Volleyball Retrospective

Review your sprint play by play, from serve to block

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Serves

What did we start?

Started our daily stand-up meetings 15 minutes earlier to accommodate remote team members
Initiated a new code review process that improved our delivery quality
Launched the customer feedback program
Digs

What challenges did we reframe?

Turned the production incident into an opportunity to improve our monitoring
Adapted to sudden requirement changes by implementing flexible sprint planning
Recovered from team member absence by improving our documentation
Sets

What set us up for success?

Our new automated testing framework saved hours of manual work
Regular knowledge sharing sessions improved our collective expertise
Clear documentation made onboarding new team members smoother
Spikes

What winning moves did we make?

Delivered the major feature release ahead of schedule
Achieved 100% test coverage on core modules
Received excellent feedback from key stakeholders
Blocks

What issues did we prevent?

Prevented potential security breach by updating dependencies early
Avoided sprint overload by setting realistic capacity limits
Prevented technical debt accumulation through regular refactoring

What is the Volleyball Retrospective?

The Volleyball Retrospective reviews your team's work the way a coach reviews a match, one type of play at a time. Each column is a move from the game. Serves are the initiatives the team started. Digs are the challenges you recovered from and turned around, like a production incident that led to better monitoring. Sets are the enablers: the tools, practices and support that set others up to succeed. Spikes are the wins, and Blocks are the problems the team headed off before they landed, such as updating dependencies before a security issue. The format gives credit to work that usually goes unnoticed. In volleyball the setter rarely scores, but most attacks depend on a good set, and the Sets and Blocks columns do the same for the people who keep your team running. It suits a team that likes sports metaphors or wants a change from its usual retro.

Volleyball Retrospective Format

Serves

What did we start?

A serve starts the play, so this column is for the initiatives, ideas and projects the team started. Ask how well each one was launched and what effect it's had so far.

Digs

What challenges did we reframe?

A dig keeps the ball in play after a hard hit. Use this column for challenges the team recovered from, and ask how it adapted and what it learned.

Sets

What set us up for success?

Setters create chances for others to score. Ask which processes, tools or people set the team up to succeed, so you can keep them in place.

Spikes

What winning moves did we make?

Spikes win the points. Celebrate the team's achievements, then ask what made each one possible.

Blocks

What issues did we prevent?

Blocks stop the other side scoring. This column is for problems the team prevented, so ask which preventive steps paid off and where else the same approach would help.

When to use this retrospective

  • When your team needs a change of pace from its usual retrospective
  • After a project phase where different people played distinct roles
  • When you want to recognize the support work that made the wins possible
  • When your team responds well to sports analogies

Suggested icebreaker questions

  • If our team were a volleyball team, what position would you play and why?
  • What's your favorite sports moment where teamwork made all the difference?

Want a warm-up your team plays, not just answers out loud? Browse free icebreakers →

Ideas and tips for your retrospective meeting

  • Ask about both individual and team contributions. In volleyball, a point needs both
  • Explain each play at the start for anyone who doesn't follow the sport
  • Rotate positions: go around the room so each person gets time to speak
  • Timebox each column to keep the pace up
  • Treat Digs as recoveries, not failures, so the discussion stays on what the team learned
  • Give Sets and Blocks as much attention as Spikes. That's where the quieter work gets credit

Frequently asked questions

What is the Volleyball Retrospective?
It's a retrospective that reviews your work as volleyball plays: Serves (initiatives started), Digs (challenges recovered from), Sets (enablers), Spikes (wins) and Blocks (problems prevented).
When should a team use the Volleyball Retrospective?
Use it after a project phase where people played different roles, when the team wants a change from its standard format, or when you want to recognize support work alongside the wins.
How do you run a Volleyball Retrospective?
Explain the five plays, then give everyone a few minutes to add notes privately to each column. Group similar notes, vote, and turn what you learned from Digs and Blocks into one or two actions with an owner.
Do you need to know volleyball to take part?
No. A one-line explanation of each play is enough, and the column prompts tell people what to write.
How long does a Volleyball Retrospective take?
Plan for 60 minutes. Five columns is more than most formats have, so timebox each one.

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