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For Coaches (this section of Tactics 2.2 was designed for coaches to assist their setters and team to better understand some basics related to TEAM TACTICS and scouting opponents setter):
2.2 Tactics
Tactics is defined as the individual techniques and team play utilized to reach the ultimate goal of success in a match. These tactics are defined, dictated and have specific guidelines that must be followed. Included are the rules of game, the condition of the match, the physical, mental and technical aspects of your team players as well as the opponent’s team players.
Team tactics cannot be more effective than the individual techniques and skills of the players. Therefore, it is better to establish a basic team system with good individual skills, rather than to play a complicated or disorganized system with weak individual skills.
A basic offensive system will allow a team to begin the process of matching their team’s ability with the options for developing and selecting the most effective offensive system. The numbering system will provide hitters with a progression from basic sets to designated play set options. The system is a tactical one, allowing players from each age group to develop their individual skills, as well as providing the setter a tactical approach against the opponent. The hitters will also have the opportunity to develop an overall hitting strategy to overcome the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.
Defensive system strategies and coaching attitudes dictate how effective and efficient a team’s defensive tactics are performed and executed.
Scouting your opponents’ setter
Setting: determine the level that the team will play. The following will dictate how the setters perform:
- accuracy and consistency of the height of a set
- ability to adjust the timing with each individual hitter
- ability to select the play to set
- ability to select the hitter based on the defense
- set selection should be based on the following priorities: good, smart and tricky
What type of sets do they prefer?
What sets are weak?
What set distribution pattern is used?
In what situation are high sets used and quick attacks used?
These are excerpts from Ruth N. Nelson Trainer/Coach Resource Manual
Name ________________________________________________________ Age __________ Grade ___________
Level in Club (i.e. 15U) _________ Experience (years in club and years in school): _________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please take a few minutes to answer briefly each of the following questions regarding general setter information, technique and tactics.
General:
Why are you playing volleyball?
Why have you selected a setter role?
Give me the 5 adjectives that best describe you as a setter?
Do you feel a setter should play defense?
Do you feel a setter should know how to roll?
What player should be in the best physical shape?
Do you feel that it is critical to be vocal as a setter?
How do you determine what set or player you set?
Have you set only sets or have you run plays?
When do I jump set and when should I stay down?
How accurate and consistent is the height of your sets?
How important is it to set the middle attacker and what set would you prefer?
What do you believe you need the most training in order to be the best setter you can be?
Technique:
Is it important to where my feet or hands are when setting?
Give me 3 things to remember about hand position.
Give me 3 things to remember about your feet position.
Give me 3 things to remember about your body position.
How important to you is having your hand position consistent when setting?
Do you feel comfortable playing a ball out of the net and tight to the net?
Tactics:
What do you think this means? Set selection should be based on the following priorities: good, smart and tricky.
If I have a good pass and I can set any of the 3 front court attackers, as well as my backcourt which will you set and which player will you select and why?
What sets do you feel are your strongest and what sets do you feel are one’s that you need to train more?
Do you feel if a ball is passed at the 3-meter line (attack) and it is high enough to jump set will you jump set? And what positions will you set (middle, left or right- backcourt)
If I had a set on 3-meter line which sets do I feel comfortable setting?
When should I tip left-handed and when right handed?
When should I hit with my left hand (right hand player)?
Offensive numbering system for easy understanding
Outside hitter 5 or 3
Middle 2 or 1 or 13
Right side 15, 11 or 2
Please find below the basic information that was discussed during a setter training session on with 16 setters ages 14U-17U (7 upper age and 9 younger age).
• Need have the passion and love for the game and love to play and compete and most importantly is to recognize the role of a setter being a leader. The setter is responsible for being level headed, being in charge and following the coach in what is needed on and off the court. LOVE to set and understand success on your team is based on how you become an extension of your coaches training and the ability to handle all attitudes and body language from all players.
• Selecting adjectives are ones that best describes that individual character tics
• Setter should be the best shape; best in defense; recognize what sets work and who hits those sets (coach with help setter learn those sets and players tendencies)
• Learning plays are a must as it allows every hitter to be part of the overall offensive strategies. It also allows for better communication without yelling.
• Jumping setting has to be part of the overall strategy, just as well as learning serving done and jump serving. Realizing that jump setting sets a tone for the opponents to realize that you can jump set from anywhere … even the 3-meter area.
• Being consistent with your sets begin by moving quickly into place after one has played defense FIRST. Realizing that the BEST setter in the world has touched over 1500 balls each day beginning at age 12.
• Hand position (triangle but around ball); feet position (right foot in front and step hop last step before getting set); body position (feet shoulder width, balanced and squaring off to target).
• Target should be 2-3 feet off for most hitters with the exception of a good jumper or hitting over a smaller blocker. Hips square to left front target NOT right front.
• Learning to be better at transition plays from tight balls and ball in net.
• Good (must be the first step); smart (learning to watch defense/block and know your own hitters); tricky (last step and many international setters learn this after 10-12 years of international training/playing).
• The tactics of setting comes from learning all of the above and is learned step-by-step; day-by-day; and match-by-match. Working very closely with your coaches will make you the setter you WANT TO BE.
• Hitting left handed is critical but takes time to develop. This takes training at home and when you come to the gym early.
• Remember the offensive system is a system that you develop and it most certainly is not individual but a TEAM EFFORT.
Questions that were asked by players and answered but not by name (age listed for
coaches’ purpose). 13 papers turned in and 16 players attended.
Want to be consistent with every set I do and want to be better at my footwork? Age 14
How to improve consistency (getting the ball to the same place every time) age 14
What difference it makes between jump setting and standing? Age 15
I want to know exactly how my footwork should be? Age 15
How to have better foot work when the set isn’t that great? Age 15
How much of a difference does it make to jump set rather than stay down? Age 15
How do you know when to set to what hitter in a game? Age 15
What do college coaches look for in a setter/when they scout? Age 15
How to read the blockers and choose a smart set to make them late on their block? Age 15
What is the average height of a setter in the Olympics? Age 15
How do you know when to jump set the ball? Age 16
How tall is the average college setter? Age 16
Which is better to run a 5-1 or 6-2? Age 16
Size is not always what matters, however some college coaches it does matter:
USC 4-time All-American --Smallest USA Olympic setter 5’4” (163 cm- Debbie Green) still regarded as the greatest American setter (at least until the USA wins a Gold). Daughters: Nicole and Dana both setters Long Beach and Santa Barbara
5’6” Penn State starting setter 2010 season
Thanks for your time,
Ruth N. Nelson