In volleyball, the setter controls the offense by turning the first pass into a hittable ball. They should be the most knowledgeable players on the court, have great hands, be quick, and an outspoken leaders on the team. Setting is an important Position in Volleyball (link article)
Mindset
The mindset of a setter is one of the most important aspects of a player wanting to take on this position. This position requires a great deal of composure and mental toughness, as unlike any other position, they will typically be involved in every single play of the game.
If they make a mistake and bury their heads, the team may not recover. If they play for praise and glory, they may not see it that setting isn’t often flashy and doesn’t elicit cheers from spectators, but with a team-first mindset, it can be a gratifying position that makes you invaluable to a program.
Volleyball IQ
When you see a good setter, you may notice they have soft hands that make no sound when they contact the ball overhead. They make sure the ball has no spin and ends up right where the hitter needs it to be.
What you may not see, however, is the amount of court awareness and volleyball knowledge that goes into every play. Each set has a name that requires different placement, speed, and height, and setters must know what each stands for, and listen for those calls from the hitters to make a split-second decision on where the ball is going to go.
They must also use their knowledge and awareness to set the hitter with a better chance at a play-end kill, or at least a player with the consistency to swing over and in the court.
Required Skills
Because their base position is typically right-back, setters must also be great defenders. Since they have a running knowledge of offenses, they tend to use that knowledge to beat the ball and play great defense as well.
A well-rounded setter might also hit while planning the front row, typically on the right-side. It is important to learn How to Improve Your Digging (link article) and How to Improve Your Vertical (link article) to do well as a six-rotation setter.
Putting in the Work
Setting is a skill that anyone can work towards. Every skill in volleyball is achievable with hard work. Improving speed and setting consistency is key, but also having a great, positive mindset and a vast volleyball IQ and the key to elements of becoming a great setter.
Players willing to work hard and become this key component of a program’s offense will find themselves with a secure place on the court.
ALSO READ: The Best Drills to Improve Setting (Link Article)
