Setting - Running an Effectice Offense

To develop a game plan, the setter and coach have to assess the strengths and weaknesses of both the team and the opponent. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses, the setter must then formulate a plan to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses with her team’s strengths. Strategy can begin to be developed as the team begins to define its offensive characteristics, and the other teams are scouted and evaluated.

Game film review - Look at the previous game film to identify the defensive tendencies and weaknesses of the opposition.

Establish the middle attack - In a fast-paced offense, the middle must be established in order to freeze the opponent’s middle blocker.

Spread the offense vs. good middle blocker or teams in a tight blocking formation - Run quick sets to the antennae after establishing the middle. Continue to set against the flow to the outsides.

Attack seams and middle vs. weak middle blocker or spread blocking formation - Run tandems and inside sets (31’s, back 2’s, etc.) to attack seams.

Setting against the flow - Set the ball in the opposite direction of the pass (i.e. the setter is pulled to the left, she sets back to the right) Flood one area of the court with 2 attackers and set to the opposite area (i.e. run an outside shoot and a 31, and then set the backside attacker).

Establish plan for passes that take the team “out-of-system” virus drill - coach plays first ball in serve receive and can pass it anywhere for the team to play out (team needs to attack 3rd ball).

Back row players must constantly make themselves available as attackers, and the setter must make the 2nd ball hittable.

Fast tempo - Speeding up the offense allows the set to beat the ability of the defense to set an effective block or establish their floor defense (see “Offense is Like Good Clockwork). A fast tempo also forces the defense to make commitments (hopefully resulting in mistakes).

Practice game situations by re-creating the oppositions game plan with scout team. Review and reinforce strategy constantly throughout the season and a setter’s career. Strategy will differ according to the opponent and by the objectives of each coach.

Therefore, each coach should be explicit about what is desired in practice and during each match. After the strategy is established it must be practiced before competition, so the setter and team are familiar with their duty on the court.

Using players as decoys to draw the opposition’s best blocker away from the attack

This can only be done by establishing the threat of the decoy first, then running her away from the intended set of the next play. Setters must force a commitment from the best blocker, especially if she is a middle blocker.

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