How to Set a Ball in Volleyball
Setting is often the most difficult skill to master in volleyball and needs a lot of practice. But it’s one of the most important skills. The setter is the center of any volleyball team. She is the one who touches the ball almost every play and decides who she wants to set the ball to and where she wants to move the ball. There are several variations to the set, but all stem from the basic steps.
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Instructions
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Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart.
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Position your arms above your forehead, elbows bent out at about a 45 degree angle with your palms facing upward and fingers spread out. Your index fingers should be the closest to your body while your thumbs should be further away.
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Form a loose triangle shape with your thumbs and index fingers. None of these fingers should be touching, but should form a triangle.
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Square your shoulders, with your feet facing towards the target.
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Touch the ball with the tips of your fingers. The center of the ball should be in the loose triangle you’ve formed.
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Spring your wrists up in a quick motion above your forehead. Bend your knees and push the ball toward the desired target. The motion must be quick, otherwise the referee might call an illegal lift if the ball stays in your hands for too long.
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Tips & Warnings
Practice the spring of your wrists by placing a ball in your hands and moving your wrists back and forth in the proper motion several times.
Most of your power and strength comes from your legs, so be sure to push off the gym floor with your legs as you set.
This skill is the hardest to learn in volleyball and requires a lot of practice before proper form can be attained.
The ball can’t touch your palms because this is an illegal set.
References
- Photo Credit volleyball net with palm trees in the backgound image by jeff gynane from Fotolia.com
