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How to Set Up Your Team Roster

Your volleyball roster setup is the two minutes of prep that makes everything after it work — every stat, every rotation report, every player name is tied to the roster you build before the first serve. Here is how to set it up correctly, and the two small mistakes that stop a match from starting.

Updated July 2026 · By the Volleyball Code team

Volleyball roster setup — illustrated guide from Volleyball Code

Volleyball roster setup, step by step

A clean roster is what lets the app credit each touch to the right player and build accurate per-player and per-rotation stats later. It takes about two minutes and it is the one part of the workflow that uses a keyboard instead of your voice. Do it once before the match and you are set for the whole game.

Step 1 — Name both teams

Start by giving each side a name — your team and the opponent. The names are how you will call actions out loud later ("Team A", "Team B"), and how every report is labelled, so use something you will recognise at a glance. You can record stats for both teams, which doubles as a built-in scouting picture of your opponent.

Step 2 — Add your players and jersey numbers

For each team, add the players who will be on court, entering each one's jersey number. The number is the key the app listens for — when you say "number 9 kill," it matches that touch to the player wearing 9. A few things to get right here:

Enter the number they actually wear. The spoken number and the roster number have to match, or the stat lands on the wrong player.
Add your full playing group, including liberos and subs you expect to use — not just the starting six.
Names are optional but worth it. A name makes the post-match report far easier to read than a wall of numbers.

Step 3 — Pick your starting rotation

Set who starts in each of the six court positions. This is what makes your rotation stats meaningful — the app tracks which rotation you are in as the match rotates, so getting the starting order right means every later "which rotation is leaking points" answer is trustworthy. If rotations are new to you, the app walks you through the position selectors when you set up the match.

The two mistakes that block a match from starting

The app validates your roster before it lets the match begin, and it will stop you for exactly two reasons. Knowing them in advance saves the last-minute scramble at the whistle:

Fewer than six players on a team. Volleyball is played six-a-side, so each roster needs at least six valid players before the match can start. Add the missing players and the block clears.
Duplicate jersey numbers on the same team. Two players sharing a number would make every stat ambiguous — the app can't know which "number 7" you meant. Give each player a unique number and you are good to go.

Both checks exist to protect your data, not to slow you down. A roster with six-plus players and no duplicate numbers guarantees that every touch you call for the rest of the match attaches to exactly one player — which is what makes the stats worth reading afterward.

You're ready to record

With both rosters built, valid, and your starting rotation set, the setup is done — you won't touch the keyboard again. From here you hit record and call the match by voice. If you haven't seen how that part works, walk through how to record a volleyball match by voice next, and you'll have a full match tracked without ever looking down at a screen.

Frequently asked questions

How many players do I need to add before I can start a match?

At least six per team. Volleyball is played six-a-side, so the app requires six valid players on a roster before it will let the match begin. Add your liberos and expected subs too.

Why won't my match start?

The two most common reasons are a team with fewer than six players, or two players sharing the same jersey number. Fix either one and the match will start.

Do I have to enter player names, or just numbers?

Numbers are what the app listens for, so they're required and must be unique per team. Names are optional but make your post-match report much easier to read.

Can I set up rosters for both my team and the opponent?

Yes. Setting up both teams lets you record the full rally and gives you stats on the opponent as well — effectively a scouting report you build just by coding the match.

Set your roster and start coding

Build your roster once, hit record, and call the rally. Volleyball Code ties every stat to the right player automatically. Track 2 full matches free.

Start free →