Proper volleyball setting can be the make or break factor for just about any volleyball team at any level. Oftentimes the development of this absolutely essential but deceptively tricky volleyball skill is neglected…but it shouldn’t be.

Volleyball Setting

Hi, I’m Stein Metzger, former Olympian, FIVB winner, as well as a 2 time Manhattan Beach Open Champion. During my tenure at UCLA, I was fortunate enough to lead what many consider one of the last true collegiate men’s volleyball dynasties when we reached 4 consecutive NCAA finals championships, 3 of which we won.

As I said earlier, I’ve been on a volleyball court most of my life, and over that time I’ve developed a tried and true method for turning good volleyball setters into great ones. I decided to put these methods into a video tutorial and today I’m here to talk about that method, give a brief synopsis of what I say in my videos and to let you have some insight into what it takes to become a great volleyball setter.

To get the full series of twenty four videos on perfect indoor volleyball setting become a member of volleyball1on1.com.

Essentials

Volleyball is as much a game of strategy and skill development as it is a game of power and brute strength. The ball doesn’t just find its way to the other side of the net. A point is the end result of a complex series of rehearsed moves between the players on a team… and as a setter, you are the leader of the team.

It is your job to call the plays and put the ball where it has to go to ensure the point. A setter is in charge of the court…bottom line. But, before you can become the setter on a team, you must first learn how to set.

In videos 1 through 5 I go over the essential moves and types of setting that one must know in order to master the art of volleyball setting:

• Setting up High, Video 1– proper volleyball setting form is key in indoor volleyball. You have to set the ball as high above your head as possible and use all your fingertips to make contact with it.
• Setting Position, Video 2– placing yourself in the right place to get into the action and control the ball and your court is a no brainer. Face the ball as it is in play and never get into a position where you have to chase it.
• Setting Indoor Footwork, Video 3– always be square with your target when you set, try not to set off to your side…you run the risk of being called for a double contact.
• The Back Set, Video 4– if you find yourself in a position where you have to set behind you, practice makes perfect…repetition, repetition, repetition.
• Volleyball Jump Set Tips, Video 5– the jump set is an advanced move…and should only be used when you must get the ball to the hitter very quickly. If you can pull off this tricky volleyball set and use it wisely, then it is a great weapon in a volleyball setters arsenal.

Know Where to Put the Ball

In videos 6 through 11 I discuss the different court positions that you play to as a setter, and how and when they are important.

• High Outside Set for Broken Plays, Video 6– when you want to get a nice high outside ball to a strong outside hitter against a small blockers…this is the set to use
• Fast Outside Set, Video 7– when you have to get the ball to a strong hitter…and fast, you use this set. It takes the defense totally by surprise and can set up a strong outside hitter before the other team even knows what happened.
• Running an Offense, Video 8– identifying the weak blocker and knowing the other team’s weakness is just as important as knowing your own team…be a leader and play to the other sides weaknesses.
• Running the Middle, Video 9– essential to a good offense. Running the middle keeps the defense on their toes and of their guard…they don’t know where they are going to go and it can creates great one on one opportunities for your hitters.
• Setting the Back Row, Video 10– The back row has five different positions that make up great opportunities for different attacks…bottom line, it’s a great opportunity for some strong unexpected attacks.
• Set The Bic, Video 11– the bic has become a very popular place for setters…myself included. It’s a quick back row attack that yields result…a very fast pipe. Also for the history behind the “Bic” set and how Stein and Jeff Nygaard came up with the name and were the first to set it under coach Al Scates – Click Here.

Being a Good Setter Means More than Good Setting

As I said before, there is more to being a setter than just technique and ability…you have to be the one developing the strategy out there on the court. As a volleyball setter you must know what is happening on the court at all times…in videos 12-18 I talk about what it really takes to be a good setter on a volleyball court.

• See the Defense and Vision While Setting, Video 12– use your peripheral vision! Knowing exactly what is happening on the court is essential to a setter. Use your peripheral vision to watch the other players or the ball depending on where your focus is at that time…always be scanning the court.
• Leadership on the Court as a Setter, Video 13– you are the general…end of story. Know the game, know your players, and know the other team. It all comes down to you.
• Dumping as a Setter Part 1, Videos 14 and Dumping as a Setter Part 2, Video 15– a setter is positioned right in front of the volleyball net…and as such they should be utilized as a weapon sometimes.
• Who Sets after a Dig on Defense, Video 16– have a plan as a setter, you can be a good blocker as well.
• Solo Volleyball Setting Drills, Video 17– if you want to get better on your own, and there is no earthly reason why you shouldn’t, take every opportunity that comes your way to use these volleyball setting drills.
• Set Defense First, Video 18– a setter has a great opportunity to be an excellent defender. I loved blocking on the court…I never restricted my job to just being a setter.

Drills and Advanced Volleyball Technique

Videos 19-24 go over some of my favorites volleyball setting drills as well as more advanced topics.

• Setter Footwork for Blocking, Video 19 – Correct footwork for blocking in position 2 as a setter.
• Blocking Hand Position as a Setter, Video 20 – Correct Hand Position when blocking as a setter in Area 2.
• Serving as a Setter, Video 21 – Basic things to consider when serving if you are a setter.
• Jump Serving Instruction and Technique for Setters, Video 22 – Stein coaching jump serving technique.
• Jump Float Serve Technique, Video 23 – Jump float serve technique.
• Front Back Setting Drill, Video 24
• Off Play Setting Drill, Video 25
• Off Play Back Set Technique, Video 26
• One Hand Setting Technique, Video 27

Setting Requires Great Leadership

A volleyball setter is more than just a position on a volleyball court…they are the quarterback, the general, the head honcho in charge of the action.

• A good volleyball setter knows his job entails more than just the mechanics of volleyball setting
• Being a good setter means knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the players on your team and where they shine.
• Being a good setter means knowing the weakness and strengths of the players on the other team and how to exploit them.
• Being a good setter means controlling the action and leading the court…in every way possible

Volleyball setting is an art form and a mentality. One must mater the basics of setting in order to master the more abstract concepts that are required to be the leader on a volleyball court.

Go to volleyball1on1.com to see more videos on the skill of volleyball setting or click the link for my instructional series on beach volleyball setting.