Setting is heart of the team, if setter of the team works good other players feel good and can perform their best in attack. Set should be precise, consistent, and coordinate with each attacker, so attackers will trust setter and their approach and jump will be with full mental and physical power. The next point for setting in high level is playing as fast as possible (play fast as long as the game is in your control), it means the time between releasing the ball from setter hands and attacker hits the ball should be as short as possible. So it is better that in all possible situations setter try to set with jump, because not only he/she can run the offense faster but also his body on air can be more on neutral position in order to avoid showing the direction of the set.
Tactically, setter should be aware and clever enough to use strength points of each attacker as much as possible in different rotations, situations and moments of the game, and same time he/she must consider the weak points and the strength points of opponent in block and defense. Variation and creativity are two important characteristics of high level setters that makes different between elite setters and genius setters; remember that “don’t do tactically what you can’t execute technically.”
Technical key points for setting:
- Ready position, focus and ready to move
- Don’t wait for the ball, go to the ball, arrive before ball, jump if it is possible, touch the ball as high as possible
- Neutral body position (don’t show the direction of set with body); in jump sets it is very important that setter jump vertically and doesn’t fly in air. When reception is perfect or good shoulders should face to position 4; even in average receptions.
- Play with relaxed mind and body
- Open elbow as fast as possible; for front set use index and middle finger more, for back set use thumb and wrist more.
- Follow hands through the ball specially for long sets. Movement of fingers, wrists and elbows of both hands should be in full coordination.
- Continue the game flow
Set tempos:
- Tempo “0”: when the setter touches the ball, the attacker is on air or is taking off. Like “A quick”, “B quick”, “C quick”. (the time between release the ball from setter hands and attacker hit is almost 0.25 to 0.4 sec)
- Tempo “1”: when the setter touches the ball, the attacker is taking his/her last step (for instance the right hand attacker is taking his right step). Like Pipe, Slide or one leg attack, Fast ball to antenna. (the time between release the ball from setter hands and attacker hit is almost 0.8 to 1 sec)
- Tempo “2”: when the setter touches the ball, the attacker is starting his approach. Like semi fast ball to position 2 or 4 (the time between release the ball from setter hands and attacker hit is almost 1.2 sec to 1.5 sec)
- Tempo “3” or high ball: attacker look and evaluate the set trajectory and after choose the best time for starting the approach.