Setting


    Setting is one of the hardest skills to master in volleyball because it is where the player has the most control of the ball and it is critical to scoring points in a game.  Ball handling errors are most frequently called on setters because there are so many things that can be called illegal.  A setter has to cushion the ball and then accelerate in upward along the net so that a hitter is able to reach it and put it over the net.  To accomplish setting a ball a setter has to have his or her hands wide open, with fingers spread in a cup-like shape, and both feet pointing towards the outside (left) antenna.

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The hands should be apart and wide open, because then the setter can control more of the ball.  The more surface area that is covered the more uniformly the ball will move because the force is evenly distributed.  The goal of a set is to have as little spin as possible on the ball as it moves through the air.  Both hands should contact the ball at the same time and release at the same time to allow equal distribution of the force to be applied.
                                                          

The hands and fingers should form into a cup-like shape to conform to the shape of the ball, this shape allows the setter to cushion the ball and redirect it more accurately.  If the hands were flat the ball would just bounce off the hands in any direction.  The cupped hands remove the remove the spin on the ball and along with the rest of the body act as a spring to increase the height allowing the hitter more time and options to hit the ball. 

 

When setting the ball the setter should have both feet facing towards the outside (left) antenna, so that when the setter extends the ball will be set to the hitter.  As the ball it extended it will do in the direction that the setter is facing, the setter wants to be parallel with the net facing the antenna, allows the ball to be set along the net keeping it on the same side.  If the setter faced the back row players the ball would probably be set to a back row player.

 


The purpose of setting in a volleyball game, is to allow one person to control the offensive play of hitting, a setter’s purpose, similar to that of a quarterback in football, is to deliver the ball to that an offensive maneuver can be accomplish.  If a setter contacts the for too long of a period of time and also if the ball is not contacted by both hands uniformly the other team is given the ball to serve. 

                                                                            


                                  

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