Rocket League 3v3 Beginner’s Guide

Rocket League 3v3 Beginner’s Guide by AllstarIV

One of my friends is having difficulty grasping the flow of the game so I wrote this up for him to help get him on track. I hope it helps others too!

Positions

There are 3 positions on attack and defense. I do not know if there are actual names for positions, so for the purpose of the guide I decided to name them myself. While in attack there is a Setter, Spiker, and Defender, and while on defense there is an Aggressor, Janitor, and Goalkeeper. We will go over the attacking positions first.

Setter: Brings the ball up the “sidelines” and attacks the ball while in the corner. The goal is to feed the ball from the corner into the middle. Passing against or off the wall works wonderfully to put the ball right in front of goal. Being proficient at wall riding will be very helpful.

Spiker: This player usually sits off center behind the Setter and just inside midfield of the opposing team. The primary role of the Spiker relies on the Setter putting the ball in the middle, then spiking the ball into the goal. It’s similar to a volleyball set and spike, but in this game it is commonly referred to as a slam dunk. A secondary role is to put the ball back into the corner if it gets cleared by defense. Aerial abilities will create far more goalscoring opportunities while in this role.

Defender: The Defender sits in their own half trying to maintain a good position between the ball and the goal in case the ball gets cleared by the other team. It is the Defender’s job to stop any junky long distance goals from going in, while occasionally acting as a second Spiker. This can be risky but sometimes you just have to go for glory. Being comfortable driving in reverse and doing reverse aerials are helpful skills to have.

Transitioning from Offense to Defense is crucial!

Aggressor: The Aggressor is usually going to be the closest player near the ball during transition. This would usually be the Spiker, because he is normally hovering around the middle of the field already. The goal is to slow down the offense and if possible eliminate the counterattack altogether. This player should be doing anything to disturb the counterattack while focusing on playing the ball away from the goal and upfield if possible. Try not to play it perpendicularly off the wall.

Janitor: Named the Janitor because his job is to clean up the trash. This will usually be the Defender in transition. The job is to retreat to goal as soon as possible and defend the goal. If the opposing team plays the ball into the corner, the Janitor’s purpose is to leave goal and clear the ball. If the ball is coming up the middle, the objective is to prevent an easy goal, forcing the ball into the corner or back up field and allowing time for the other teammates to recover.

GoalKeeper: This is usually the last person back in transition and since most counterattacks result from a failed set/spike it will typically be, you guessed it, the Setter or Spiker. The priority is to ignore the ball completely and rush back to goal as soon as possible. Take a little bit of a wide angle to goal (take off ball cam to avoid hitting the Janitor) and come in from behind. The Janitor will clear out of the goal to attack the ball and when he does, it is the GoalKeepers job to remain in goal and provide the last line of defense. If the Janitor is beaten and balls come in off the wall the Keeper should make their best effort to clear it.

Tips

• Frequently rotate between all positions.
• If you ever feel out of position, defend your own goal as quick as possible and regroup from there.
• Do not drive straight to goal if one of your teammates is already there. They are prepared to make a save so take the line to the back post to make sure you don’t hit him (Or take off ball cam to verify).
• Do not hit the ball if you have a teammate that is in a position to hit the ball up the field. If you hit it sideways or backwards, both players could now be out of position and the ball could be centered up for an easy shot by the opposing team.
• Try not to play the ball off the back wall unless you are able to put it up the line. Playing it off the back wall can place the ball in a good area for a spike/slamdunk from the other team. If this does happen, hopefully you don’t get too many “Great Pass!” spams from salty teammates during the replay.
• Don’t hit the ball just to hit the ball. Have purpose in your contacts and allow your team to play their part. It will be a lot more enjoyable when your team isn’t always getting in each others way.

If anyone wants to provide any other tips, or advice, share your comments. Good Luck and Have Fun!