When Should I Call a Timeout During a Volleyball Game?

The Importance of Timeouts in Volleyball

Timeouts are an important tool during competition, allowing coaches to directly affect the game’s momentum and provide direct instructions to their players.

    • Timeouts in volleyball games are usually 30-75 seconds long, depending on the league and tournament rules.
    • Each team can take up to 2 timeouts per set, taken at any time between plays

Studies have shown that “…the correct decision to request a timeout can be decisive in the development and outcome of the game (Horton et al., 2005).”

Principles of Calling Timeouts

Timeouts are most often used to stop an opponent’s run of 1 to 3 points, usually during the mid-game (11-17 points) and end-game (18+ points).

Before calling a timeout, coaches should assess the game situation:

    • The score and score difference
    • Match status (Set 1 vs. Set 2 vs. Set 3)
    • Remaining number of timeouts
    • Team momentum and energy
    • Player performances

5 Reasons to Call a Timeout

    1. When the team is not executing the game plan
    2. When the team is confused and disorganized
    3. To change the pace of the game/try to break momentum
    4. To give players rest
    5. To influence the psychological/emotional status of the players

7 Game Scenarios to Call a Timeout

    1. The opposing team scores three points in a row
    2. The opposing team’s strongest server goes to serve
    3. Players are flustered, disorganized, or unable to focus
    4. A player is crying or slightly injured and needs a moment to recover
    5. You notice the opposing team struggles with digging tips
    6. It enters the end-game (18+ points) and players do not have an uptick in energy
    7. Your team is losing so badly that players lose hope and stop trying

5 Reasons Not to Call a Timeout

    1. The other team is about to win and your team has lost the will to fight
    2. Calling a timeout too early in a run/not trusting your team to bounce back
    3. Calling a timeout from a scarcity mindset (“I don’t want to lose”) instead of an abundance mindset (“I believe we can win”)
    4. You don’t have a specific message to give the players
    5. You get nervous