volleyball setter struggling

Question
QUESTION: hello how are you hope everything is well,
i'm a setter on an 18's team for club and i have been struggling with having good sets through out a tournament or game a matches lately i have a lot sets where i over square up to the outside a the ball slightly goes over the net I'm use to having really good games with almost perfect sets every time and lately i feel as I'm struggling to do that to even throw up a decent set ever since i came from my 4 months off from high school season i feel as i lost my confidence in my setting in my serves and in myself my first tournament back to club this season was great but after that tournament it seem like everything has just been going down hill my serves now i just try to get them over the net which they do but i use to have a pretty good top spin now it just ok but it needs to be harder my sets are ok but i feel can be better my game can just be better i was just wondering is there anyway or any advice you can give me to help me with this because i want to not only play how i use to but be better than that and play harder and much better and also have a higher confidence when i play like i use to if not better an advice would help a ton i appreciate it a lot thank you so much

ANSWER: Hello Shiann and welcome to www.AllExperts.com

My name is Coach Tovar

To make sure that all my readers young and old can understand some of my comments, I have chosen to use simple vocabulary words and interpret the rule for this sole purpose.

Think of the following quotes below or those that you have felt have helped you in the past to focus on the now and regain your confidence.

"Volleyball is 10% physical and 90% mental" unknown

"There is nothing more heart breaking then to see all your players look at their best player and their best player shows a of lack of confidence in themselves" Tovar

"How do you want it, on your knees or on your feet" Alien3

"Making mistakes in a game of volleyball doesn't make you loose games, not learning from them do" Tovar

"When you practice, you should always want every player on the team to believe that you are the greatest player on the team - and everyone one on the team should feel the same way about themselves" Tovar

"Setting - !I will dink on you, I will move the ball around on you, I will set into your court and I will spike the ball every chance I get. I will make you worry about me every time I touch that ball!" Tovar

"I hate to see my opponents's volleyball players yelling in desperation. I hate to see what caused them to see fear, chaos,  embarrassment, hopelessness, and lack of will to win. I hate that it was I who caused this for them" Tovar

see more of my personal quotes and others here http://www.volleyballplaystorun.com/volleyballquotesmore.htm

"Let's start with what we need to do now - period" Tovar's mom

"Before I start and and I help you with this I want you to do three things for me listen, think and reflect" Tovar

Well Shiann I can tell that you are a perfectionist and almost all great players are but that also comes with a small price to pay. You see Shiann someone who practices so hard and is always successful for most of the time is also very hard on themselves when things don't go their way. Being hard on yourself can be one cause of why you might not be doing so great. Loosing your focus might be another. Whatever the reason let's improve it right now.

We all have had these "bad days" regardless of your playing level and years of experience but there are several things you can think about that will help you not have a row of these "bad days". Here are some things you can think of that might help you improve on your current situation. Think about focusing on small goals, be logical, be smarter, go all out, and talk to yourself. Since these things are already in you we just have to bring them out again.

1. Focus on small goals - think of small goals such as presenting a good set, adjusting the set to the hitter and setting away from the net as opposed to closer to the net. The points and games won will follow so be patient.

Focus on smaller number of steps when setting as opposed to a larger number of steps. For example when you set think about "run", "stop", and "good set". In serving, spike the ball into the floor to shake the nervous cob webs and serve as hard as you were spiking the ball into the floor before serving.

2. Be logical - learn from the previous play and expect a similar process with your adjustment to that process. For example if someone just served a great serve that caused your team to make a mistake then you can better prepare your team and yourself for a similar process but think about what you can do to adjust to that particular server. Talk to your receivers say "high bump" or "adjust". Let these key words sink in and this will also let them know that were ready for the next serve.  

3. Be Smarter -  learn from your mistakes and think ahead of what made you make a mistake. For example I should expect that she/he is a great server so I'll be sure I give that extra help to my players. Now I know that she/he is a great server so I will expect something extra so I won't over do it. It's okay to practice a set with your arms before your opponent serves the ball again. Check for your form and adjust it before the ball is served.

4. Go all out - one mistake a lot of players do is to not go through the entire skill process. If you set a ball then go all out and never under set. It is better to over set the ball and give your players a chance than to do it half way and not give anybody a chance.

Some players spike the ball softly to not make a mistake only to make it worst. When the hitters are too careful, the ball travels out and slowly because this is not the correct way to perform this skill. Believe in your self and your skills . If they have always worked then they will work again but you need to perform them correctly. If something goes wrong then let it go wrong because you went through the whole skill process and not because you did it have way. This will help you adjust quicker towards the next time you do that same skill.

5. Talk to yourself - say a few key words that will help you go through the setting process like saying "go", "ready", "good set" or "focus", "ready", and "follow through". You can also use any key words that will help you.

Remember Shiann if your coach has always believed in you then there is a reason why so focus - period.

"If you don't have faith in yourself then have faith in someone that does have faith" Tovar

I hope this answers your question.

For the time is takes me to write all this information and possibly do research to give you the most updated information all I ask in return are two things.

1.   Please take the time to rate me. Any feedback you can provide for me will be great.
2.   Visit my website at www.volleyballplaystorun.com plus:

You can also become a free member and learn the latest volleyball play systems, and newest volleyball serves plus much more.
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Please visit me at www.volleyballplaystorun.com

Thank you for visiting www.AllExperts.com

Coach Tovar


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks that should help a lot i have one more question though how can i make my top spin serve harder and quicker

Answer
Hello again Shiann.

Well Shiann to help create top spin to any serve there are three basic things you can do. These things are listed below in order of difficulty.

1. Provide top spin to the ball as it is being tossed - hold the ball from underneath, use your serving hand, toss the ball up straight up on top of your head, use your fingers to create a forward top spin, you can hit the ball in two ways: 1)- serve the ball about 3-4 feet on top of the net like a regular serve while you provide top spin and 2)- provide more top spin as the ball is already spinning toward the net. Remember , the ball will drop quicker so you have to aim higher.

2. Use the "C" or cobra hand formation - this was one of my nicknames in college club ball because I used to spike the ball from wherever inside the court. To perform this skill you need to form a "C" letter with your serving hand while your thumb is facing sideways and away from your fingers. Form this position as you hit the ball. This will take some practice but this will also help you spike the ball hard from any where in the court.

3. Arch your back backwards and use your core body to provide the topspin - if you cannot provide topspin with your serving hand then you can also arch your body backwards where the balls seems to drop in front of your chest. Strike the ball as far back from your body as possible. This means that the ball will not be hit on top of your head but a few inches further back. As you follow through make sure your serving arm does not drop lower than your chest level.

I call this serve on my website the "Standing low toss top spin". This serve will give you the results of a jump serve without all the steps.

I am also an expert in volleyball serves so if you visit my website I show people over 31 different types of serves.

PS feel free to ask me anything else.

Juan A. Tovar