Serving

Mental Checklist

Develop a consistent routine - similar to a basketball player at the free throw line.

Inventory your serve: Identify the game/match situation. For example: did your previous server make an error; what happened on the previous play; what is the score; what rotation are they in (weak passers, strong hitters); what passer do I want to go after; deep breath, clear the mind, focus on target.

Technical Checklist

Ready Position

Face the target with hips and torso.
Weight on back foot with knees comfortably flexed.

Hold the ball at shoulder height with the non-serving hand, in line with the serving shoulder, between the shoulder and the target area.

Draw the serving hand high off the ball with the elbow at least as high as the ear. The hand should be ahead of the elbow (palm facing away from the head).

Toss and Step

Lift the ball upward from the ready position to a height just above your reach. The "lift" should be directly in line with the hitting shoulder and the target. If the "lifted" ball were to drop, it would land directly in front of the hitting-side foot.

The toss and step should happen at the same time.

Strike the center of the ball with the entire palm of the hand.

Hit through the ball and end with arm pointing at the target area.

Finish balanced on both feet but with the majority of the weight transferred from the back to the front foot.

Tactical Checklist

Make the target passer move.

Avoid serving an error after a time-out, first serve of the game, game point, after we have won a great rally, the previous server served out or you just entered the game.

Do not try to serve an ace.

Serve streaks; three or more points three times during a game.

Serve the poorest passer.

Interrupt the offense by serving the most likely attacker or the setter.

Serve a substitute.

Serve at an obvious hole.

Serve at the player who made the last mistake.

Setting

Mental/Tactical Checklist

1. Know who to set in various situations (determined either by conference with the coach, overall game plan, and/or experience.

2. Always be aware of the opponent’s rotation and where the strongest/weakest blockers are.

3. Know:
o The most effective way to motivate teammates.
o How to show confidence in players and make them feel good.
o How to radiate confidence.
o How to handle hitters: when to "baby" them, ignore them, or make demands of them.
o How to keep all players involved.

4. Be clear about the play. Any confusion in the offense or the patterns is the setter's fault. The setter MUST clearly communicate the plays before serve reception and freeball situation--especially important to communicate to substitutes entering a game or drill station and to hitters who need things communicated stronger or more clearly than others.

5. Be aware of all potential overlaps.

6. Visually or verbally communicate with the coach during a match (opponent's weaknesses, hitter to set, etc.)

7 . Be in control of your emotions AT ALL TIMES.

8 . Seek feedback from hitters and put them in a position to succeed.

9. Be prepared to set EVERY second ball. Yell "help" on those ballsl where it is clear you cannot make the play or where you have made the first contact; ideally, you should yell the name of the player you want to make the next contact.

10. Don't feel sorry for yourself if the pass isn't perfect. There is no such thing as a bad pass. It is the setter's responsibility to improve the team's chances of scoring or siding out by making the best possible set out of the pass she receives.

Technical Checklist

Arrive. Get to the point of contact before the ball.

Face the target with hips and torso.
Weight on left foot with knees comfortably flexed.

Feet stopped/Hands up. Form a "window" with your hands.

Contact the ball close to the face with all five fingers, allow them to "flex" like a diving board.

Extend. Fully extend your hands and fingers towards the target--like Superman flying. Set "through" the ball.

Push off left foot when releasing the ball; step through the set.

Cover the hitter!