Qualities To Look For in A Setter

Qualities to look for in a setter.
The setter is your quarterback, so you need to look for specific qualities when seeking someone to run
your team.
Of course, she must have good hands, coordination, speed and flexibility. But there are other factors
to consider in picking your setter.
1- If at all possible, you must find someone with emotional stability. Your setter must remain calm
under pressure, and not experience dramatic mood swings that will effect her performance. Part of her
job will be to motivate and encourage everyone else when things aren’t going well.
2-She must be intellegent, and understand the game well enough to make smart setting decisions.
She needs to be able to perceive the overall picture of each play and of the game as a whole.
3-She needs to be confident in her own ability, and have the belief that if she takes charge of a given
situation, she can have a positive impact.
4-She has to have broad shoulders, and be able to take the pressure away from more volatile players.
(I.E. taking responsibility for hitting errors in critical situations.)
5-By putting her own ego second, she needs to be able to make everyone around her feel like they
are better players, such as making hitters believe that all putaways are the results of great hits, but
all hitting errors are the results of poor sets.
Finding a setter with all these qualities is difficult, but if you can find her, she can make a huge
difference in your team’s success.
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Iradge Ahrabi-Fard´s Sample Practice
University of Northern Iowa coach, Iradge Ahrabi-Fard, recommends the following outine for a
practice:
1-Warm up (Jogging, stretching, and ball warm ups like wall ball or pepper.)
2-Main work out (Involving review of the last skill worked on previously, drills geared toward a specific
phase of the game, and serve/receive drills.)
3-Intense game drills (Incorporating all phases of the game.)
4-On court conditioning (Strength training such as push ups, sit ups, etc.; speed training like sprints,
power training, such as plyometric jumping, and agility training, such as rope jumping and foot
movement.)
5-Cool down ("Active rest," such as slow jog and stretching.)
6-Dismissal (Putting away equipment, final comments and verbal dismissal.)
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Assessing Passers
Here’s a method for assessing passers at the beginning of the season:
Have two passers on one side of the net, along with a target player, to give them someone to pass to.
Serve fairly quickly to the 2 players, having an assistant keep stats on each serve. Give a + for a
perfect pass, one a setter could use to run a center attack with, a - for a shanked pass, and 1/2 for a
pass high enough for the setter to put the ball into the air for some kind of set.
Use the player’s first initial, so you’ll be able to tell who passed each ball. If your players were Misty
and Kim, the stats would look something like this: M+, K1/2, M+, K-, M-, K+, etc.
Keep the drill moving, stress accuracy. If you can’t find a consistent server, you can run the drill by
just tossing the ball over.
This will give you a quantifiable gauge in assessing your players’ passing abilities.
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Tips for Center Back Defenders
The center back is critical to any team’s defense. As a CB, you have the best view of what’s
happening. You’re like the center fielder in a baseball game. You get to see everything unfold, and are
in the best position to react, or to call out what you’re seeing so your teammates can react.
Here’s a few tips for playing effective CB:
1-Stay back! Cheating up is easy to do, but can be fatal, since CB is responsible for everything deep,
sideline to sideline. If you cheat up, you can’t cover deep effectively.
2-Talk! Since you have the best view of the action, tell your teammates what you’re seeing, so they
can react.
3-Call "in" and "out" on every ball, so teammates can make quick decisions on whether to play it or
not.
4-Call all touches when you see them, so teammates can react quickly.
5-Make plays on anything close. CBs must be fearless, and willing to sacrifice their bodies to keep the
ball in play. You’re often the last resort, and can make the difference between winning and losing with
spectacular saves. Remember the old adage: "Make the play first, then decide if it was impossible."
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The Most Important Muscle for a Volleyball Payer to Develop
Speak in Tongues
Here’s some tongue-in-cheek advice on communication:

What’s the most important muscle for a volleyball player to develop? Their tongue! Communication is
critical to the 9th degree. If you’ve taken a vow
of silence, join a monastery ... but don't play volleyball!
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How to Keep Jammed Fingers to a Minimum
Finger Stretches
How to keep jammed fingers to a minimum:
We all do warm up stretches but only the wise players
think to stretch their fingers despite what we put
them through. Place your hand flat on the floor and
gently pull up on each finger until you have stretched
it. It can help prevent jams, which inhibit your
playing ability.
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Introducing A Skill
According to Carl McGown, longtime coach of BYU’s powerful Men’s volleyball team, here’s a program
for introducing players to a new skill:
1- Have a skilled player demonstrate the skill 5-6 times. Have your players view the skill from several
different vantage points.
2- Break the skill into "keys to remember." That is, finer points within the main skill. Go through those
keys individually with players, emphasizing each key as you go.
3- Have players attempt the skill, offering feedback on the things they do correctly.
4- Show the keys again, have the skilled players demonstrate the keys and the entire skill several
more times.
5- Have players attempt the keys again, in succession, individually, offering feedback as they go.
6- Have players go through the entire skill, using all the keys, in a gamelike situation, still offering
feedback.
7- Answer any and all questions regarding the skill before moving on to the next item on your agenda.
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Teaching setters a soft touch
Once your setter has gotten the motion down, has learned all the basic skills, and is ready to move to
the next level, consider having her set at least part of the time wearing a pair of cotton gloves.
The gloves will make it nearly impossible for her to use anything but her fingertips to set, and force
her to use proper technique when setting.
She can take them off after an initial session, but it’s worthwhile to have your setter work with the
gloves for a brief period everyday, especially at the beginning of the season, when she’s working
hardest on perfecting her technique.
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Rotation
Rotation
A coaching tip on setting your starting line-up:
Start your best hitter in position #5 to maximize their front row time.
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Assessing Servers
You can assess servers simply by having them serve 50 balls and keeping record of how many they
got in.
A second, more advanced assessment can be made by keeping stats for each serving area. Have them
serve 10 to Area 1, 10 to Area 2, etc., and keep stats on their accuracy.
A third assessment tool is to play a game of "golf," keeping track of how many serves it takes to hit all
six serving areas. A perfect score would be 6, of course, but that rarely happens. Have each player
keep track of how many serves it took for each area, and tally up the result at the end. This will not
only tell you which players are the most accurate, but also which areas even your best servers still
need to work on.
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Physical Qualities to Look For In Your Setter
When trying to fill your setting role, here’s some suggestions of what to look for:
1) Great athletic ability. Quick, powerful, with good perception skills and peripheral vision.
2) A great pair of hands, allowing total control over each set, and the ability to move into a position to
allow the hands to do most of the work.
3) Good size. It used to be the coach would walk down the line of would-be players, pick out the
smallest player and say, "You’re our setter." But it’s better to have a setter who can do more things,
like tipping, jump setting or even turning to crank, at times.
4) Good spatial orientation, which means knowing where everyone is, on both sides of the net, at all
times.
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Basic Charts You´ll Want To Keep
To know if your program and players are moving in the right direction, you’ll need to keep several
charts. In our program, we keep just a few basics, in no small part because we always have difficulty
finding people to help keep stats for us. (A constant problem among programs not listed among the
"elite.")
We keep a serving chart, with simply + or - signs, for successful or unsuccessful, and we circle our
aces. That’s it. In our program, we’re happy just to have the ball over the net, so we don’t call our
servers to hit certain areas. If you do, you’ll want to add notations about which area the ball was hit
to.
We keep stats on hitting, which also gives us assists at the same time. We put the number of the
setter next to the hit, with an M, R, L, or BR (Back Row)each time a player hits. Then we mark the hit
with a + (kill), - (error) or 0 (hit was returned).
Our dig chart is very simple, as well. We mark a successful dig with a "D," and a ball that was simply
touched by a player with a "T." That lets us know the player made an effort to get the ball. We count
"D’s" as one dig, and "T’s" as 1/2. A 3rd mark, "-," tells us the player made no play on the ball, and
we address that lack of hustle in the next practice session. (Digs are only counted on hard-driven
spikes, not serve receives.)
Our last chart is for blocks, and consists of "S" for solo blocks, "A" for assisted blocks, and "E" for
errors. If the stat keeper can’t tell who actually made the block when 2 blockers are involved, we have
them both credited with and assisted block. That takes the pressure off the statisticians. (Blocks must
hit the ground for point or side out to count.)
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Assessing Setters, Part 1

Finding a setter is important, so you’ll take more time to find the right one.
The first test is simple. Have them stand at the net, toss them a ball, and have them set high outside.
Keep track of how many they get out of 25.
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John Wooden´s Theory of Everyday Practice
Legendary coach John Wooden summed up his philosophy of practice in his book "They Call Me
Coach:"
"The best teacher is repetition, day after day, throughout the season. The player who practices well,
plays well."
"End practice on a happy note. It’s a game, it should be fun. I want players to feel that the worst
punishment I can give them is to deny them the privilege of practicing. If they don’t want to practice,
I don’t want them there."
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To 5-1 or not to 5-1
Especially at the high school level, coaches often have to wrestle with the fact that they just don’t
have two varsity-level setters. And that always brings up the dilemma: should you go with a 5-1, or
stay with the 6-2 and hope for the best?
There are two strong schools of thought: The first says to go ahead and use the 6-2, because the
second player will eventually gain enough experience to become a varsity-level player.
But the second assumes that 2nd setter will never make the grade, and it’s best to go 5-1 with the
strong setter you now have.

Subscribers to the first theory say it’s important to keep bringing setters along, because eventually
that setter will graduate, and you’ll be left with no one who has varsity experience.
Believers in the second group look at short-term results, and feel a new setter can be groomed a little
at a time, without throwing that player into the fire when they’re not ready. In the meantime, they
say, the team will do better with a strong setter all the way around.
Which tack is best for your team? Ultimately, you’ll have to decide for yourself, but in the meantime,
you’ll hear empassioned opinions on either side of the debate.
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Step 5 in your setter assessment process involves tossing the ball very tough, and having your setters
chase it down, making any kind of set. Make it tough for them, you need setters who won’t give up,
no matter what, and who can get the ball up somewhere, high enough for someone to hit it.
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Setting Goals, Part 3
Once we’ve set the goal for that particular season, we turn our attention to the younger players who
will be in the program for a couple or more years, and begin to ask for longer term goals.
"We’ll move into the upper division of our conference, then move on in the play-offs, then go to
state," for instance, sets a 3 year goal. But we temper that with "at the minimum," so we allow
ourselves the opportunity to surpass our goals. We don’t want to just do enough to accomplish the
goal when we’re capable of doing more.
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The second test, after you’ve determined how accurate your potential setters are at the high outside,
is to toss them 25 balls, and have them see how many accurate back sets they can execute.
All the assessments should be done over the course of several days, to allow for someone having an
off day.
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Step 4 is to give the setters tough sets, off the net, and have them go high outside, regardless of
where the ball is picked up.
This will give clues as to their athleticism and desire.
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Assessing Setters, Step One
Setters are the quarterbacks of your team, so you have to evaluate potential setters on many levels.
But the first is their hand-eye coordination and ability to put the ball where they want it to go.
You can assess potential setters’ hands with some simple tests:
1-Have setter stand at net, have a player toss balls at them, which they set high outside to a player,
standing at a spot where a hitter would hit from, but instead of hitting, they simply catch the ball.
After 25 sets, record the number of sets that went perfectly to the catcher.
2-Run the same drill, but have the player backset high outside. Record the results.
There are many other factors involved in finding your setter, but this is step one.
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When to Yell
It’s been said that a coach yells when they’ve reached the limits of what they know. Especially at the
varsity level, it’s usually not effective or helpful to yell at your players after they’ve made an error. If
they’re varsity players, they already feel bad enough for making a mistake. They’re punishing
themselves in their minds, and reprocessing the information they’ve just gathered in order not to
make that mistake again. It is counterproductive to add guilt or anger to that mix. Better to let them
work it out, offer encouragement, and let them move on.
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Basic Coaching Tips
If you’re a beginning coach, here’s a few basic ideas of how to conduct your affairs:
Treat everyone the same, but not exactly.
Delegate tasks, but supervise everyone.
Discipline, but always toward success.
Pursue excellence in everything you do and say.
Don’t get emotionally involved in failure.
Always support individual integrity.
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Hebert´s Player Types, Part 5
When thinking about where to place players on your team, think in terms of basketball. Your stud is
comparable to the big guy in the middle, the fiery one who blocks shots and can stuff rebounds back
with thunderous slam dunks. Your winner is comparable to the point guard, who runs the team and
can make things happen when the team needs a boost. Your stablizers are the players on the wings
who quietly score 20 points, amazing everyone at the end of the game with how much they actually
contributed to the victory.
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Everyone knows about goal setting, but 90% of folks
never really set clear goals for themselves. As a
coach, that can hurt program.
We meet with our players at the beginning of each
season, and ask them what they think a realistic goal should be for the season. Invariably, they say,
"Go to state." We tell them that’s an admirable goal, but for a team that has only had 3 winning
seasons in school history, is it a realistic goal?
That’s the key to your goal setting: the goal must be realistic and attainable.
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Focus on the competition
Here is a simple tip I picked up from an Italian pro team to help focus your players on the
competition.
When your team is going through its pre-game stretching don’t line them up in a circle facing each
other. Instead have them all face their opponent across the net while they stretch. This helps them
focus and get familiar with their opponent. In some cases it will intimidate the other team.
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A third setter assessment will involve calling out which way you want the set to go, so you can gauge
how quickly they can execute a manuever.
Call out "outside" or "back," being careful not to get into a rhythm, and have someone record how
accurate the sets are.
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Assessing Passers
To assess passers at the beginning of the season, have 2 players line up in the back row, with a target
person in center front.
Serve 25 balls to each of them, first from the opposite 10’ line, and then from the endline, having
someone keep stats.
Players get a + for a pass within 3’ of the target, a - for a shank or bad pass, and 1/2 point for a good
effort on a difficult serve.
Total up the stats on several consecutive days, and you’ll have an idea who your passers will be.
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Call It A Pass
It’s a "Pass," not a "Bump"
Here’s some sage advice for coaches:
Never refer to the underhand pass as a "bump." Calling
it a bump promotes the mindset of swinging your arms

at the ball rather than "passing it, Thanksgiving
dinner style, to your setter.
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When To Laugh
I’ll never forget my first tournament as a high school coach. I was coaching the freshman team, and
the other team had just taken a time out at a critical juncture.
We’d been handling our opponent easily, so the mood in the huddle was relaxed ... a little too relaxed,
I thought. So I put on my "stern coach" face and began my "knuckle down, it ain’t over till it’s over"
speech.
After a few seconds, I began a sentence by saying, "I don’t want you guys to hate me, but..."
One of the players instantly interrupted, saying, "But we already hate you, coach!"
The entire team cracked up, went back onto the court and took care of business. I learned at that
moment that huddles don’t always have to be intense. When the game is flowing in your direction, it’s
often better just to keep the team loose and the mood of the huddle light.
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Tennis Ball Wall Toss
Developing Ambidexterity - Tennis Ball Wall Toss
All players, especially setters, can benefit from becoming even slightly ambidextrous. To begin the
practice, throw a tennis ball against a wall with your natural hand and then try to mimic the motion
exactly with the other hand - practice and patience makes perfect.
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Hebert recommends trying to find a stud as middle blocker, a winner as setter, and then carefully
analyzing all your remaining players in light of the 3 player types.
Given a choice between a more talented athlete and a player who will add stability to your team
through attitude and hard work, Hebert recommend going with the less talented athlete who can add
stability and quiet confidence to your team.
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According to Hebert, the 3rd type of player is the "Stabilizer." They’re players who stay calm in the
face of adversity, and are rarely the players who will hurt you in a situation, even though they’re not
dominant enough to be called studs.
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Assessing Servers
Assessing servers is merely a matter of having them first serve 25 balls, to see how many they get
over. Then you have them serve to each of the 6 areas, keeping tabs on how many serves it takes in
each area.
Do this over several days, and you’ll know who your consistent servers are, for when you just need
the ball over, and who your accurate servers are, for when the ball must go to a particular area.
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Brainstorm Potential Disasters

What If?
As a team, use "down time" during travel and between games to play "What If?" We sit down and
brainstorm potential disasters (i.e., what if we forget our
practice balls and arrive at a tournament that doesn’t supply them?). Then we work up solutions (i.e.,
borrow from team X during this tournament). In this way you’re prepared when disaster strikes. (It’s
saved my teams numerous times.)
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Ideas for your first server
Service’s Up
Ideas for your first server:
Start your best server as your first server, to bring
them in to serve as often as possible.
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Videotaping Your Players
Don’t overlook the importance of videotaping your athletes. It can make coaching technique much
easier.
It’s one thing to tell a hitter, "You’re dropping your left arm before you go into your armswing," but
it’s quite another, and much more effective, to be able to show that hitter on a television screen.
Seeing their mistakes is a powerful tool for getting athletes to make changes. Then, as you show them
video of them performing a skill correctly, they can learn to do it more often.
Use video as a training tool ... it can save a great deal of time and frustration, for your athletes and
your coaching staff.

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In a high school program, it’s difficult to set long term goal, because typically your team will change
drastically every couple years. It’s not like college ball, where you can go out and recruit in order to
attain your goals.
So we first talk with the team, asking what a short-term goal should be, such as "moving to the upper
division of our conference."
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Knockout Punch
Knockout Punch
Here’s some coaching strategy for when you have a
team on the run:
When you have a team on the ropes, try to speed up
your game (shorter delays to serve, faster sets, etc.)
to keep them from recovering.
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Save on Injuries during Practice
Gates
Save on injuries:
A good addition to a volleyball practice are small
2 1/2’ x 21/2’ mesh fences to place around the hitting
area to keep balls from rolling underfoot (and
possibly costing you a hitter via a blown ankle).
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Assessing Blockers, Part 2
Step 2 in blocker assessment is to have your blockers try to stuff as many as they can out of 25, with
your hitting line instructed to hit only line shots.
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Preparing For Icebergs
"Practice for Icebergs"
Here’s some good coaching advice that can help your team win more games:
Always be prepared for disaster at the net and spend
some time working out solutions in controlled practices
rather than critical games.
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The second type player, according to Hebert, is the "Winner." Winners run the offense, and if you can
get a winner as your setter and a stud as your middle blocker, you’re well on your way to success.
Winners have a "go for it at all costs" philosophy, and never give up, no matter what the situation.
That’s why your setter is a prime candidate. But you want to populate your team with as many
winners as possible.
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Emergency Moves
Emergency Spear
Here’s a tip from hyo-sen on emergency moves, which
come up in every game, and are difficult to execute
if you haven’t practiced them over and over:
All players, especially setters, should practice using
all arm and hand parts for emergency recoveries from
the net.
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Keeping a Setter Towel On Hand
Keeping A Setter Towel Handy
Here’s a tip about sweat (you do sweat when you practice, don’t you?):
When practicing multiple reps, it's a good idea for the setter to fold a small handtowel into their waist
band to wipe their hands, face or floor if the
sweat is really flying!
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Step 3 in blocker assessment involves finding your middle blockers, which is critical to your team’s
success. Have one player set up on the angle, and the prospective middle at center front.
On each signal, have the middle rush outside, close the block and see how many they can stuff out of
25.
Do this right and left side, to test mobility each way.
Do all your assessments over several days, and keep a running total.
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Assessing Setters - Step Two
After you’ve determined who has good hands, you’ll need to assess quickness and agility. You can do
this by having your setter begin in Right Back and making a quick move to Center Front to set.
Toss the ball to CF, have the setter move from RB to CF quickly and set the ball outside, where
another player catches it. Run the assessment drill with front sets, and then back sets and record the
results.
This will give you clues as to hustle, desire, quickness and agility, as well as accuracy in your potential
quarterback/setter.
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Set the Jousting Zone
Jousting Zones
Get a feel for "jousting zones," where many games are won and lost:
On balls passed into the "jousting zone" at the top of the net a front row, your setter should always
attempt to make a jump set, even if it’s just to draw an infringement call from the referee. You may
get some balls you normally would have lost to a pound from the other side.
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The Great Kneepad Debate
There has always been a debate on whether or not to have players wear kneepads. Great cases have
been made on both sides, but the arguments boil down to these basic philosophies:
The "anti-kneepad" coaches believe wearing kneepads makes players lazy, allowing them to slide of
their knees to make difficult plays rather than moving their feet and getting into proper position well
before such an emergency measure is necessary.
The "pro-kneepad" contingent believes kneepads encourage players to hit the floor and be more
aggressive in going after balls they might normally not pursue if they were concerned about getting
hurt.
Both sides have strong cases, and the debate will probably never cease. You’ll have to make an
individual judgement for your team.
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Blocking is very important, so you’ll spend quite a bit of time on choosing your best players.
First, have a player line up across from a line of hitters. Instruct all your hitters to hit angle, and count
how many blocks the blocker gets out of 25 attempts.

Motivational Thoughts
More motivational thoughts:
Don’t shy away from challenges ... facing them is the only way you can improve.
Look inside for your strength, then share that strength with others.
Always maintain your sense of humor, share it with others when things get too intense.
Make the play first, then decide if it was impossible.
Admit your mistakes. It shows character and inner strength.
Remember, loyalty is a two-way street.
Keep all things in perspective.
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Motivational Thoughts From John Wooden
Here’s a few thoughts from one of the greatest coaches of all time. Although he didn’t coach
volleyball, the principles are still the same:
"You can’t have a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay
you."
"Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out."
"Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do."
"A true athlete should have character, not be a character."
"First get ready - then your chance will come."

"It’s what you learn when you know it all that really counts."
Some thoughts to ponder, from his book "They Call Me Coach."
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Types of Players
In his book, "Spike!" Doug Beal, coach of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Men’s Volleyball Team,
tells of two kinds of players:
"I think there are two kinds of players. The first blindly accepts what the coach says. The second
starts from the other side and the coach has to justify everything to him."
What types of players do you have? Do you deal with them accordingly?
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Motivational thoughts to post in the locker room.
Here’s some thoughts you might want to post in the locker room:
"Perfect Practice Makes Perfect"
If you feel like bragging, remember: the whistle doesn’t pull the train.
Going the extra mile is easier - there’s no traffic jams.
Remember: a turtle only makes progress when it sticks its neck out.
Everybody does better when EVERYBODY does better.
Don’t mistake activity for achievement ... they aren’t the same thing.

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Robbie Kilby, One-Man Volleyball Team
Robbie Kilby is a motivational speaker and one-man volleyball team. He does both well, especially
playing volleyball. As of August 1998, he’d won 5,197 matches in a row.
That’s pretty good for a guy who’s only 6’ 2", nearly totally deaf in one ear and half deaf in the other,
with eyesight so bad an opponent standing across the net from him appears only as a blur.
But his talks are also inspirational. If you’d like to read more about Kilby, his work and his devotion to
volleyball, see the August issue of Volleyball Magazine, or visit
www.bergen.com/region/brewer1419971214.htm for an article on Kilby from December 14, 1997.
Rob Kilby can be reached at (800) 450-3432 if you’d like to book him for your next meeting ... in the
board room or on the beach.
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Some Motivational Thoughts
Here’s a few phrases you can put on your mirror, if you’re a player, or on the locker room bulletin
board, if you’re a coach, for motivation:
Dream. Then COMMIT to your dream and work hard to make that dream come true.
Set goals, then believe you can achieve them.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes ... learn from them.
Take charge of your attitude. Don’t let anyone else choose it for you.
Thing BIG, then AIM HIGH.
Always keep reaching out, searching for solutions to life’s difficult problems.
It´s A Net, Not A Wall
One of my favorite coaching phrases is, "It’s a net, not a wall. You can SEE through it, use it to your
advantage."
Sounds simple, but far too many players wait until the ball has crossed the plane on the net before
beginning to react. If you look through the net and watch the play develop, you’ll have far more time
to react.
Serving More Aces, Part 6
Another way to score more aces is to be on the look out for a player who looks overly frustrated,
upset, tired or injured. Any of those signs should be a flag for your serve. That player isn’t in the
game as much as they should, so hit them and see if they can pull it together.
Essentials of Passing
Take pride in your passing. It’s very important, and absolutely critical for a successful offense.
If you don’t think it’s true, think about these ideas:
How well could a baseball team play if the pitcher was forced to pitch from second base?
How successful would a football team be if the quarterback had to start every play by standing back
an extra 20 yards?
Both of those situations are comparable to what bad passing does to a setter’s chances of running an
efficient offense. So do your best on every single pass, and you’ll see your team’s success rate
increase.
When You´re In Trouble
If you’re passing in an emergency situation, remember this adage: the more trouble you’re in, the
higher the ball needs to go into the air.
Putting the ball high allows the next player time to help you by getting into position to get the ball
back under control.
So pop it high when you’re in trouble!
The Feet Are Critical
Ironically, moving the feet is the most important part of the art of passing.
You have to move to the exact place where you can take the ball between your knees, about zipper
height in order to make a good pass.
Bend your knees slightly, keeping your eyes on the ball until it actually contacts your arms.
Point one foot toward your target, and follow through by lifting up with your knees.
The feet and legs are vitally important to making you a great passer. Move your feet, then worry
about the rest of your routine!
Serving the Floater, Part 2
In an era when jump serving is all the rage, why would anyone bother to serve the floater anymore?
Here’s a 2nd reason:
The floater is a beautifully effective short serve. The jump server usually is happy just to get the ball
in the court somewhere, but if you serve the floater, you can just barely put it over the net, in front of
the 10-foot line. That’s the most difficult pass to make, and you’ll often be serving front-row people
who aren’t accustomed to passing very often.
Float Serving Basics, Part 2
The floater, though not glamorous, is an effective serving weapon, since it can dip, rise, and move in
every direction as it crosses the net.
The key is not to follow through with your hand. Contact the serve and immediately draw your hand
back, so the ball moves into the air without spin.
It’ll take practice, but the floater is definitely worth having in your arsenal of serves.
Go After Everything Above the Net
Whenever there’s a ball on top of the net, I want at least one of our players there to pound at it.
Taking charge of the net is similar to taking charge of the backboard in basketball. You control the
net, you control the game, and you do that through sheer, constant aggression.
Middle Blockers, Smother The Ball
To be an effective CF (Center Front), you must love to work hard and be involved in every play. You’re
like the shot blocker in basketball. You have to dominate the net, and make it your own, make
opposing hitters think about what they’re doing, change their shots, throw off their game.
Here’s a tip to become a tough CF:

Try to smother the ball. Get your hands completely around the ball, and push it down. Make it
impossible for the ball to go anywhere but straight back down.
The 3 R´s of Digging
Whenever you’re playing defense, it’s wise to remember these 3 "R’s:"
Ready, Read, and React.
Get down, be ready for anything. Read the set, the hitter’s body language, approach and armswing.
Then react, based on what you’ve learned from the information you’ve gathered.
Ready, Read, and React.
Practice your "3 R’s" and become a great defensive player.
Waiting To Kill
Waiting to Kill
Hyo-sen offers this formula for outside hitters:
On outside attacks, don’t go half speed and meet the ball at the net. Wait a second longer and then
EXPLODE to the ball. The consequence is more energy which means a higher jump and harder hit.
Dive
The most important thing you’ll need to learn to be a great center back is to become absolutely
fearless. You’ll have to sacrifice your body in a hundred different ways, trying with everything you
have to save anything you have the remotest chance of saving.

Remember the adage: make the play first, then decide if it was impossible.
Effective Blocking, Part 4
If at all possible, you’ll want to watch your opponents hit during warm ups.
For instance, if a player never hits line in warm ups, chances are, they’re not going to try it in the
game. You can then concentrate on taking away the angle shot, since that’s the one they’ll use most.
Watch what they do when the ball is close to the net. Do they tip every time, or do they hit away or
try to wipe?
Do they ever use off-speed or tips, or are they just bangers, hitting angle and damn the
consequences?
Every hitter has a favorite shot. Learn it, and then take it away from them. Only then will you be able
to see what that player is really made of.
When serving a floater, hit the ball with the heel of your hand, keeping your hand rigid, which will
make the ball less likely to spin when it moves through the air.
Help Each Other Out
Help Each Other Out
You’re still teammates, even when things go wrong:

When someone makes an on-count mistake the natural tendency is to shun and isolate them. This just
makes them an easier target - its better to take a step toward them and help them out. Always
remember: if they get beat, you get beat.
Freeze
Even if you’re out of position, freeze at the moment of your opposing hitter’s impact of the ball. You’ll
make far more mistakes by being caught in transition than you ever will if you are set and ready to
react.
So freeze first, react second. Don’t get caught moving.
Be the Air Traffic Controller
In center back, you have the best view of what’s going on, so you owe it to your teammates to
become the air traffic controller.
You can see the plays develop, you can see if balls are in or out, you can see touches, you’ve got the
best view in the house. So share all that information with your teammates, and everyone will benefit.
The Phantom Hand
When a ball has gone by you, the worst thing you can do is to reach back and try to retrieve it. We
call that move "the phantom hand." A teammate has a bead on the ball and is just getting ready to
pass it, when this phantom hand reaches in from nowhere, and the ball disappears, generally at some
strange angle.
So trust your teammates to be in position to back you up ... and don’t reach back. Don’t let the
phantom hand haunt YOUR team.

Reading Hitters, Part 9
A ball set off the net, but high, will usually be hit cross court. On the left side, if the hitter’s shoulder is
aligned so that the ball is nearer the sideline than the hitter’s shoulder, the ball will likely be hit
straight or down the line.
A spiker making a late approach will generally hit angle. They’re just concerned with salvaging some
kind of attack, not with doing anything fancy at that point.
If a spiker runs underneath the ball too far, that ball will usually be hit deep in a looping fashion or
something off-speed.
Play Defense First
Setters need to remember: you’re a defensive player first, a setter second. It’s so easy to keep
cheating up toward the setting area and to forget to get into position to play defense. That leaves a
hole, and forces your teammates to find ways to fill it. That leaves holes where THEY’RE supposed to
be. So stay home, play defense and THEN set.
Know Where You´re At
One of the most important things to remember in center back is where you’re at ... at all times. It
becomes even more important when the ball is going to be close at the end line. If you’re in the
proper position, it will eventually become instinctual, but it takes time. Condition yourself to always
know where the endline is, and you’ll become a more effective center back.
The Jump Serve, Part 1
The jump serve can be a devastating weapon, but it must be executed properly.
Step One in learning the jump serve involves where you stand to begin. You have to give yourself
enough room to make what boils down to a spiking approach, which generally means you’ll need to
start far enough back to allow you to take two fairly large steps.
Becoming a Better Passer, Part 3
Talking about moving the feet as the key to good passing, let’s talk about how to get to the ideal spot.
First, you need to make your judgement early as to where you’ll need to be when the ball comes
down. Get there in plenty of time.
And to get you there, take small, short steps, rather than big, lanky ones. It allows you more
precision, and helps you get into position more smoothly.
Stay Back!
If your team plays a center back defense, it’s important for you to condition yourself to stay back. It’s
so easy to keep creeping forward as the volley progresses, but you have to force yourself to play
back, guarding against the long tip and ready to pick up a carrom off a block. You can’t do that if
you’re 10’ from the back line, so stay back, and when you look around and notice you’ve shifted
forward, hustle back quickly and stay alert.
Don´t Block the Setter
Don’t block the setter. It sounds obvious, but how many times do you see a 5’ 3" setter at the net,
getting ready to set, and the 6’2" blocker on the other side goes up to block?
You gain nothing, and lose at least a step in getting outside to help block if you go up with the setter.
Stay down and concentrate on the blasters, instead.

Middle Blockers, Reading Setters
Middle blockers rule the net. They need to be warriors, constantly in motion, relentlessly aggressive
on offense and defense.
Here’s a tip for playing tough CF:
When blocking the quick set, look where the setter is. Is she too far back to set it effectively? If so,
wait, and expect a regular set, or something outside.
Another player who should get a serve right away is a player who just enters the game. That player
hasn’t had time to get into the flow of the game, isn’t quite warmed up, and is going to have the
adreneline flowing and liable to be a little nervous and slightly uptight. Hit them while all that is in
your favor. Even if they’re a good passer, they’ll often miss one or two at the very beginning of their
rotation.
Part Four of the jump serve involves your approach. Once you’ve mastered the toss, which isn’t easy,
and takes a great deal of practice, you’ll need to work on your approach.
If you’ve not a strong spiker, you probably don’t have a great approach, and you’ll need to work on
that, because the approach is the same, only the location is different.
Work on your approach, normally two steps, a strong landing, big lift-off and powerful swing, before
you begin your jump serving attempt.
Snap Your Wrist

Remember: the snap of the wrist at the end of your spike is the most important part of the hitting
motion. Snapping your wrist will make it much less likely for your hit to sail out the back, because it
puts a downward spin on the ball, causing it to curve toward the floor.
Spin Serve
Spin Serve
A tip for making your serve spin:
By striking the ball slightly off center you can cause it to spin in that direction.
After watching the pass, turn your attention to the setter, trying to pick up clues to where the set is
likely to go.
If the ball is far in from of the setter, the set will usually go forward. If they try to move to a place
where they can get the ball closer to the center of the head, it will likely be a back set.
Some setters have a tendency to use a jump set when setting middle.
Watch the setter throughout the game, and you’ll find you can often pick up valuable clues as to
where the ball is going, even before the set is made.
Setters are human, and get into rhythms and certain body positions when they’re setting. Watch and
learn your opponent’s body language. You can use that knowledge to your advantage.

If the ball is set close to the net, it will usually be hit at a sharp angle and downward closer to the net
than a standard set.
You’ll need to take a step or two forward, covering your blockers, because if they can’t stuff the close
shot, it will come down close to the 10’ line.
There are two other reasons to move up. If your blockers can get hands on it and don’t stuff it back,
the ball will be coming off at some odd angle, and you’ll need to help pop up up. Or the hitter will
realize they’re going to likely be stuffed and tip just over the block, in which case you’ll need to be
there to bump it back up softly.
When NOT to Dive
When NOT to Dive
It’s not always a good idea to dive after balls. Here’s why:
Don't dive after a ball that has already hit the floor. Some players do this for "show," but all it "shows"
is a) you were too slow to get to the ball, and b)you’re too slow to realize it.
A Mind Set
A way to train your mind to help you stay back is to begin thinking of yourself as the team’s center
fielder. You’re the farthest one from the action, but you have the best view, and if things go wrong,
you’re the last line of defense to avert a disaster.
Be ready, talk alot, become fearless, stay back and play center field.
Work the Angles

Since you know that 90% of players (except at the higher levels of play) will hit angle, you can use
that to your advantage. Get to the angle, and start there. If you have to make a move one way or
another, the move won’t be as great if you’re already in the general vicinity.
Once you’ve made all your mental calculations about the flight of the ball, you’ll need to shift your
attention to the hitter. Watch the hitter’s approach, where they begin, and the way they move toward
the ball.
If a set is high outside, and the hitter must come at the ball from outside the sideline, the ball MUST
be hit angle, since that’s the only way the ball can legally cross the net between the antennas. The
farther out the hitter must go, the sharper the angle of the hit must be.
Call All Balls
Since you can see everything, it’s important for you to call all balls for your teammates, who are often
busy with the heat of the action. So even if it’s going to be "in" by several feet, go ahead and call it.
Making a call on every ball lets your teammates know they can count on you.
After the set is in the air, you must turn your attention to the hitter’s body language. Here’s four ideas
on reading your attacker:
If the ball is inside the hitter’s shoulder, they will usually hit an angle shot.
If the ball passes the midline of the attacker’s body, they’re usually preparing for a line shot.
If the set is tight to the net, you’ll have to release more quickly to get your hands on the ball. The
hitter will have to reach closer to the net to hit, and you’ll be able to surround the ball if you get there
in time.
A set that’s off the net will likely be hit cross court, because it’s a higher percentage shot for the
attacker. Remember to delay your jump a split second longer, though, when the ball is back farther,
since it will take a little longer to reach the net.
Dump to #1
Dump to #1
Setters and hitters can learn something from our tip on tipping:
When dumping the ball into your opponents court, consider dumping deep into position #1 (right
back). It will cause the opposing setter problems, since they’ll they have to turn to see their
teammate’s pass.
CAR Blocking
To become a great blocker, think "CAR" blocking.
Confidence, Aggressiveness, Relentlessness.
You first have to believe you can do it. Then you have to be aggressive. If you don’t go all out, many
balls will dribble down in front of you. Finally, you must be relentless. You can never take a play "off."
Great blockers will give everything they have to try to get a hand on every ball in their vicinity.
"CAR" blocking can make you a blocking superstar.
Advanced Blocking Tips
Here’s a few tips for becoming a superior blocker:

1- A shorter hitter will often have developed a wider variety of hits, including line shots.
2- The farther back a ball is set from the net, the more likely an outside hitter is to hit angle.
3- Sometimes, if you pay attention, you can "steal" signals from the opposing setter and hitter if you
watch.
4- If a player has run too far underneath a ball, it’s likely to be an off-speed shot or tip.
5- Every hitter has a favorite spot. If they get lazy, they will hit that spot. Learn their favorite, and
take it away from them.
6- If a CF begins edging slightly forward as the play develops, they may be getting ready for a quick
set. Their body language can give them away.
Save the Arm
Save the Arm
This tip is for hitters who want to be in the game for the long haul:
The best hitters in the world have told me you don't pound everything - you get the same points for a
tip or wipe, and it saves your arm for those times "when you gotta swing away."
As the ball is contacted by the hitter, it’s time to focus your entire energy and attention on the ball
itself. The first thing you’ll need to do is FREEZE for an instant, wherever you find yourself. The
moment of contact is not the time you want to be trying to get into position.
Stop wherever you find yourself and get ready to make a play. Don’t get caught in transition. Now is
the time to get aggressive, and make your play, according to the flight of the ball.
Remember, if the ball is close, MAKE A PLAY FIRST, then decide if it was impossible!
As you see the pass go into the air, you should now turn your attention to the setter as they move to
the ball. Do they have a long way to go? Is the set far off the net, will they have to back set, how
many options do they have?
All these factors will have an effect on what the setter will do next.
You can also pick up clues from the setter’s body language. If they move their shoulders back,
chances are, a back set will follow, for instance.
Any body clues you can pick up as the game goes on will help you gain the advantage when it comes
to reading where a set will go.
Back Row Spiking
It’s exciting to see a player go up and smash the ball from the back row, and many players can’t wait
to try it themselves. But remember, it’s important that the ball go over! Hitting from the back row
does no good if you powder the ball into the net.
So, at least when you begin, consider getting under the ball, squaring your shoulders, arching your
back and hitting the ball without leaving the floor. You can still put a surprising amount of heat on
your hit, and there’s less chance of hitting it into the net.
Once you’re more proficient, you can take on the task of adding a killer leap to your spiking routine.
Jump Serve and a Golf Swing
Very few coaches teach players technique when it comes to a jump serve.
A jump serve is like a golf swing in that regardless of which club you use you want to use the same
swing every time. Unlike a spike where there are many variables to consider before and durring the
attack a good jump serve limits your variables.
It is common for a beginning player to practice variables which is O.K. but only for the initial learning
phase(less than 100 swings). You should explore which approach, toss, armswing, etc feels
comfortable to you before you settle on a routein.
Once you have the general feel for the skill your approach, toss, jump, armswing, tempo and contact
should be the same every time. Perhaps the most important variable is the point of contact.
Regardless of what else is happening if you have the same contact point every time you will have
success.
Reading hitters is critical to becoming a great back row player. Once you’ve learned as much as you
can about your opponent’s style and hitting tastes, you’re ready to watch the play unfold, always
looking for clues.
First, you watch the pass, to see where it’s going. Is the ball going straight up from where the passer
contacted the ball? Is it headed for center front, where the setter will have more options?
Watch the flight of the ball, and adjust accordingly.
Humming the Ball In
A tip that will help you concentrate while passing: Try "humming the ball in." (Do this silently during
game situations, otherwise folks will think you’re out of your mind. But you can practice it aloud until
it becomes a habit.)
Since it’s important to watch the ball until it actually comes into contact with your arms, try humming
until that contact occurs, and then, at the moment of impact, give a little grunt, "Huuh!"
It sounds crazy, and that’s why we don’t recommend you do it aloud in public, but it’s a very effective
way of making sure your concentration is total when getting ready to pass.
One-Arm Digs
One-Arm Dig
When you can’t get two hands on the ball, hyo-sen offers this tip:
In recovering a badly-passed ball too low for a proper pass, use a "biceps curl" action and contact the
call with your fist for maximum lift and control.
Keep Your Eyes Open
One of the biggest mistakes blockers make is to close their eyes at the moment of contact. It’s hard
not to do, but important to avoid. You need to have your eyes on the ball at all times in order to stuff
it, touch it on a tip, or whatever happens. So keep your eyes open.
If a player has just shanked a serve, they should automatically get the next serve, too ... and the
next, and the next, if they don’t get one up. There’s no room for sympathy here. Make them pass;
that’s what they’re in there for. And if they can’t do it, make the opposing coach sub them out. In the
meantime, rack up the points for your team.
Defensive Hand position
Once you learn where to position yourself on the court and the correct defensive stance, don’t forget
about hand position. When a split second can make the difference between a dig and kill, good hand
position can make all the difference. You should have your palms facing up when the hitter contacts
the ball. When that ball rockets through the block, your hands will be ready to slide under the ball and
pop it up. This seems like a trivial gesture, but really does make a difference.
Middle Blockers, Blocking Back Row Attacks
Here’s an idea for playing tough CF:
Wait an extra 1/2 second when blocking a back row attack. And make certain you have a good chance
to get it, because your block may obscure the vision of your teammates, getting ready to dig in the
back row.
Make sure to contact your floater dead center. If you hit it more toward the top of the ball, it will
travel in a predictable arc, making it easy to pass. Hitting it too far underneath may cause it to sail out
of bounds. So concentrate on the point of contact, and you’ll find your floater is more effective.
Read the Label
Read the Label
Here’s a good serving tip:
When serving, hold the ball with the label facing you so you can "read" it. This gives you a focal point
to strike and reduces distractions.

Here’s a 4th reason:
Once you’ve mastered the basic technique, you can experiment with different speeds, which will make
your floater even more difficult to receive.
Passers get into a groove as you serve to them more and more, so you constantly need to give them a
different type of serve, just like a pitcher tries different pitches to each batter.
Try to mix it up. You’ll be more effective.
Just Say No!
Just Say No!
Anyone can hit hard, but taking away a hard hit is something special:
Blocking should be thought of as a more satisfying than hitting. This is because you have not only
asserted your will on your opponent but denied them their objective.
Whenever you are called upon to pass, you must first get into position, which means getting the ball
between your knees, and contacting it at about zipper level.
Then, you must bend your knees. Don’t bend at the waist. Bending at the knees allows you to keep
your eyes up, so you can see what’s going on.
Reading Hitters - Part 5

As you watch the flight of the ball for location, height and speed, you’ll pick up valuable tips on where
the ball is likely to be hit.
We’ve talked about location in relation to the net. The next variable is height. If the ball is below the
height of the net, it will likely be hit offspeed or tipped. Adjust accordingly. A high set gives the hitter
many more options, and you’ll need to pick up more clues, body language, etc.
Middle Blocking, Part 2
Here’s tip two for playing tough CF:
When blocking the quick set, look where the setter is. Is she too far back to set it effectively? If so,
wait, and expect a regular set, or something outside.
Here’s tip 4 for playing tough CF:

Wait an extra 1/2 second when blocking a back row attack. And make certain you have a good chance
to get it, because your block may obscure the vision of your teammates, getting ready to dig in the
back row.
Regardless of whether you’ve seen a team or not, you can maximize your ace totals by looking for the
switch on the serve receive and serving to that area. The area where the setter and another player are
standing close to each other is congested, and putting your serve into that place will cause even more
confusion.
A simple float serving technique that can score you some aces is hitting the ball on the stem. Simply
toss the ball so that your hand contacts the serve directly on the stem.
Although you won’t be able to have complete control over its action, contacting the stem makes the
ball behave erratically in the air. That erratic motion makes it harder for your opponent to pass, thus
scoring you more aces.
Blocker Hand Turn
Blocker Hand Turn
How to keep blockers from getting used:
The outside blocking hand is always turned in toward the court to reduce wipe offs and force the ball
back into the opponent’s count.

Helping Each Other With Lines
Line Calls
Players are teammates, and they should help each other, including calling lines:
During serve receive, the person not playing the ball
follows it and tells the passer if it’s in or out
according to the angle. The person passing has enough
to worry about without having to peek down at the line.
Even the pros forget this sometimes, to their dismay!
Setting the Back Row, Part 2
The second thing to remember when setting your back row hitters is to do your utmost to set the ball
slightlty in front of them whenever possible. This allows them to make an approach and be able to put
their entire body into their hit. That will put more heat on their spike, making it harder for the
opponents to play.
Heels Up
Heels Up
Since many diggers tend to get rocked back on their heels as a heavy hitter goes up to pound, we
offer this good advice:
A huge power wastage on the volleyball court is putting your heels to the floor. But to be a great
digger, you need to stay on the balls of your feet as much as possible to allow for quick change of
direction and adaptability to the ball and situation.
Calling Touch on The Other Team

One of the most frustrating things for hitters is to go up, blast away, have the hit go off opponent’s
fingers and out of bounds, only to discover no one saw the touch. Here’s a way to get a few calls you
might not get otherwise:
Simply call "touch" the instant you see them at the net. Oftentimes, the down official or linesperson
will hear that and instantly signal a touch. If the ball is close to the net, it’s sometimes hard to know
who actually called the touch, especially in a noisy gym.
Pace
Pace
Here’s some good serving advice:
Remember serving is the only time you really control the pace. Especially if you’re behind, take your
time to give your team a chance to catch its breath.
Once you’ve become proficient at getting your serve over, and you’re able to drop your serve into a
particular area, you’re ready to begin serving smart. Here’s some tips on scoring more aces with your
serves:
First, if you haven’t had a chance to scout a team ahead of time, look for the biggest kid on the team
and serve them. It may sound cruel, and it’s a generalization, but the fact remains that the biggest
player is often the poorest passer on the team. Try them first, and see if they can get the job done. If
not, keep serving them. It’ll up your ace total.
Here’s a 3rd reason:
Since the floater moves so slowly in the air, it’s often difficult for opponents to decide who has the
ball. They have more time to think, and therefore, more time to make mistakes.
Here’s an effective strategy for neutralizing your opposing hitter:
Since 95% of all hitters hit mostly angle, assume that your opposing hitter will hit line ... until they
prove differently. Set up your block to take away the angle and stay there until they hit a line shot.
If they finally do hit line, DON’T automatically change your blocking stance. Instead, assume that line
shot was an accident, caused by a poorly contacted ball. Only if they hit line a 2nd time in a fairly
short time period will you adjust your block to begin guarding the line.
Middle Blockers, Mirror Your Opponent
Here’s a pointer on playing tough CF:
Play one-on-one with the opposing CF. It’s like man-to-man in basketball. If she goes up, you must
up. If she moves to hit a slide, you have to go with her. Unless you know for certain she’ll be out of
the play, you have to "mirror" the opposing CF.

Here’s the first tip for playing tough CF:
1-Block head-to-head, but remember, the angle shot is easiest to hit, so at the lower levels of play,
especially, you’ll see 90% angle hits. Shut down the angle, and then see what else your opponent can
do. Many times, there’s nothing they can do, and will stop hiting. Then you own them! They’re no
longer a factor.
When It´s OK to Swing Away
Coaches will preach at you not to swing during your pass, and I agree completely ... except on the 3rd
hit. If you’re in a position where your only option is to put the ball over with a bump, turn sideways
and hit it, similar to a baseball player, swinging at a pitch.
This allows you to put at least some heat on your bump, rather than handing your opponent a nice
little free ball to ram back down your throat.
Passing Basics
If a ball is either too high for you to pass or off to the side when you’re in the front row and you make
the decision to allow it to go past (for passing by your backrow teammate), let them know!
Talk first, then OPEN UP, which means turning to the side, rather than ducking. I’ve seen many
backrow players take balls squarely in the face when their front row teammate suddenly ducks.
So if you’re going to let it go, tell your teammates, and then open up, and do both in plenty of time
for them to react.

Floater Basics
How do you serve a "floater?"
The main characteristic of a floater serve is lack of spin on the ball. You accomplish this by keeping
your hand flat as you contact the serve. Don’t follow through with your wrist as you would normally
do.
This will allow the ball to travel through the air with an absolute minimum of spin, making its flight
hard to judge.
Remember though, you’ll need to hit the ball slightly harder, since you won’t be getting that
"slingshot" effect you’d normally produce with your wrist follow through.
The best spot for your float serve is deep middle, but a serve to area one can be effective, as well.
Those two areas give the ball more time to make its movement, making it harder to pass.
Headless Chicken
Headless Chicken
Here’s an interesting take on staying calm in emergencies:
When a "scramble play" occurs, the setter must take control, via set selection and demeanor, to keep
the situation from degrading into a "headless chicken" scenario.

Getting the ball between your legs and bending your knees is well and good, but you’ll spoil that whole
effort if you poke at the ball or swing.
Instead, lift up gently with your legs, keeping your arms locked, and guide the ball toward your target.
Passing, although it’s done with the forearms, is mostly done with the legs, if it’s done correctly.
Hit Line First
We teach our blockers to take away line first, until your opponent hits 2 line shots. So as a hitter, we
know the opponent will probably do the same against us. So we teach players to hit the very first shot
down the line, for 2 reasons: first, it shows you can do it, and forces opponents to begin playing you
more honest, and second, that first line shot will be a "freebie," since they’re giving it to you. A free
putaway for your stats ... how nice.
Palms Together
Palms Together
Although I’m not a fan of interlocking the fingers, I agree with the conclusion on keeping palms
parallel when passing:
When underhanded passing, your palms must be "parallel and pressed" for proper hand position.
Whether you interlock your fingers or encase your fist is inconsequential, if the palms are parallel.
As the set leaves the setter’s hands, you should again turn your attention to the flight of the ball.
You’re looking to gauge the relationship of the ball to the net, its height and speed.
If a set is away from the net, chances are the hitter will either tip or hit something off-speed. If the
team you’re playing is able to hit backrow spikes, however, you’ll need to be aware of that, and watch
the player moving underneath the ball to see if they jump. That will give you clues as to what they’re
planning to do, and make your defensive adjustments accordingly.
Areas 1 and 2 are especially difficult to run plays from, since the setter must either turn around or
turn to pick up the ball. This may help you pick up more aces.
The next factor in learning to be a great reader in the back row is to watch your team’s block develop.
If the block is up and obscuring your vision, the ball likely won’t be hit directly at you very hard. The
block will take away that shot. You are probably out of position when you can’t see through the block,
and need to move to your left or right, depending on the analysis you’ve made of ball flight and hitter
approach.
Advice for a rolling defensive move
Rolling, Rolling ...
Advice for a rolling defensive move:
If you do end up doing a stride slide (or other floor crashing technique), use a log roll to come out of it
rather than a shoulder roll which necessitates you losing sight of the section needlessly exposing
yourself.
Stopping Hitter´s Drift

If you have a tendency to drift forward after your hit, putting you into the net far too often, here’s an
idea: Make your spiking motion against a wall.
Like a field goal kicker getting their steps down in football, turn and make an approach away from the
wall. This will give you the proper distance from the wall when you turn back around and make your
approach toward the wall again.
A few spectacular crashes into the wall will go a long way toward curing your forward drift, and teach
you to go up straight!
The Importance of Passing
Taking pride in your passing is the first step to becoming a great passer. Here’s a few ideas to
demonstrate why passing is so important:
Imagine a baseball pitcher who was forced to pitch an entire game from second base. How successful
would that pitcher be? The chances of success are slim.
Without a pass somewhere close to the net, a setter is put in the same situation as a pitcher throwing
from second base. She can’t deliver a center set, and her sets to the outside will have to come over
the hitters’ shoulders, making them hard to judge and hit.
So take pride in passing the ball right to the net, and your team will benefit greatly. You may not get
the credit you deserve, but you’ll know, inside, where it counts, that you were the beginning point of
that success.
Step Two in jump serving involves knowing your own abilities. If you can’t jump high enough to get
above the net on your spikes, chances are, you’re not going to be a good jump server.
You also need to be strong, because your "spike," (which is essentially what a jump serve is) is
coming from more than 30 feet behind the net. So you’re going to have to crank the ball hard in order
to get it over the net at all. If you’re not especially strong, you’d better stick with another type of
serve.
A Setter´s Goals
Here’s some tips for becoming a great setter, from Al Scates, longtime coach at UCLA.
1- First, become a good setter. Put up the best hittable set under each circumstance, giving your
hitter as many options as possible.
2- Once you’re "good," become a smart setter. Learn and exploit your opponent’s weaknesses, know
who your hot hitters are at the moment, learn where they like the ball and set it there, and listen to
your coach’s suggestions.
3- Once you’re "smart," become a deceptive setter. Try not to give clues as to which way you’ll be
setting, mix it up, make every set hittable and don’t become predictable.
Using Hand Signals
Visible Signals
We offer this tip for players in the heat of the game:
When signaling plays use hand signals that are easy to pick up (fist, open palm, pistol, etc.) rather
than number of fingers. Who has time to count fingers from the other side of the court?
Pop/Pow
Pop/Pow
This is a way for hitters to condition their minds:
During quick attacks, hitters should think "pop." On power hits, they should think "pow." Hearing that
sound in your mind will help you bring them about in your attacks.
There are many reasons:
1st, the floater can be made to move side-to-side and up and down, which the jump serve won’t do.
(A jump serve generally needs to be hit hard, and will usually drop quickly, making its flight fairly easy
to judge.)
To make your floater move, try hitting the ball right on the stem (the place you use to inflate it). This
will make the ball’s flight erratic and hard for opponents to judge.
Priorities
Priorities
Middle batters should prioritize their hitting as #1 fast, #2 hard. In center front, quickness is the key.

Here’s a fifth tip for playing tough CF:
Play one-on-one with the opposing CF. It’s like man-to-man in basketball. If she goes up, you must
up. If she moves to hit a slide, you have to go with her. Unless you know for certain she’ll be out of
the play, you have to "mirror" the opposing CF.
Easy Does It
Easy Does It
Here’s sage advice for saving balls:
When bringing a "wild" touched ball back to your court, don't get fancy. A nice high underhand pass or
overhead set is the easiest ball for your setter to work with.
Air Spikes
Right from the beginning, making a proper approach is the key to becoming a great spiker. So think
about making your beginning players, and those players who can’t seem to get it together later on, do
air spikes everyday as part of their warm up routine.
Have them get back to the 10’ line, make their 2 or 3 step approach, depending upon which approach
style you prefer, and go through the entire motion, including a high reach and follow through.
Every day, their bodies will begin to develop a muscle memory of the proper execution of the
approach, and players will begin to experience more success.

Call Touches
As center fielder and air traffic controller, you’ll want to call touches when you see them, too. And call
them LOUD, so everyone can hear you, especially if your crowd noise is deafening. It’s all part of
using your view to help your team win.
Setters can be a picky and perfectionist lot, but sometimes, especially when setting the back row, all
you’re trying to do is to get the ball up high enough for your teammate to get under it and make a
good hit.
So don’t worry if you have to bump set your offering. If the ball is high and in a reasonably good area,
your hitter won’t care. Just get the ball there, don’t worry too much about whether the set looked
pretty in the beginning. It’s the end you care about.
Focus your attention first on the pass by the opponent. Is it close enough to center front and to the
net for the setter to run a play or combination, or will the setter have to play it safe and send the set
outside?
You won’t have much time to make this decision...it will be instananeous. Don’t get caught guessing,
but try hard to learn as quickly when your opposing setter is comfortable back setting, running quick
middles, etc.
This will give you the advantage in getting to the block quicker.

Once the set has been sent into the air, you’ll need to try to key in on its ultimate location, height and
speed. The third factor is speed. If the set is going quickly, you’ll need to make your movement that
much faster in the back row.
If it’s going to be a 1 set in the middle, or a shoot to the outside, you’ll need to get to where you want
to be quickly.
Here’s a good way to learn where to set up on a hitter you don’t know very well.
Start on the angle, since most players will hit angle most of the time. Then, if the player hits inside
your left hand, set up your next block one step farther to the center.
Keep moving one step toward the center until you finally block a shot. Now you’ve discovered that
hitter’s favorite alley. Park yourself in that alley, and make your opponent try something else. Often,
no one has ever fine-tuned their block enough to shut that alley down, and they won’t quite know
what to do.
Often, that player will start to hit harder and harder, which just will make the ball go more quickly
back into their own court after carroming off your block.
Then, after several stuffs, that player will begin to tip, and now you OWN them! A hitter who only tips
has taken away a large part of their team’s offense.
Try it, it works!
Outlets
Outlets
There are times when somebody besides the setter needs to set, so we offer this advice:
Following a bad pass, if the second hit is taken by a non setter, set a high ball to outside hitter as your
outlet, this should be practiced so all players can do it proficiently and easily.
Here’s a third tip for playing tough CF:
Try to smother the ball. Get your hands completely around the ball, and push it down. Make it
impossible for the ball to go anywhere but straight back down.
A third thing to remember when setting the back row is to do everything you can to make it obvious
who you’re setting. It may sound funny, but if you just put the ball up high, but in no particular
direction, you may get to see a spectacular collision as two of your teammates both make an attempt
to crush your set at the same time.
If you have to, call out who the set is for as soon as you send it into the air. That will avoid confusion.
You’re the quarterback of the team, remember, and it’s your job to keep things organized.
When to Dink
The dink can be an effective scoring tool, but it has to be set up. Think of it in terms of football. A
team generally tries a few running plays before opening up their passing game. The run sets up the
pass. It’s similar in hitting. You score a couple heat shots, preferably to several different areas, which
rocks defenders back on their heels, which in turn opens up your tipping game.
Hit first, tip next.
A Fish on A Cutting Board
Fish on a Cutting Board
Here’s an interesting way to think about defense:
"Defense should be played like a live fish on a cutting board." In other words, never give up on the
ball. Even if you don't get that one particular ball, your effort and intensity will let your opponents you
are a force to be reckoned with.
Using Blocks
Using Blocks
This tip is for hitters who find a wall developing in front of them:
By watching the blockers, a hitter can "use" the block for wipes or can hit a soft "rebound" shot into
the block that their own block coverage can easily pop back
up and replay.
Isolating the Arm Swing
We use a box, about 2’ tall, 3’x 3’ width and length, to allow our players’ arms to be above the net on
their arm swing. This allows us to isolate just the arm and hand motions.
Then, with a player on the box, we toss balls up quickly, making comments on every hit, offering
suggestions and reinforcing proper execution.
This allows many contacts and a great deal of opportunity for instruction without tiring the players
out.
We’ve noticed a great improvement in our team’s hitting skills. In fact, one player broke our school
record for putaways (kills) by over 100 this season. Try it, it works.
Step Three in your jump serve involves your toss of the ball, and is critical for your success.
You have to toss the ball high, very similar to the height of a set if you were spiking at the net. This
gives you the chance to get underneath and make your maximum jump. It also allows you to get a
good "crank" on the ball, because you’ll need speed and power to get the ball across the net.
Thinking of the Serve as a Weapon
The serve is a weapon, and you can sometimes score as many as 40% of your team’s points by simply
being a good, accurate server.
Think of it this way:
How many times have you seen basketball teams lose because they could hit their freethrows when it
counted? The same is true for serving. Missing serves at critical times can kill a volleyball team.
In fact, if your team can’t serve, you’ll never win any volleyball games, pure and simple.
To become an effective serving warrior, think in terms of good serves first, and then accuracy.
By serving good, you at least give your team the opportunity to score. By serving to a player who has
difficulty passing, you vastly increase your chance of scoring.

Remember, every serve is important, no matter when it occurs in the match. By serving well and
accurately, you can help your team win many more matches than they otherwise would have.
Disguising An Accidental Back Row Attack
If you know you’ve accidentally put the ball away with a back row attack from in front of the 10’ line,
instantly call all your teammates together for a huddle.
Have everyone mill around, rather aimlessly, so that the officials won’t be able to immediately tell who
is supposed to be in the back row at that given time.
Stay in your jumbled formation as long as possible. If someone needs to sub out, send them to the
sideline, but don’t stop milling around.
Once the officials turn their attention to the sub or some other piece of business, it that means they’re
ready to move on with play, and it’s generally safe to return to your correct position.
However, it should be pointed out that a sharp official will take the time to study your line-up until
they have satisfied themselves the hit was legal or illegal, then make the call.
Quick Pops
Quick Pops
Middle attackers should practice a short quick "pop" arm swing to maximize the effectiveness of the
quick middle speed sets (51’s, 61’s).
When the Roof is Up

The bigger your block up front, the more you’ll need to be on the lookout for tips. So don’t get rocked
back on your heels. You can’t go backward and forward at the same time. Be ready to pick up soft tips
over the block, and turn them into free ball opportunities.
Wrist Wraps
Quick Wrist Wraps
This is a formula for quick hitters to remember:
During quick attacks, the hitter’s hand snaps and wraps under the wrist. Think of it this way: a quicker
snap = a quicker shot.
Part Five in jump serving involves the actual contact of the ball. It’s similar to spiking, but you will
have to adjust the angle of your swing because the ball must cover more than 30 feet.
In that way, it’s more similar to a back row spike, in which you’ll want to add a little more "loop" to
your swing.
Hit the ball hard, at the top of your jump, give it a strong "loop," and the ball should go in.
Block For Points
Block for Points
Firm but softer block directed to an open spot in your opponents court is often more effective than a
"roof block"; especially against good block coverage. Firm but softer block directed to an open spot in
your opponents court is often more effective than a "roof block," especially against good block
coverage.
Blocking assignments
We know ...
Middle blockers need to be in charge at all times, and hyo-sen offers this advice to get control:
Middles always call out blocking assignment ahead of time to reinforce blocking action. It also lets
your opponents know "you know what they’re up to."
Middle Blockers, Block Head-to-Head
Here’s a tip for blocking in CF:
Block head-to-head, but remember, the angle shot is easiest to hit, so at the lower levels of play,
especially, you’ll see 90% angle hits. Shut down the angle, and then see what else your opponent can
do. Many times, there’s nothing they can do, and will stop hitting altogether. Then you own them!
They’re no longer a factor.
See The Wall As It
See the Wall as it Forms
This is for players with a tendency to move in too fast for their approach:
On outside hitter attacks, the hitter should delay as long as you can to see the block and defense
develop.
Becoming a great back row player takes time and practice, like any other skill. The most important
factor in playing back row is the ability to READ opposing hitters.
The first step in learning to read hitters begins as soon as the ball has crossed over the net and into
your opponent’s court.
If you’ve seen the opposing hitters before, you should already have some idea of what they like to do.
For instance, some players hit entirely angle shots. Some like to tip just over the block, some have a
wide variety of hits in their arsenal, some are left-handed.
Having a basic knowledge of your opponent’s hitting style will allow you to anticipate what they’re
going to do, so get down and be ready.
Being able to set back row players can be a tremendous addition to your team’s arsenal, but setters
have to remember a few rules when setting their big guns in the back.
The first is to make sure the ball is set good and high. This allows your teammate a chance to get
underneath and make a big jump.
Speed Kills
Speed Kills
Here’s something to think about:

In volleyball, though power scares, speed kills. In other words, a faster attack can overcome a power
game by getting the ball to the floor before blockers and defense can stop it.
Touch Tips
Touch Tips
Advice for middle hitters:
When hitting in the middle, practice "touch tips" which get by the blockers hands and fall within 18
inches of the net - not only does it score a point
but it's a real stake in the heart of your opponents, it forces them to cover the whole court in front of
as well as behind the attack line.
Easy Float
The Easy Float
This a tip for float servers:
On a float serve, especially if you're hitting a number of serves during a drill, hitting the ball with your
fist in the middle of the ball creates more float by reducing hand surface, which touches the ball (hand
surface produces spin).
Just Play It!
Play It!
We offer advice on serve receiving, but it’s good advice for ANY time the ball is in play:
On serve receive, play everything until the ball bounces twice: that may not have been a whistle you
heard.
The last step in your jump serving routine will be to strive for accuracy. As a high school coach, I
generally love to see a player who uses a jump serve against us, because normally they’re only good
for a couple points. After that, they either hit the net, or our passers adjust to the fairly predictable
flight of the ball, and we’ll get it back, either way.
As a jump server, you’ll need to work hard on getting the ball over the net and in the court. That’s
your absolute first priority. Once you have a high serving percentage, you can begin to pick out a bad
passer on the other team and try to serve them.
Accuracy is your greatest worry as a jump server. You never help your team if the ball doesn’t stay
playable. If you can become accurate, however, you can create havoc for opposing passers.
Hitting
Outside Hitting is a very important job! This is what usually stops the rally and scores the points! It
takes a good set too! When hitting in the outside postion stand outside the court and take a three step
approach make sure the last step and quick and angeled. Make sure to get a big arm swing that way
you have more room and momentum! This will help you go for the kill!

Qualities To Look For in A Setter

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Qualities To Look For in A Setter

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Qualities to look for in a setter.

to consider in picking your setter.

situation, she can have a positive impact.

(I.E. taking responsibility for hitting errors in critical situations.)

all hitting errors are the results of poor sets.

difference in your team’s success.

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Iradge Ahrabi-Fard´s Sample Practice

phase of the game, and serve/receive drills.)

3-Intense game drills (Incorporating all phases of the game.)

5-Cool down ("Active rest," such as slow jog and stretching.)

6-Dismissal (Putting away equipment, final comments and verbal dismissal.)

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Here’s a method for assessing passers at the beginning of the season:

just tossing the ball over.

Tips for Center Back Defenders

Here’s a few tips for playing effective CB:

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The Most Important Muscle for a Volleyball Payer to Develop

Here’s some tongue-in-cheek advice on communication:

critical to the 9th degree. If you’ve taken a vow

of silence, join a monastery ... but don't play volleyball!

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How to Keep Jammed Fingers to a Minimum

How to keep jammed fingers to a minimum:

We all do warm up stretches but only the wise players

think to stretch their fingers despite what we put

them through. Place your hand flat on the floor and

gently pull up on each finger until you have stretched

it. It can help prevent jams, which inhibit your

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for introducing players to a new skill:

different vantage points.

keys individually with players, emphasizing each key as you go.

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Teaching setters a soft touch

her to use proper technique when setting.

hardest on perfecting her technique.

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A coaching tip on setting your starting line-up:

serve 10 to Area 1, 10 to Area 2, etc., and keep stats on their accuracy.

need to work on.

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Physical Qualities to Look For In Your Setter

allow the hands to do most of the work.

like tipping, jump setting or even turning to crank, at times.

Basic Charts You´ll Want To Keep

with a + (kill), - (error) or 0 (hit was returned).

spikes, not serve receives.)

hit the ground for point or side out to count.)

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Assessing Setters, Part 1

Keep track of how many they get out of 25.

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John Wooden´s Theory of Everyday Practice

I don’t want them there."

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To 5-1 or not to 5-1

stay with the 6-2 and hope for the best?

strong setter you now have.

you’ll hear empassioned opinions on either side of the debate.

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