Planning attacks as a setter...

[strazzere]

An artical I wrote back in 04 on volleyballforums.com - still relatively decent I think - just incase anyone wanted to read it.

This summer I was blessed enough to get a couple of lessons from some amazing players and coachs. The Irish Men's National coach (who's specialty is setting) helped me out alot, her name is Mary... the last name is absent from my head right now... Thats not too important though.

Anyway she gave me a beautiful insight on setting. I had my plans before, but this made it so much easier to picture. I'll go over a couple of topics she touched apon...

The "flow" of the game.
Your the brain of the team, the ball always follows your pace after the pass. You can even ask your passers to change thier passing to help you do this. you can set high, low, slow or fast. Anything you want - use this to your advantage!

Ever seen a game that looks so fluid? Beautiful pass, the ball seems to flow without harsh angles... Meaning the pass was going into the same direction as the set - this is bad. People get a feeling for this and anticipate it. Usually the "flow" is the easiest of the sets (often outside). As a setter you want to be thinking in multiple ways. Whats my easiest set? Does the other team know it's my easiest set? Ok, they do - so where should i set now?

By changing the flow of the game you can easily disrupt someones ability to predict, leaving them in a position to get caught somewhere they shouldn't be. If the other team can predict you, your hitters are screwed! The other team will start cheating to the hitter, and it will be much harder for them to make a decent play. If you notice someone is cheating, make them work harder - make them stay true to thier position.

Other strategies might be making thier middle tired. Set outside and week side more than often, make him run and work hard. This can often slow down thier attacks or blocking (if this is a long game).

A more immediate strategy is to confuse the heck out of the blockers. This is done through plays. If your running a 5-1 and are in the backrow you have 3 hitter and two secondary (backrow) hitters. Use them all! Make them confuse the other team. Nothing is easier to block than an outside four, middle quick and a back for. Thats BORING! Mix them up. Flood the middle. Flooding the middle means you have all your hitters, or most come to the middle confusing the blockers. With only a few feet between each hitter it's hard to tell who is getting the ball.

An example of this could be the following play. I've had a middle lefty, if you do - god bless you, you have to love them! Have your outside come in for a 31 (a quick ball 3-4 feet off of you), your week come in for a front quick, and the lefty-middle for a back quick.

Even when the opposing team knows what play it is, it is still VERY hard to choose the right person to block. Worst case scenario for the setter is they give someone the ball and they have one blocker.

The setters "job",

Setters wern't just put there to throw the ball but, they were put there for thier mental skill and ability to plan an attack. By having an arsonal of attacks ready you can always keep the other team on thier toes.
Above anything, you should be trying to get your hitter a one on one chance. If your setting someone the ball and they are CONSTANTLY (the fewer the better, it's impossible to be perfect) being double blocked - you should consider some new plays. If you allow a hitter a one on one you are increasing thier chances drasticly to hit the ball well, and put it away.

In a perfect world you would be giving your hitter no block, thats a god send which will rarely happen, one on one is good enough though. Two on one is not a good thing though, a triple block is just sad... (I am no way saying your a bad setter if your hitters are getting double blocked or triple blocked, sometimes you can only do so much with a team)

The art of distraction,

When running a 5-1 some people believe the setter is just.. well setting? Well - no, they arn't. When they are in the front row they ARE an attacker, let the other team know that. Make sure when you jump set, they are jumping with you and watching you. If they arn't, make them - toss a couple balls at them, hit a few, make them respect you as much as your middle. When they have to watch for you, you can run a very effective quick, so as your coming up - th block is two, then as your coming down with the blocker your middle is hitting away. This will also keep their attention longer so they have less time to make the correct decision to block who and where. Giving your hitters more of a chance of success.

One thing that Mary had not touched apon that I feel very strongly about is using your eyes... It sounds common sense, but some setters don't notice! Don't set your 6 foot middle a two ball when there is a triple block of 3 6'6" guys! They can only tip, and the other team knows that! Playing smart can earn you more than playing safe. If thier setter is in the front row and is short, set your outside, and let him hit line!

Another thing to keep in mind is that some hitters (especially in high school or early college) don't see the court when they hit. They might just be able to see the block and thats it. Tell them what is open. Say "hey man, you got a triple on you, front right is open for you".

Set smart, set safe.

Hope this helps some people out there I know it's improved my game!