What Coach Lea looks for

The checklist she runs on every setting clip

A real email from Coach Lea: the one thing to fix, how to fix it, and a drill to start on.

Coach Lea watches every rep herself and decides what matters, in what order, and what to change first. Working on the whole position? See Setter training.

She checks

Hand shape: a window above the forehead, thumbs and index fingers forming a triangle
Contact: both hands touching the ball at the same time, fingers (not palms) doing the work
Footwork: left-right to the target, with the right foot forward on the finish
Body line: square to the target, hips under the ball
Set location: distance off the net, height, and consistency rep to rep
Tempo: the same release on a perfect pass and an off pass

Common errors

What usually shows up on setting film

From Coach Lea's checklist, in plain words. Your athlete probably has one or two of these, not all six.

Double contact

One hand touches first, usually because the hands are open too wide or the setter is reaching. In high school and college play this is a fault.

Fix: hands together in the window early; take the ball at the forehead, not out front.

Sets too tight to the net

The set drifts toward the net because the setter is drifting or finishing with the hands over the head.

Fix: finish the hands toward the antenna, not up; keep the feet on the ground on standard sets.

Footwork: no left-right

The setter arrives flat-footed or with the wrong foot forward, so the hips can't face the target.

Fix: left-right to every ball, even easy ones, until it's automatic.

Taking the ball too low or out front

The ball is caught at the chest or pushed from in front of the face, which flattens the set and invites a double.

Fix: get under the ball early so contact is above the forehead.

Inconsistent height and location

Every set is a different problem for the hitter. Usually the feet are late, so the hands are compensating.

Fix: beat the ball to the spot; set from a still base.

Hands open too early or too late

Open early and the hands are stiff; open late and the ball is caught.

Fix: show the hands as the pass peaks, relax, then extend through the ball.

Coaching references:

How to film setting

The angle that lets us see it

Side view from the setter's right (for a right-foot finish), 15–20 feet back
Hands and feet both in frame — this is the one skill where a closer camera helps
5–10 sets off a toss or pass to the same target
If filming from the net side, stand in the hitter's zone so set location is visible

Full filming guide

Coach Lea's Quick Check

$40 per clip

Coach Lea's email within 48 hours

A real email from Coach Lea: the one thing to fix, how to fix it, and a drill to start on. One athlete, one skill, one clip.

One athleteper submission

One skilla second skill is a second Quick Check

One clipa file or a shared link

30 sec – 2 minclip length

5 – 10 repsof the same skill

Whole body in frameside view for hitting and serving

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No payment on this site: after you submit, Coach Lea confirms your clip and sends payment details. Unusable clip (angle or lighting)? One free re-submission.

Every Quick Check is watched and written up by Coach Lea Conner — FHSAA Coach of the Year, 17 years coaching, with a 2018 National Championship season on the University of Tampa staff. Meet your coaches →

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One setting clip, Coach Lea's read in 48 hours. Related: Passing analysis · Attacking analysis.

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Volleyball setting analysis: hands, footwork and location