I'm a setter for 3 teams. I don't get to hit that often.
The Setter
As the cornerstone of every effective offense, the setter needs to be quick and precise. He needs to be able to chase a ball that is passed off of the net and still be able to place it exactly where the hitter needs it. A setter who places the ball in a different place every time, will quickly frustrate the best of hitters.
Along this same line, a setter must know his hitters extremely well. He needs to know their strengths and weaknesses, which sets they can or can not hit. For example, if a hitter has a hard time hitting the ball down the line, then setting the ball tight on the antenna is not a good idea. Also, a setter must know the differences between his hitters and be able to adapt his sets. If one outside hitter is slower than the other, then the setter needs to adapt his sets for each of the players; setting the exact same ball at the same speed and height will hinder one, or both, of the outsides.
A crucial role often adopted by the setter is that of leadership. While it is not necessary for the setter to be the leader on the court, it seems to be a natural extension of his existing duties. The setter coordinates the offense on serve receive, giving commands as to which type of set each hitter will receive and directing players to their positions on the court. In many ways he is the conductor of the team and so it is only natural that he assumes the leadership position.
Crucial Skills
* Setting
* Blocking- On most teams, the outside hitters will receive a majority of the sets. The setter is just as important as the in neutralizing the opposing team's outside hitters.
* Consistency- Hitting is very much based on routine and habit. In order to be most effective, hitters need the ball to be set to the same exact place every time. This includes the height and speed at which the ball is set.
* Agility- Simply put, setters need to be quick on their feet. This is especially true for teams which lack accurate passing because the setter will have to chase a lot of balls. As such, agility is crucial for setters; a bad pass is not an excuse for a bad set.
Secondary Skills
* Passing- With the exception of back court defense, setters pass very few balls. They are never involved in serve receive nor free/down ball passing, nor should they be.
Where did you get this? It was informative. I've been setting a lot more lately & will be running a 6-2 this weekend at the San Jose tournament. What tournaments are you planning on playing this season?
Posted by: V | February 09, 2009 at 02:39 PM
San Jose is this weekend? Cool that you're setting! I'm planning to play Big Apple, Baltimore and waiting to hear on Nationals.
Are you on Facebook?
Posted by: El MarvelOso | February 10, 2009 at 08:48 AM
No, I'm not on Facebook. San Jose was fun! I ran a 6-2 & felt pretty good about my setting for the most part, considering that it's the 1st time I'm setting in a tournament in a really long time!
Wow, you're playing in a few tournaments! I'm hoping to go to Nationals but no solid plans yet.
Posted by: V | March 02, 2009 at 06:00 PM
well, I'm not doing USAV anymore. Our team fell apart due to nerves, injuries and availability. YIKES!
Good for you, regarding the setting!
Posted by: El MarvelOso | March 04, 2009 at 12:03 PM