Simplified Setter Training

with Craig Skinner, University of Kentucky Head Coach;
9 Consecutive SEC Regular Season Champions (2017 - 2025);
2025 Final Four;
2025 SEC Tournament Champions;
2020 NCAA National Champions;
2021 AVCA National Coach of the Year;
2021 Volleyball Magazine National Coach of the Year;
5x AVCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year ;
7x SEC Coach of the Year;
2006 USA Junior National Team Head Coach (won Gold Medal in the Under-20 NORCECA Championships);
Nebraska Assistant Coach from 2000 to 2004;
2000 NCAA Championship (with John Cook as head coach):
Wisconsin Assistant Coach from 1994 to 1998;
Muncie Burris High School (IN) Head Coach from 1988 to 1989;
Munciana Volleyball Club, Director and Coach in 1988 and 1989;
played college volleyball (Ball State University) for Don Shondell

Setters have become an integral part of any program regardless of the type of offense that a team might run. A setter's leadership, demeanor, and command of their peers' respect are all key factors in molding a dominant volleyball team.

In this video, University of Kentucky head coach Craig Skinner shares his methods to training a top-tier setter. He covers fundamental hand and body positioning and gives you drills that use props, such as boxes, to emphasize angles to better shape, window, and freeze. Skinner's drills will help your setters get their teammates to trust where the ball will be set while also promoting leadership skills and confidence.

Working the Hands

Hands are the key to setting technique. Coach Skinner shows how to use a physio ball to create some stabilization to isolate hand placement, movement and finish. This will improve the angle and timing of your setters' balls!

Once players have become comfortable with the correct hand technique, Skinner progresses to drills featuring a coach on a box. Receiving balls from a box and pass will allow athletes to continue working their hands while also introducing a footwork/base element.

Improving Footwork

Coach Skinner's footwork movements cover:

• Starting in loaded position
• Getting a rhythm to step hop
• Step hopping forward, backward, diagonal toward the net, and back

To close the video, Skinner has a brief Q & A with high school coaches, adding insight and detail to the drills presented.

This video will help you create an aggressive setter by teaching how to dump, read blocks, set a low-passed ball, and take the ball out of the net. Learn how to take your setters to the next level today!

55 minutes. 2018.