What you need to do to perform a successful rapid set in volleyball

A well-executed quick set in volleyball can do great things for a team’s morale and enthusiasm. However, making the right play requires a few key elements.

a good pass

Simply put, you can’t run a quick series if you don’t have a good pass. What exactly constitutes a good pass depends on the players involved. For younger and/or less experienced teams, good means almost perfect. The ball must be close to the net and very close to the middle. As you progress to higher levels of play and more athletic players, passing accuracy becomes less important as players can adjust and execute better. That allows passes somewhat off the net and away from the middle.

Moment

If the batter doesn’t get there on time, no matter how good the pass is, fast play won’t work. The most frequent cause of errors in the fast attack is that the batter does not arrive on time. The exact timing depends on factors such as the type of fast attack being used and the pace of the offense (more advanced teams will tend to run faster fasts than lower tier teams). This is something that can only really develop through repetition, preferably in game-like situations.

A relaxed setter

Proper execution of a quick attack requires a setter to step in and deliver the ball. This is something that takes time to develop, as setters new to the fast attack are often afraid, mainly of being run over by the middle hitter. Putting together a fast attack, particularly the fast midfield, is a difficult thing to train with just the ball. However, this can actually be a good thing, because it forces the setter to get used to the proximity of the hitter and teaches him to trust that his teammate won’t run over him (probably). The confidence that develops from there will also help them relax with contact with the ball because, in addition to wanting to get away, new fast setters are very often seen hitting the ball.

Situational and blocking awareness

The penchant for setters, particularly inexperienced ones, is to try to set fast every time they get a good pass. At lower levels of play this can work well. However, as players progress, blocking becomes better and more capable of shutting down the middle quickly. Therefore, the setter must be aware of the situation to know if setting up the quick attack is really the best thing for him to do, or if he should simply use the quick attack option as a decoy. Experience will play a part in this, but it is also something the coach needs to help the setter learn.

If your team can combine these four things, they will be able to execute effective quick attacks. It will take some practice to get it right, and maybe even more encouragement for them to take chances in real game situations. However, a little bit of success will go a long way in making them eager to do whatever it takes to achieve it on a regular basis.