So You Want to be a Setter

Technical Post - Athlete

So you decided you want to be a setter? You are assuming the responsibility and constant workload that comes with the need for you to play perfectly and lead your team to eternal success and glory? That isn’t really in the job description, but it does feel like that's the job. Setters are unique athletes in this sport. We are requested and required to be the driving force between the coach’s perfectly designed offense and the team's perfect ball putter upper. To sum this up, setters are pulled in a lot of directions.

What really defines a good setter? There are three main components:

• Can you put the ball where it is needed, when it is needed?

• Can you be a positive force in your game and elevate those around you?

• Can you do your job of the above while still playing defense?

There are many details with each of those pieces, but that is the job. Not only do you have to be good at your defined role as a setter, but you also have to be a consistent positive force and you have to be a decent defender and blocker.

What do I need to do?

1. Get to the Ball

Keep your priorities in mind. The number one task of a setter is ensuring your team can get a swing. To do that, we have to address whether you can get to the ball in a good position first. Two factors aid in this:

• Be physically quick = Fast in one direction (Speed) + Change direction quickly (Agility)

• React quickly = Knowing when to leave (Reading) + Ability to leave when needed (Reaction Time)

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One important note is that we want our setters to be prepared at the net to run a quick set if the team can pass there. If you can get to balls that are not perfect but still disrupt the opponent’s defense, you are making a difference. There is nothing more demoralizing to a team than a setter who isn’t in position for a perfect pass.

2. Technique

Once you can get to most balls from your team (which will vary from team to team), your next job is getting the ball up so it’s hittable without doubling. As most of us know, rules can change, and one rule that's on the edge of leaving the sport is doubling. The reasoning is that a setter mishandling the ball doesn’t give the play an advantage since a double-touch is generally not beneficial. While I may disagree, that’s a discussion for another blog. For now, just make sure the ball comes out clean.

• Learn how your hands affect the ball (Develop a Feel)

  • How does the ball come out of your hands?

  • How much of your hands do you need on the ball to control it?

  • Can you push it fast enough to get it where you want it to go?

• Get good at holding your finish to where you need the ball to go.

• Work on learning your limits (Range)

  • Figure out when you need to bump set vs. hand set.

  • Learn when you need to call for help.

Being a setter for any team is not for the faint of heart. Coaches have different expectations for you than they do for other players. Your teammates have different expectations for you than they have for each other. However, I believe that most setters come out better for it in the end.

Good to Great

What separates a good setter from an outstanding one? The ability to not only execute all the fundamental skills at a high level but also to run the offense exactly as the coach envisions.

It’s one thing to get the ball up and make it hittable. It’s a completely different level when you can consistently deliver the ball to your hitters on time and exactly how they like it. Elite setters go beyond just placing the ball—they see their attackers as they enter their approach and make real-time adjustments to the set. It’s a magical thing to witness: an attacker mistimes their approach, yet somehow, the ball still arrives at the perfect moment. This level of adaptability is rare, but when a setter has it, it’s spectacular.

Another hallmark of a great setter is the ability to execute the offensive vision of their coach. Sometimes, this is as simple as feeding the ball to the best hitter. Other times, it’s as complex as recognizing defensive weaknesses and setting accordingly. One effective way to get on the same page with your coach is to ask them to call out sets during a scrimmage. I call this "programming my setter." It allows setters to see, in real time, what the coach expects. Plus, it provides an opportunity to stop the scrimmage, ask questions, and give feedback if something feels out of sync.

Final Thoughts

Being a setter is not for the faint of heart. Coaches have different expectations for you than they do for other players. Your teammates rely on you in ways that other positions don’t. The pressure is high, and the responsibility is immense.

But despite all of that, I firmly believe that setters come out better for it. The challenges of the position shape you into a smarter, tougher, and more composed player—and that, in the long run, makes all the difference. b