QuestionQUESTION: Hi, I am a 14 year old freshman. I have played as the 2nd setter or opposite in both 6-2 and 5-1 offense for two years. I recently tried out for my high school team. I was offered the primary setter on the freshman team OR the Right Side position on the JV team. I am 5'5, but hope to grow more my parents are both tall 5'9 and 6'4. There are two freshman setters playing up one on JV and one on Varsity and one sophmore setter playing varsity. My parents said its my choice on what I choose. I am thinking of the Right Side position because there are already 3-4 setters ahead of me that have made the higher teams. I am an okay hitter, also good at passing and have 8'8 at net block so just okay. I have been told by my coaches in the past that I am a great flexible player and can play all positions good, just not the best on the team at any single one. Should I focus on setting on the lower team to improve that or play up on the JV team as Right Side and improve more as an all around player?
ANSWER: Good evening Tori!
Welcome to www.allexperts.com. It's wonderful to hear from you.
I hope that I have answered your question in time. I'm back to teaching high school, and today was noon to 7pm "Back To School Night".
If there's still time, I recommend you choose one of these three:
a) You feel there's no way that you'll ever set after this season, so pick right side.
b) You feel you're too small to have long-term playing time in the program, so pick setting.
c) Switch to libero.
Why pick (a)? You really enjoy hitting, like you pointed out, the chances of you ever setting are small.
However, you need to be aware of something else: Front row playing time for girls 5'5" is limited! So, if your varsity team nearly always wins 25 matches each season, wins their conference nearly every year, makes the final 4 in the state nearly every year, etc., then continuing to play front row in this program is not likely.
But those kind of teams are abnormal! :) You will continue to play front row if:
- there's no one else taller;
- you jump amazingly well (you say you can reach 8'8"? That's 16" above the net? So, when you block, your elbow is at the top of the net?);
- there's no one else athletic enough to beat you out, or;
- the varsity team, JV team and freshman team all pretty much stink. :( So, it doesn't matter who plays where.
Why pick (b)? You can play half the time in a 6-2 offense for this season and maybe the next. If there's no one else taller/more athletic, you may be able to play all the way around. Sure, coaches would like setters to be taller (so that they can jump set the tight pass), but being a 5'5" setter SOUNDS a lot better than being a 5'5" right side. By the time you're a junior, however, I think (c) should be your option.
Why pick (c)? The reasons I think are obvious.
* You say you're a very flexible player. So, can you compete with the other liberos in the program? Or is there a logjam there as well?
* Sure, coaches like it when their liberos are bigger, b/c bigger girls cover more court. However, size is LESS of a factor with liberos than with setter or rights.
* If you're good enough, you can play there 24/7/365 for the rest of your life.
Just from what you'd told me: If (c) isn't an option, then I'd advise you to go with (a).....IF YOUR TEAM IS NORMAL! However, I say pick (a) knowing if your team is really good, your coach will CONSTANTLY be looking to replace you with a bigger girl (unless you do indeed jump freakishly, and you are indeed very athletic). If you pick (a), please get into as many digging drills as possible, so that if you need to move to (c), then you'll be as ready as possible. I recommend even attending other team's practices (maybe the freshman team will let you come) and practice being a libero at their practices. If you ever play on a freaky-good school or club team, the libero position may be a best -- and maybe the only -- fit for you.
p.s. Why haven't you considered outside hitter? Just wondering.
I'm glad that you sent me this message. Why not show your parents, and see what they think? If you ever need me again, please contact me here anytime, or email me at
[email protected].
One favor: In exchange for me typing all this, please do one thing for me: Please visit me at www.coachhouser.com. I think you'll really like the smiling faces!
Later!
Coach Houser
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks Coach Houser. I did talk to my coach (and parents) and he had alot of the same thoughts as you. I decided to play the setter on the Freshman team - coach said I was a good leader and that the team could really use that. He also said that many players will get moved around the first two years. As for DS/L - well everyone thinks I am going to grow...I have really big feet for my height (womens 12.5) and a 5'7.5 wing span. My 19 year old brother is 6'3 and still growing...so coaches think I will grow into a front row position - and my feet (: Most girls on our teams play the OH position - we have a few beasts that get tons of kills and coach wanted those that would play other positions to try those. Small privat school of 200 kids total all four grades. No cuts on athletic teams. I hope I answered your questions as good as you answered mine (:
AnswerOK, sounds good!
Whenever I can do anything for you or your parents, please contact me anytime.
I've been to Wisconsin twice: Once to Waukesha for a coaching clinic, and once passing through on the way to Mount Rushmore...spent a night in a place called Wisconsin Dells, never had been there before .... the Las Vegas of this side of the USA! haha
Hope you have a wonderful school season.
Chat soon!
Coach Houser
