Volleyball Coaching Info

Setter Development Part 3

This third installment in the setter development series will focus on developing proper reactions in a setter. Each offensive system is slightly different, so you will have to modify these suggestions for your specific needs. Also, the setter should have developed her/his consistency and know the strategy you wish to employ in your offense. Without these two foundational elements established first, she/he will not be able to effectively develop her/his proper reactions.

The ability of the setter to see the defense and recognize the visual cues is important to maximizing the team’s strengths. It is especially important for the setter to see the middle blocker with her peripheral vision and make the appropriate set. An effective setter must also be able to react to her own players when the pass takes the team “out of system,” or the offense is run audible by the hitters. Reactions are developed both for general situations (i.e. as MB’s move) and specific situations (i.e. vs. a certain team’s defensive schemes).

Drills

Setter react to MB signals MB, on other side of net, holds up fingers and the setter must set appropriately (i.e. MB holds up even #, the setter must set high outside, or if MB holds up odd #, setter must set back side).

1. Setter, MH, and OH’s vs. 3 blockers

From a pass, run different set combinations vs. blockers (blockers give different looks, commit, read, stack, spread, etc.) The setter must emphasize seeing MB and reacting to her movement.

The ability of the setter to take in all the stimuli and react properly is directly related to her/his ability to change from broad focus (seeing and hearing everything) to narrow focus (seeing the ball and getting it to her/his attacker). Hopefully these suggestions will help:

2. Audible drill (setter and 3 attackers)

From a pass, run 3 attackers, each calling her own set. There should be an order of priority for the hitter (i.e. MH calls 1st, OP calls 2nd, OH calls 3rd).

The setter should focus on hearing the calls and reacting (setting). Changes in this drill may include:

Visual cues in setting the middle attack

Set Cue Reaction

1 MB stays down Set the 1

MB jumps with Set outside or to 2nd hitter tempo option

31 MB stays with Set the 31 setter

MB tracks hitter Set back side hitter or setter attack

Slide OH (blocker) Set 1, setter attack, or splits out set outside OH (blocker) Set slide sets up on setter.

1. Adding blockers (setter should focus on setting weakest blocker).

2. Setter must set a certain hitter.

3. Setter must recognize defensive cues and set appropriately.

Feedback and analysis of performance must be given throughout the learning of proper reactions. Also, specific reactions must be created for certain situations involving an opponent’s variations in their defense.

Next month we will look at developing a setter’s ability to deceive the defense.