BV - Play Book ..... 2nd Draft, 2-7-97

This page is intended to establish a baseline description of the standard plays that teams in our club use. For those who already know this stuff better than I do, I'd appreciate your comments, corrections, omissions, etc. I've tried to begin this description with pretty basic stuff, say, for new players, so please don't be offended by the trivial nature of some of the statements or details given here.

Offensive (attack) Plays

Before each serve, when our team is receiving, the setter signals the play we will run (on a good pass). Each player must learn to watch the setter for the play signal, especially the front row hitters. Every play has a name and a hand-signal, and consists of a combination of hitting assignments for the front-row hitters. Often, too, special sets are called for both front and back-row hitters which modify or augment the standard play which is being run.

Because most plays consist of combinations of somewhat complex hitting assignments it's important for all players to know the plays, know what play is being run and, that they each execute their specific hitting assignment completely, even if the set doesn't come to them. Doing this:

  1. avoids interfering with the path/timing of the patterns being executed by the other hitters;
  2. draws or freezes blockers in the assigned attack area;
  3. helps the other players know where/how to cover behind the hitter for blocked ball returns.

Every club has its own unique method of naming, numbering and signaling the various sets and plays that they use. Here, I'll first attempt to describe what our set numbers are and what they mean. Then, I'll describe in some detail each of the sets we use. Finally, I'll define each of our plays (and special sets) with a simple chart listing each of our plays by its name, its signal and the set number combinations involved. This chart is all you need once you learn the system.

Set Numbers

A two-digit code is used to specify sets or hitting assignments. The first character specifies the zone (or location) of the set, along the net; the second specifies the tempo (or height) of the set. We run sets at four different front-row zones and use four tempos. We also use back-row sets, which I call "10" sets although this number isn't consistent with the basic set numbering scheme.

Set Zones

We use four front-row hitting zones: 6, 3, M and B. Whereas the first zone specifies an absolute location the other three zones are are setter-relative, i.e., they depend on the setters' location as he receives the pass. Ideally, the setter will be located a little to the right of center-court, facing the left side, and 1 foot or so off the net. The distances given below, and used subsequently, assume the setter is in this position, and that the hitters are right-handed (these may need adjustment for lefties).
Zone 6 - is out at the antenna on either side of the net.
Zone 3 - is 3-6 feet out, directly in front of the setter.
Zone M - is 1-2 feet out, directly in front of the setter.
Zone B - is 1-2/3 feet out, directly BEHIND the setter.

Set Tempos

We use four set tempos: 1, 2, 3 and 6. The term tempo is used because it indicates the quickness of the attack that the set is intended to produce, but you can just as well think of it as the height of a set. Tempo 1 is the fastest (lowest) and 6 is the slowest (highest).
Tempo 1 - is a ball that is set 1-2 feet above the net.
Tempo 2 - is 2-3 feet high.
Tempo 3 - is 3-4 feet or more high.
Tempo 6 - is just high, 6-8 feet or more.
The first two tempos demand a very good pass to the setter. Not only does the pass have be near the middle of the net but it must also be right up to the net; and preferably up near the top of the net!.

Detailed Set Descriptions

There are 10 different sets that we use: M1, M2, M3, B2, 33, 31, 66, 63, 61, and 10. In theory any of the hitters could probably be assigned to hit any of these sets but in our plays the left front hits only 6x, M1, M2 and 33's. The middle front hits Mx, B2 and 31's. The right front hits 66, B2 and 33's. Only back-row players hit 10 sets. However, every player must know the plays and be able to hit each of these sets because during a complete rotation they have to play each of the other hitting positions for at least one play usually. As a setter you shouldn't have to worry about what kind of hitter is playing which position... they should all be able to execute every set assignment.

M1 Set - is a first tempo (fast) set: 1-2 feet above the net; placed 1-2 feet out, directly in front of the setter (facing to the left side); and, 1-2 feet off the net (going straight-up or slightly backwards). The middle blocker is usually the only one who hits these sets, and then, only on a perfect pass. Remember, if the hitter is left-handed the distance out from the setter may need to be altered some.

At the time the ball leaves the setter's hands the hitter should be on the last step of his approach, going up with the ball. The ball should be hit at, or before, it reaches its apex. The apex of a "1" set is usually a foot or two above the net, but this can vary because in theory the height is supposed to be up to the point at which the hitter normally reaches when his hand contacts the ball. Note that if the setter jump-sets, which he must if the pass is up near the top of the net, the ball can often be hit just as it leaves the setters' hands! Also, if the pass is over-passed (above the net), the setter will often go up and retreive the ball in the plane of the net (before it goes completely over), in such a way that it effectively results in a "1" set for the middle hitter, who should be ready for this emergency situation set. In any event, "1's" are difficult and take lots of practice to perfect.

M2 Set - is a second tempo set: 2-3 feet high; placed 1-2 feet out in front of the setter; and, 1-2 feet off the net (going straight-up or slightly backwards). This is a default set for the middle blocker (left-side hitters sometimes hit these also. It usually takes a good, but not perfect, pass to execute the "2".

At the time the ball leaves the setter's hands the hitter should be on his next-to-last (3rd) step in his approach, taking his last step when the ball is at or near its apex - and then hitting it as it descends. The apex of a "2" set is nominally about three feet above the net but, again, this can vary somewhat depending on the hitter.

M3 Set - is a third tempo set: 3-4 feet high; placed 1-3 feet out in front of the setter; and, 1-2 feet off the net (going straight-up or slightly backwards). Left-side hitters are usually assigned to hit M3's, but middles can also.

At the time the ball leaves the setter's hands the hitter should be on the first step in his approach - and then hit the ball as it descends to his hitting height.

B2 Set - is like an M2 except that it's placed 2-3 feet directly BEHIND the setter. Right-side hitters and sometimes middles are the only hitters assigned to hit this set. It usually takes a pretty good pass to execute a B2 because the set goes a little further out (back) and the setter doesn't usually have a real good view of the hitters approach.

33 Set - is like an M3 set except that it is placed 3-6 feet out in front of the setter; and, 1-2 feet off the net (going straight-up or slightly backwards). Usually, only outsides hit 33's.

31 Set - is a first tempo (fast) set: 1+ feet high; placed 3-6 feet out in front of the setter; and, 0-1+ feet, or so, off the net. Its trajectory is not like any other middle set! It must be going forward toward the net, with a low-arc, in such a manner that it will go over the net if not touched by the hitter! Only middles hit these sets.

At the time the ball leaves the setter's hands the hitter should be starting or in his jump, so that the setter can shoot the ball right over to the hitters hand. If M1's are hard to master, these are harder!

66 Set - is a slow tempo set which is set high and out to the antenna on either side; 6-8 feet or more high; and, 2-3 feet off the net. This is the default set for outside hitters. It is also used as the emergency or outlet set on bad passes. Middles don't hit "6's" in any of our plays (except for when they are receiving in the right-front position).

63 Set - called a slow shoot, is set out to the left-side antenna; 3-4 feet above the net at it's apex but only 1-2 feet up at the antenna; and, 1-2 feet off the net. Usually the left-front hitter gets these sets but they can be reversed to the right-side for right-front lefties also. This set is a "special set" and is used in only one of the standard plays (Stein/Mug Play).

61 Set - is a fast version of the show shoot, a fast shoot. Its apex is 1-2 feet above the net but only 1 foot at the antenna; and, only a 1 foot or so off the net. This set is difficult to master and not used too often. This set is a "special set" and is not used in any of the standard plays. But like any of the "special sets" it can be used to modify or augment any of the standard plays. For example, the setter may give the signal for a "Basic Play" and then signal "Fast Shoot" to the left front hitter, which would change his set assignment (only) from "66" to "61".

Back-row/10 Set - is a high set to a backrow hitter, 6-8 feet above the net, and 1-2 feet in front of the attack line (so as to minimize the risk of an attack line fault). When set to the middle back player this set is sometimes called a "pipe". This set is another "special set". Since the standard plays only have front-row set assignments, the setter usually augments them with back-row sets.

Play Descriptions

With just the few set described above many different plays are possible. Normally, we only use the eight plays described below. The least complicated, of these is called the "Basic" play. It has each front-row player hitting the default set for his position. This play is the one we revert to in emergency situations, or when we're just trying to "get it together". The "Four Play" is the next least complicated play. It has two default sets and one play set. All of the other plays are combination plays, where two hitters are hitting play sets and the third is hitting a default set (as an emergency outlet set). The hand signal for each play is given below along with the set numbers for the three front-row hitters (in left-to-right order): 
PLAY NAME        PLAY SIGNAL           PLAY SETS

Basic            Closed Fist           66-M2-66
Two Play         Peace Sign            66-31-B2
Tandem           Fist w/1st & 4th      33-M1-66
                 fingers extended
Four Play        Four fingers          66-M2-B2
                 spread, thumb in
Stack            Like Four, except     M3-M1-66
                 fingers together
Cross            1st two fingers       66-M1-33
                 crossed
Southern Cross   Fist w/pinky up       M2-31-66
Stein            Open fist, like       63-B2-66
                 holding a mug
Free-ball Play   Setter yells          One of the above plays
                 "Free-ball"           picked before game.

Special Sets

SET NAME         SET SIGNAL            SET #

Slow Shoot       Fist w/thumb up       63
Fast Shoot       Fist w/thumb up &     61
                 index finger out
Thirty-one       Fist w/last three     31
                 fingers extended
Backrow          Fist w/middle         10
                 finger extended
Pumper           Fist w/thumb out &    M3 (fake M1)
                 moving up and down