Keys to executing the back set with Nabil Mardini.
Coach Mardini is the Director of Operations with Los Angeles Volleyball Academy (LAVA) and is the former Pierce College Head Coach. He is a 3x CCCAA California State Champion and Back-to-Back Runners-Up. He has twice been named the AVCA National Two-Year College Coach of the Year.
According to Mardini the footwork is the same for the back set as it is with the forward set with the exception that the back set requires at left right footwork pattern and that the knee must be driven down towards the ground thus forcing the hips forward so that the ball goes backward.
He also states that he believes that the setter should watch the ball because if the setter holds their head steady and does not look back there will be tension in the shoulders and the ball will not travel.
Many coaches would not want their setter to watch the ball claiming that that takes away any deception. Mardini claims that all of the deception is accomplished prior to the set not after the set.
The last coaching point that he shares with regards to the back set is that the closer the set is to area 4 the bigger the step should be with the right foot and if necessary the setter may even kick.
This clip is taken from Coach Mardini’s instructional DVD entitled Best of Club Volleyball: Setting
If you are interested in learning more about that DVD simply click the link above.
The YouTube video below has audio os please make sure that your speakers are turned on.