Volleyball Setting Drills for Beginners

How to set a Volleyball?

I’ve been asked over social media and throughout this quarantining at home about what drills I do, specifically for setters because I was a setter when I played indoor and use my hands on the beach. The one drill I always did growing up is simple in theory, harder in practice. It’s just setting into a basketball hoop.

Many of you don’t have access to basketball hoop at the moment; never fear. I have an idea. Tape a target onto the side of your house and – voila. Or use (a coronavirus-free, clean) trashcan to act as your hoop.

I did this drill as a kid a lot because you can make it as easy or as challenging as you want. For us setters, we’re often on the move trying to locate the ball and deliver the best set we can. One of the best pieces of advice I heard as a young player that stuck with me was, “Every setter can take a perfect pass and deliver a perfect ‘buttery’ set to their hitters. BUT, a GREAT setter can take a POOP pass and make it into a ‘pot of gold’ for their hitters.”

Growing up that was always in the back of my head. I was always thinking, “If I could make any pass – whether it was good, mediocre, bad, or a simply horrendous “shank” – into a pot of gold, it would set my team up for a good chance to WIN. So I’d challenge myself in this drill to create game-like situations that would set me up for success in matches.

To complete these setting drills, all you need:

• Basketball hoop, trash can, or piece of tape for your TARGET
• A ball, partner, family member, friend or friendly stranger to help toss
• Your imagination and creativity

Drill Focuses:

• Challenging and working on SETTING LOCATION.
• The hoop is your friend!
• Always get your feet to the ball fast, and square feet up to the basket before setting the ball into the hoop.

Points, Tips, and Food for Thought

I’ve been doing this for over 15 years. It’s still one of the BEST BUT MOST FRUSTRATING DRILLS I do. A few reasons…

• We like to see the ball sink and hear that swoosh sound as we drill a free throw or three pointer.
• It’s the same thing with setting.
• I still get frustrated when I set the ball and it looks like it’s going in but it just SOMEHOW bounces right out.
• I set 5 balls and they look perfect but they hit the rim all 5 times.

This is a video of me practicing my setting (by myself) a couple years ago 🙂

Now these drills and fun games that you’ll see in the video bring back so many great memories with my dad. Growing up from around 2nd-grade through 6th-grade, my dad and I would show up early every morning to school to practice setting. We’d head straight to the back where all the basketball courts were and would practice different setting drills and fun games all aiming to accomplish one goal, sinking the volleyball into the hoop! There were great memories, but man were there tons of frustrating moments. All athletes are focused on getting better during drills, and we know that includes trial and error. But it was STILL frustrating when I don’t sink that ball into the hoop every single time.

I’ve gotten frustrated to the point of punting balls across the court, only to have to go chase it myself because I only have one ball. I’ve said way too many four-letter words (I’ll leave it up to your imagination to figure out which ones). During those early morning setting sessions with my dad, I’d sometimes walk off the court, grab my backpack and leave for my 1st-period class. If I’d rather go to my first-period class EARLY, it meant I had to be seriously frustrated. These drills will allow you to work on becoming THAT setter who can turn dirt into gold. It goes through drills you can work on by yourself and if you happen to find a partner or a friend!

Volleyball Setting Drills to do by Yourself

• Toss to yourself and get 10 balls in the hoop.
• Play around the world with yourself
• If you make it into the basket, move to the next marker and try to make your way around the hoop.
• Start in the center of the hoop and every time you make it take a step back

Volleyball Setting Drills to do with a Partner

• Have them toss directly to you and bank 10 in
• Have them toss off the net a little and make 10 in
• Make them toss short or deep, make 10 in
• If your partner wants to join in, play AROUND THE WORLD or HORSE!

Two reminders

1. You will not sink the ball into the hoop every time. That doesn’t mean you are a bad player.
2. If your sets are in the right area but are bouncing off the rim, or they bounce in and somehow they bounce out of the hoop – it’s still a good rep! It means you are able to set the ball in the right location, which is one of the biggest takeaways. Like I said before, it’s about setting location.

The best thing about this is that you can be as creative as you want. I always went all-in and tried half-court shots and other crazy-fun challenges like that. I encourage you to keep challenging yourself too to see how far you can push that ball and locate it in or near the basket! As you go through club, volleyball setters are pushed and challenged sometimes to set a ball from the backline or from off the court all the way to their outside hitters! The more you challenge yourself to push your limits and practice location with these fun drills/games, the more confident you’ll be with yourself when you are challenged to deliver a great set when your passers/partner might not be delivering their best!

Be as creative as you want with these drills and fun challenges. Maybe put some money or an ice cream bet on a game of HORSE. Maybe even get your parents out there too to see what they got! ——> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro0Dk25I_z4

Have fun and stay safe!