

4.5 Serve Receive

Standard amounts of spin no longer phase this player when they’re receiving a serve. This player can shuffle side-to-side to react to various serves, and their serve receive errors are rare. Most of the time, this player is able to get a weak touch or better on most high-level serves.

4.5 Ball Control & Setting

From within the serving circle, this player is able to consistently set within six inches of the rim and deliver a good set, even with the added challenge of the no-hit-zone. As a setter, this player is starting to notice defensive positioning and set the ball for their teammate to finish away from the defenders. Additionally, this player’s ball control allows them to get the ball back toward the net with their defensive touches and have a strong shot at completing defensive plays.

4.5 Finishing

This player understands and implements successful hitting strategies with the no-hit-zone. With a good set, they are able to read the defense and hit the ball away from them. This player keeps their hitting unpredictable for the defenders by mixing in a variety of shots including powerful hits over the defense, pull shots past the defense, bowlers or push shots, drop shots, backhand flicks, and more. Errors are limited, but every once in a while, the ball hits the rim or an unwanted pocket.

4.5 Defense

This player works together with their teammate to take away as much space as possible and generate defensive touches. They understand multiple defensive strategies and how to adjust to their opponents’ patterns. This player is developing quicker reaction times and occasionally creating out-of-system defensive opportunities.