Four Ways To Improve Your Volleyball Setter Training, A Setter Tutorial

Learn How To Set A Volleyball Better With This Step-by-Step Training Review
 of Each Body Part

Four Ways To Improve Your Volleyball Setter Training (Michael E. Johnston)

Today’s tips and volleyball setter training will review the technique necessary for those players who are looking to become better volleyball setters.

Regardless of age, some volleyball players find this skill easy to learn while others may find the setting technique a bit more difficult to master.

For this reason, I decided to describe what each body part or body section needs to do when performing the skill correctly.

I hope that by using this method you will end up with a checklist of setter training tips that you can always refer to so that learning how to set a volleyball becomes a more enjoyable experience.

What I want for you to be able to do is to check yourself for specific things so that even if you are practicing alone without the help or assistance of a coach or a teammate you can learn how to correct your own setting technique which should help you to reduce your own unforced errors!

(Michael E. Johnston) To begin setting, you should position your feet so that they are shoulder width apart. Not too wide and not too close, but comfortably apart with knees bent slightly.

For each and every skill that you need to perform in this sport, your feet are the most important body part that you need to use.

No matter where you are on the court, you have to use your feet to get to the ball first, right?

The need to use your feet when learning how to set a volleyball is no exception. You will find that what your feet do will determine how well you perform the setting skill.

To begin learning how to set the ball, you should position your feet so that they are shoulder width apart.

Not too wide and not too close, but comfortably apart with knees bent slightly.

For right handers - in this position slide your right foot a couple of inches forward so that it's slightly in front of your left foot.

For left handers slide your left foot a few inches backward. This gives you a better balanced position when you start setting a ball on the run.

Now, let's move up to the positioning of your body's midsection.

Whether you are setting a ball from a stationary position (standing still) or when you have to move to get under the ball, for your midsection--you want to imagine that you have an iron rod or stick that has been inserted in your back.

When contacting the ball get your feet to the ball quickly so you are directly underneath it before you contact it... your straight arms distance above your head ....while keeping your back straight with no bending at the waist and hips. 

Tennessee Volleyball Setter Photo by Tennessee Journalist

This stick starts from the top of your neck and ends just at your tail bone.

This iron rod will prevent you from bending over at the waist, in an effort to lean forward to touch the ball, which means that you can only reach straight up above your ahead to contact the ball keeping your body completely perpendicular to the net. 

During your volleyball setter training you should perform your setting movement making sure the midsection of your body is squared up to the antenna in Zone 4. 

Chest, waist and hips should be "squared up" which means "facing" the left front zone. 

Of course your hands are above your head but your midsection should be positioned so its facing left front. 

During your volleyball setter training your hands should be above your head but your midsection should be positioned so its facing left front towards Zone 4. (Michael E. Johnston)

Your arms should start at your sides slightly bent at your elbows in a 90 degree angle, just like you have them when you run.

If you set a high ball the palms are open to the ceiling but if you set a hut or a "Go" set to the outside then your palms should be open and facing Zone 4. (Photo by Michael E. Johnston)

When the ball is approximately two to three feet above your head you should start to bring both arms up in front of you, and as your arms come up, bring them closer together.

When your hands are just above chest level, they should start to come together so that your index fingers are barely touching and they form the shape of a loose triangle with the thumbs of both hands.

For the front set to the middle blocker your shoulders are right in front of your ears and when back setting your shoulders would be slightly behind your ears. (JMRPhotography)

The correct volleyball setter hand position when they are contacting the ball is for the palms of both of hands to face where the ball is going to be delivered. 

If you set a high ball the palms are open to the ceiling but if you set a hut or a "Go" set to the outside then your palms should be open and facing Zone 4. 

Also when setting the middle and/or back setting the palms of your hands should be facing the ceiling.

For the front set to the middle blocker your shoulders are right in front of your ears and when back setting your shoulders would be slightly behind your ears.  

For the front set to the middle blocker your shoulders are right in front of your ears and when back setting your shoulders would be slightly behind your ears. (photo by Michael E. Johnston)

The forefingers and thumbs on each hand should barely touch each other and they should form the shape of the ball or a broken or loose triangle which is contacted above the top of your forehead.

Follow me on Instagram @coach_apchap to improve your game even faster!

I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list. 

Good times! Where do you need to go now? Here are three options: 

1. Learn more about the Volleyball Setter Position by exploring the Related Links below. 
2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. Or visit the pages in the Volleyball Positions section in the drop down menu at the top of the page. 
4. Reintroduce yourself to Miss Ricci the Raccoon, #5 , the setter and team captain for the All Beast VolleyBragSwag All Star Team. 

Reintroduce yourself to Miss Ricci the Raccoon, #5 , the setter and team captain for the All Beast VolleyBragSwag All Star Team.

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