Vball Setting / Play Calling?

Question

We are a coed A level team playing a 6-2. We have a basic play calling system for the first rally that includes shoots in power, quicks in middle, back sets, etc. What I'm curious to learn is how the play calling is done after that, for the additional rallies. Is the setter calling the sets, are the hitters calling the sets, a mix of both? Is the setter calling the plays out loud or uses hand gestures?

Calling out loud can be efficient but it can also give the play away to the other team. Hand gestures can be hard to see or the setter may not have time to do them before setting. What are the possible ways to communicate, to call the plays?

I am aware that all (above) systems are possible but I am interested in feedback from other setters on pros/cons and personal preference.

Thanks!

Answer 1

This is definitely a case where the level of the team and amount of practice/time together vary your options as a setter. Typically, the setter calls the original play for their first attack hoping that they will get a kill, if not, the hitters run the same play next attack. The common secondary call is an option play for a free ball. So most of the time you will have your three front row hitters running specific sets, with an option for a combo should the other team return the ball easily (ie. doesn't hit it at you). Combo options could be either an X (right side hitter comes around to hit a 2 ball after the middle fakes a quick), a tandem (same set for outside hitter), or double front/back quicks with middle and right side.

Only the highest level teams call plays for the second, third, fourth rally. And they typically call at the beginning of the play.
The top level squads have that they call in-system and out-of-system plays. So in-system would be serve receive or freeball when you expect the pass to go to the net where the setter is. Out-of-system being a difficult defensive play where the setter has to run down a splayed dig or touch off the block. The setter is not in his/her typical position so the hitters run a different play because often the quick sets aren't available.

Another good option is to give your hitters the chance to audible after the first attack. They can make a call/sound or something in transition that you as a setter will know that they are changing their set (like from an outside hut to a shoot).

Avoid calling out sets mid-play, unless your a trying to deceive the defense.

The bottom line is in the heat of a play, you will not have a chance to tell everyone on the team a new play. You must rely on small changes with your hitters during transition or setting up everything before the play starts.

Answer 2

Usually the middle hitter jumps in front of the setter when possible, unless the setter calls something secret to change it to a slice. The setter could also slow it down to make it a 2-ball instead of a "normal" 1-ball if the MH is not "up to the speed", or when the opponent MB is in a hyper mode.

When the MH is attracting all defense effort of your opponent, the OH should be wide open and ready for anything from the setter. The setter could call something to move the OH to hit the second quick, and have your back row OH ready to hit "wide open" behind 10-foot line.

The bottom line is that at A-level you should have your set playa for more than one rally, and deal with "bad pass" with verbal call if your setter wants to set up a special play. Your OHs should always be ready to be the setter's last option.

For some coed teams, it is better making it simple in offense, so that no one gets confused about where s/he should be in the next move, especially where to go for defense. Calling a play on the fly usually would add more confusion to both sides of the net, unless your setter is calling one of two pre-agreed options.

Answer 3

I don't like verbal calls. Not just because the other team hears them, but because the setter's intent may not match the actual set. This is probably more of a problem at my recreational level than your A level, but errors happen everywhere.

If the setter plans to set a 10 but sends it to the outside hitter, it's the outside hitter's ball. Once the set is in the air the setter's intent is irrelevant, and a verbal call that doesn't match the actual set just causes confusion.