Recruiting the Setter Position

Along with the Libero position, I think that setters are one of the hardest to get recruited.

To read my thoughts on getting recruited as a Libero, go HERE.

There are a lot of factors and variables that go into recruiting a setter.

Are they recruiting a setter in your class?

Do they run a 5-1 or a 6-2?

Do they like how you set?

How well do you connect with the coaches?

Let's dive a little deeper into all of these variables.

Are they recruiting a setter in your class?

This is obviously one of the biggest factors to the recruiting process as a whole. Setters are in a similar position as Libero's because schools are not always recruiting a setter in each class. It's possible that schools with a larger roster size (typically D3 and NAIA) might be recruiting a setter each season. For many D1 and D2 schools, they are recruiting a setter every other year at most. That means that if you want to play D1 (340 schools) your list got cut in half and we haven't applied any other variables.

Do they run a 5-1 or a 6-2?

So we take the list of schools that are actually recruiting a setter in your class and then we have to look at what kind of offense they run. Some setters are "to short" to run a 5-1 at some schools and some "short" setters do just fine running a 5-1. If you're going to be better with a "short" setter on the court for 6 rotations, then that's what you should do. The former University of Texas setter was "short" by LOTS of coaches standard - didn't stop her from setting in the Big 12 (read my "It's Not Always About Height" blog post for more on this topic). In many instances, a smaller block for OH's is harder to defend and so coaches will typically want a taller setter if they are running a 5-1. But, if a program has done a really good job recruiting big RS hitters and blockers, running a 6-2 might be better for them offensively and defensively. The trick here is you have to stand out to them in one situation or the other. Either you have to be show the coach that you can run a 5-1 because they watch you do that, or you have to be a killer 6-2 setter with tons of intangibles so that you stand out to the coaching staff. Either way, this is a big factor in how college coaches recruit the setter position.

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Do they like how you set?

Setting is still a technical skill. The setter position is a skill position. Even if you're a really good high school and club setter, you're going to run into college coaches that are going to want you to do some thing differently. That's okay. But coaches that train setters are typically very specific in what they are wanting to start out with...or what they DON'T want to start with. Sometimes the positives outweigh the negatives, but coaches can typically find what they are looking for.

Not setting the temp they want...not locating consistently...not having the correct footwork...

All of these things can and will be reasons a coach passes over you as a setter. How do you know what a college coach is looking for specifically? Well, if you're not in a position where they will respond to you over email then going to camps, clinics or any other gym where you can get in front of that specific coach is the best way to figure that out. Besides that - work hard, train, take lessons, grow your game and do all the other things you can to put your BEST out in front of college coaches.

How well do you connect with the coaches?

This might be the biggest aspect to all of this. The relationship between the coach and setter is of utmost important to being recruited in this position. That includes things like trust, communication and personality fit. Pass all the other tests above, but fail this one and the coaching staff will be looking elsewhere. As a setter you're not only communicating with your teammates constantly, but you're the one that EVERYONE looks to. Even if you're not a captain or an upperclassmen you control the energy, passion, mood, and can help sway your team one way or other; towards a win or towards a loss. A college coach knows this (or at least they should). So you have all of that you need to be able to deal with on the court, right? But you're also the one that gets coached the most. You have to know the game plan. You have to know what your coach is wanting and what they are expecting. You are THE leader on the court regardless of title or standing. Because this position carries so much weight, the relationship between you and the coaching staff (usually the HC, even if they aren't the ones doing the setter training) is of utmost importance. I will take a less talented setter if all of the other boxes get checked...read that again. Why? Because I know the athlete that checks this last box (arguably the most important one) and all the others, but might be lacking a little bit in the talent level, is going to excel, work hard and improve. In the end (as a coach) I believe that athlete will be better after 4 years of college than the "more talented" setter. That's why it's so important as a setter that wants to get recruited that you are bought into the coach, staff and program as a whole. It can't even be a thought that you'll "go rogue" or something even close. Trust, communication...those two things are key for a setter being recruited.

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