setting technique

Question
Hi Steve,

My daughter is a setter and has been playing volleyball for 4 years (7th to 10th grade). She has had so many coaches between school teams, club teams, and camps. It seems everyone has a different technique for setting the ball. Just when she gets comfortable with one way of setting, a new coach comes along and "tweeks" it.

Her club coach was changed again this year and, again, changed her setting technique. She really likes it and she really trusts him as a coach. She's a good setter... she gets to most every ball, her location is good, and she has the ability to turn even the worst pass into a good set. She rairly gets a bad call from a ref.

She is getting discouraged at camp this year. She's been to similar camps over the last couple years and has received high marks for her setting has always been put into the higher skilled group. Both camps this year have had problems with the way she sets the ball... One camp councilor told her it was a beach set. It is deeper then alot of indoor setters use, but I've seen alot of very successful setters using the same "deep, quick" set for indoor volleyball, expecially when jump setting, which is something she is working on.

I'm not sure what advice to give her. She really want's to stick with this technique and her coach says she's doing great. Is there a standard technique for setters.... who does she listen to? Her coach? Her camp coaches (who also have different techniques)? What are college recruiters going to be looking for?... technique, form, or an end result? She will be a junior this year and is hoping to play for a college team when she graduates.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Kym

Answer
Kym,

I think the best advice I can give your daughter is to set the way she is most comfortable.  If you keep on changing her technique she is never going to get better and as you said she will get very frustrated.  We just recruited a freshman setter (who many schools overlooked due to height and very little "flash") who has great location.  The hitters know where the ball will be every time they swing.
We look for a setter that can set the ball.  If she is good then she has a setting style.  If the same setter is no good she has bad technique.  (Did that make sense?)

Have her go with the club coaches technique.  I don't know what your HS coach will say but she has to pick one style of setting and stick with it.  As far as camp goes, next summer you may find out before hand what technique the coaches teach.

My email address is [email protected].  If you have any other questions or if this didn't help please email me there.

Steve