Dear Volleyball Mom, Do You Know What Sets My Private Volleyball Training Apart From Anyone In Vegas? I invite You to read what my private volleyball training mission says before considering hiring me as a private volleyball coach because I'm not available for everyone.

Volleyball Hand Signals: How A Setter Calls Offensive Volleyball Plays

Setters use volleyball hand signals to call the volleyball plays which are sets delivered at different speeds and locations to hitters to hit along the net.

Dear Volleyball Mom, Did you know your player can Upgrade their volleyball skills with an expert college volleyball prep coach Las Vegas based April Chapple (that's me!) creator of the Breakfast Club for College Players.

The setter is responsible for running her team's offense.

When her team is in service receive, at the beginning of each rally, its her job to tell her hitters what type of set each of them are going to get if

a) she gets a good pass and/or

b) she doesn't get a good pass

Volleyball Offensive Plays
Plays Hand Signals

How does a setter "call a play."

After a rally is finished, when the receiving team is setting up in their receiving pattern the setter uses hand signals to "communicate to each eligible hitter" which type of set they will be getting after the whistle blows and the opposing team has served the ball.

Most hand signals are not complicated. Each hitter knows that each signal is related to the type of set they are going to get because this is something they train for in volleyball practices.

So if a setter shows her left side hitter the number four, then the left side hitter knows she will be getting high ball to Zone 4.

If the middle blocker is shown a hand signal for the number one, then the middle blocker knows she will be getting a quick or a "one" ball in Zone 3.

If the opposite or right side hitter is given a hand signal for the number five then the right side knows she will be getting a high ball set to Zone 2 after the whistle blows and once her team has passed the ball to the setter.

If the opposite or right side hitter is given a hand signal for the number five then the right side knows she will be getting a high ball set to Zone 2

Why Are Hand Signals Used To Call Volleyball Plays?

Hand signals are used to call volleyball plays because...

1. The setter can hide her hand signal behind a players back so the opposing teams blockers can't see what she is calling

2. In noisy gyms its impossible for the setter to talk to her hitters that may be in the back row or on the opposite side of the court. If she uses hand signals then they can run their offensive play without saying a word.

Volleyball Hand Signals:

A setter can "run a play" with a series of slow or fast sets.

While fast sets are lower to the net, slow sets are higher sets pushed 8 - 10 feet well above the top of the net.

Each player on offense will get a hand signal as to the type of set they will get.

When all the hitters are each given a different set to run at various locations along the net and they run the play together that's called a "combination play."

Easy Volleyball Offensive Plays: The Four Set, The One Set, The Five Set

The "4 - 1 - 5" play is the volleyball play most commonly run by setters and is the easiest offensive play to learn.

This a high ball set to each of the front row hitters, except the middle blocker.

The only person who gets a quicker lower set in this offensive combination play is the middle blocker, who on a good pass, will approach the setter with a three-step spike approach and attempt to a hit a quick and low set that's 1-2 feet in the air right in front of the setter in Zone 3.

The "4 - 1 - 5" play is one of the most common volleyball offensive plays run by setters and is the easiest offensive play to learn. (Tennessee Journalist)

The hand signal for the 4-1-5 is easy to learn and understand.

In serve receive, before the server serves the setter holds up four fingers to the left side hitter, then one forefinger to her middle hitter then all five fingers they'll hold up to her right side hitter to call the play.

In serve receive, before the server serves the setter holds up 4 fingers to the left side hitter,1 forefinger to middle hitter 5 fingers to her right side hitter to call the play

The setter holds up four fingers to the left side hitter, then one forefinger to her middle hitter then all five fingers they'll hold up to her right side hitter to call the 4-1-5 offensive volleyball play.

Read more about volleyball plays on these pages.

Volleyball Defensive Strategies How Does Blocking and Digging Work?
Volleyball defensive strategies are used between the front row blockers whose job it is to stop an attacker and diggers dig anything that gets past the block.
Overhand Float Serve Volleyball Tips Score More Aces In Volleyball
With these overhand float serve volleyball tips discover two specific court zones you can serve to in order to increase the chances of scoring more aces.
How to Float Serve in Volleyball: 6 Ace Scoring Tips And Strategies
Learn 6 tips on how to float serve to exploit opposing team weaknesses target weak passers or spot best court placement to increase your chances of scoring aces
5 Hot Offensive Volleyball Strategies For Tipping the Ball For Points
5 offensive volleyball strategies on tipping: push the tip in the block, in a joust be last to touch the ball, tip deep, tip on a good set, tip over the middle.
6 Tactics For Volleyball Serving Success: Overhand Serve For Points
Here are some tactics for volleyball I tell my private clients and team players to keep in mind in order to score more aces from the service line for your team.
Volleyball Back Row Attack: An Offensive Strategy For Setters To Use
These volleyball back row attack rules explain what can happen when your setter decides to set one of her back row hitters during a rally. What can or can't happen.
Volleyball Hand Signal: Fast Plays Setters Run To Zone 4, Z3, and Z2
Learn the volleyball hand signal used by setters to call fast offensive sets to run plays to their left, middle and right front hitters in zone 4, z3, and z2.
Volleyball Offense Strategies For The Various Sets That Setters Run
Learn different types of sets and the volleyball offense strategies that beginner players learn about how to attack balls in volleyball games and matches.
Volleyball Offensive Plays: Set Combinations Setters Use in Offense
Learn the volleyball offensive plays and strategies the setters call so her hitters know what different types of sets she plans to run when she calls the plays.
Volleyball Offensive Strategies, Tactics and Plays That Setters Run
Volleyball offensive strategies, volleyball plays and tactics that setters run from easy to complex, beginners learn setter strategies to run the team attack.
Volleyball Team Communication: What Backrow Players Tell Their Hitters
Volleyball team communication is important because it eliminates court confusion and reduces the amount of easy points the opposing team can score against you.

Improve Your Volleyball Performance with Private Volleyball Coach April Chapple

›

Volleyball Plays Why A Setters Sets Vary In Speed, Height And Location

›

Volleyball Hand Signals: How A Setter Calls Offensive Volleyball Plays

›

Dear Volleyball Mom Do You Know What Sets My Private Volleyball Training Apart From Anyone In Vegas? You should learn what my private volleyball training mission says before considering hiring me as a private volleyball coach because I'm not available for everyone.

SUSCRIBE
To My Email Newsletter Below!

From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend

Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.

utkaprilcollegepiconneylandstadiumvideoboard

Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee, Coach April Chapple is

the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
former USA National team member
one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist

April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match

Coach April's 2025 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training

Pre-Registration now open for 2025 Private and Semiprivate Training Sessions with Coach April . Get prepared for club tryouts or train with me during club season!

Email now for information on semiprivate or private indoor skills, individual or small group training volleyball classes and my Breakfast Club for College Players training for 2025.

Invest in your improvement while preepping for your next level and college goals while working hard and training smart.

Email me right now to register or for more information.

info@improveyourvolley.com

Serving slang is not just about individual techniques; it also relates to overall game strategy. A coach might instruct a player to serve a "short serve" or a "deep serve" to target specific areas of the opponent's court or exploit weaknesses in their serve receive formation.

Ari, my private training client and I are working specifically on serving on jump float cross court serves ...short to Zone 2

There's so much we work on to get to this point where she can contact the ball with

the same toss height and same toss location
the same armswing speed
the same timing for when her serving hand contacts the ball
the middle of the hand contacting the middle of the ball every single time
getting use to watching her serving hand contact the ball at the highest point of her jump ...before she starts to land
and finally contacting the ball in the precise spot on the ball so it goes where the coach wants the player to put it so in this case ..a short serve in the farthest short right corner on the court also called Zone 2.

kamiminerpac12setteroftheyearformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

Tommi Stockham All Big West Conference sophomore former Coach April Chapple private client 3 years

katepriorallwestcoastconferencebyufreshmanformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

I have my own special QR code to my Linktree profile!

Scan to find out what you shouldn't be missing!

Click For More Info

Affiliate Disclosure

If you make a purchase through a link on my site, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

I only recommend products that I believe to have good value. Click to read my

(affiliate disclosure).

Donations Welcome!

If my free social media online training and/or instruction on this site has helped improve your game or meet your goals CLICK the Cash App link below to make a donation!

Thank you!

cash.app/$apchapvcevbc

Dear Vegas Parent

Read my open letter to Las Vegas Jr high/high school volleyball parents about my predictions on individual and small group volleyball training trends for 2019/2021

Hitting Tactics: Hit to the deep corners of the opposing team's court.

Hitting Tactics: Remember Zone 1 and 6 are often quite open during long rallies, so hit high and long aiming for the deep corners of the opposing court.

Hitting Tactics: Learn to hit high contacting the ball at the top of your armswing reach and at the highest point of your vertical jump.

Hitting Tactics: Hit alot of high, deep and long hitting reps in your volleyball practices.

Hitting Tactics: Hit the imperfect set not just the perfect ones. Be aggressive.

Hitting Tactics: Soft tip into the block on purpose.Attack high free balls to the opposing team and reduce the amount of easy balls to them.

Hitting Tactics: Soft tip into the block on purpose.

Hitting Tactics: Save broken plays by having the courage to push the ball into the block to force your teammates to cover and to replay your offensive attack

Tennessee Athletics Honors April Chapple at Champions Weekend for Legendary Volleyball Achievements

From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vegas Volley (@vegas_volley)

Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!

A-1 Vegas Volley VBC

In It To Win It Tournament

May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament

Gold Medalists

18s Premier Division

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vegas Volley (@vegas_volley)

Making A-1 Vegas Volleyball history as the very first TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! In the In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament, A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier Division