Most important rule

Tag exactly one key per contact. If one swing is a kill, press Z only. Do not press A and then Z for the same swing, because the kill already counts as an attack attempt.

How to Tag Volleyball Plays Correctly

Last updated: July 2026 · VolleyTag

What tagging means

Tagging is the act of recording what happened on a volleyball contact while you watch the match. One tag represents one player making one contact with one outcome.

The goal is not to describe the whole rally with one button. Select the player, press the key for that contact, then move to the next contact: serve, receive, set, attack, block, or dig.

Keyboard layout

Group	Keys
Errors	`Q` = Attack Error`W` = Serve Error`E` = Dig Error`R` = Block Error
Actions	`A` = Attack`S` = Serve`D` = Dig`F` = Block Touch
Points	`Z` = Kill`X` = Serve Ace`V` = Block Point
Setting	`T` = Assist`Y` = Assist Error
Receive	`0` = Out`1` = Poor`2` = Good`3` = Perfect

Selecting the player

Use Numpad 1-9 or Shift+1-9 to pick the player before you tag the contact. The roster is ordered by position: setter, outside hitter, middle blocker, opposite, then libero. The number shown on screen is always the key for that player.

Accuracy rules

One key per contact keeps your stats correct

Attack attempts are counted as kills + errors + neutral attempts. A kill and an attack error already count as attempts on their own. For each swing, press exactly one key:

Z if the attack scored a kill
Q if the attack was an error
A if the attack stayed in play or did not immediately score

Pressing A and then Z for the same swing double-counts the attempt and drags hitting efficiency down. A match with 40 swings should have Z + Q + A = 40.

Serves work the same way. Press exactly one of X for an ace, W for a serve error, or S for a neutral serve.

Pass quality 0-3

3 = Perfect

Setter can run any play.

2 = Good

Setter has the ball but options are limited.

1 = Poor

Setter is forced and the offense is predictable.

0 = Out

The ball is not in play after the receive.

How reports compute each stat

Hitting Efficiency

(Kills - Errors) / Attempts

Pro outside hitters are often around +.250; elite middles can be +.350 or better.

Kill %

Kills / Attempts

Shows how often swings become points before subtracting errors.

Attack Error %

Errors / Attempts

Elite attackers keep this under .150.

Serve Efficiency

(Aces - Serve Errors) / Total Serves

Elite servers are usually above +.100.

Avg Pass Quality

Mean of the 0-3 ratings

A quick read on first-contact quality.

Positive Reception %

(Q2 + Q3) / receives

Elite passers are above 60% positive.

Perfect Reception %

Q3 / receives

Elite passers are above 30% perfect.

Reception Error %

Q0 / receives

Tracks serves that knocked the ball out of play.

Dig %

Digs / (Digs + Dig Errors)

Measures controlled digs against dig chances recorded in VolleyTag.

Set Efficiency

(Assists - Assist Errors) / (Assists + Assist Errors)

Elite setters are usually above +.700.

Points

Kills + Aces + Blocks

The direct scoring plays credited to a player.

The Player Distribution chart only includes players with at least 3 attempts, receives, or serves, so lightly-used players may not appear there.

Worked rally example

Select your server with Numpad or Shift number, then press S for a serve kept in play.
Select the passer, then press 2 for a good receive with limited options.
Select the setter, then press T for an assist if the next attack scores.
Select the attacker, then press Z for the kill.

The key sequence for that rally is S, 2, T, Z, with a player selected before each contact. Do not add A after Z; the kill already counted the attack attempt.