Publisher: Championship Productions
Year: 2003
Coach: Don Shaw – Head Coach, Stanford University Mens Volleyball
Length: 30 Minutes
Cost: $39.99
TheVolleyballTeacher rating:

This DVD is a two-part video with a review and demonstration of the basic fundamentals and techniques of setting and spiking. It is fun watching future FIVB and Olympic gold medalist and current starting setter for the Men’s USA National team, Kevin Hansen, mixing it up in the video as a young college. Read more of my review after the jump.

Part One: Setting

Finger, hand and a balanced base position are covered and well explained for players and coaches of all levels. The emphasis in this video is all about achieving good footwork and positioning to maintain consistency and quality in a player’s sets. This solid instruction helps players and coaches understand that quality and consistent setting is not always about a setters hands, but more about a players speed and ability to get to a ball quickly and maintain the same stance no matter where the player is setting the ball.  Once the basics are shown, Shaw then teaches, demonstrates, and drills front sets, back sets, and jump sets and also offers strategies for deceptive setting. The drill included in this portion of the video is called Setter Pressure Drill. In essence, the drill is about putting your setters in a position to set anywhere without preconceived ideas of where to set.

Part Two: Spiking

Coach Shaw begins with the upper body here, emphasizing proper body rotation, ball striking position, contact with the entire hand, and a wrist snap follow through. We then see a slow motion example of a 3 step approach and arm swing followed by real-time player demonstration with emphasis on anti-broad jump procedures and landing on two feet. Then the concepts are put together using toss drills that combine footwork and spiking. A box is also used to demonstrate teaching the player to attack the ball if they need to work on the arm swing and attacking the ball at a high point. Quick attack strategies are also covered here teaching players to hit a ball before it reaches it’s highest point. However, I was disappointed that the entire middle attacker quick was not covered without using a box. But, in fairness, this is a fundamental DVD and not an advanced level training video.

Towards the end of this session, Shaw introduces a few drills to help with target accuracy. The Sock Drill and using cones in the Live Sets drill teach players to always face the same range spot and use their body to direct the attack to a specific zone. This serves as a way to disguise a spiker’s intention from the defense as well as teaching proper technique and form to achieve maximum power.

Conclusion:

This video has a great coach in Don Shaw and a balanced group of demonstrators that show viewers how to utilize the setting and spiking skills from a beginner to intermediate level. If you are interested in learning how to teach fundamentals, or you want to brush up on them as a player, this video is great. If you are looking for advanced techniques including setting options, back row attacks, and other hitting options like rolls, cuts, and dinks you must look elsewhere.

If you are interested in purchasing this DVD, go get it at http://www.championshipproductions.com.