If we “direct our body towards the direction we want to set,” will the ball accurately fly towards the target? (Mechanism of control)
Can we accurately control the direction of the ball just by the direction of our body?
For example, imagine controlling the pass by aiming for the setter’s right hand, or imagine controlling the set to a spot 50cm away from the net. Is it possible to adjust the direction of the body to keep the margin of error within 10cm? Can you imagine how much you need to change the direction of your body to shift the target by 10cm? “Controlling the direction with the body’s orientation” is impossible, right?
In other words, controlling the direction of the ball is not precisely controlled by the direction of the body alone; it is determined by how we use our arms. According to “Coaching Volleyball: Basics of Setting” by the Japan Volleyball Association, it is written that “by capturing the ball at the position where the center of body intersects with the setting target and moving both hands towards the target, we can control the ball accurately.”
The direction in which the ball flies is determined by the line connecting the center of the body and the ball ( as explained in the video [Forum] Biomechanics of setting, part 2 ), and by capturing the ball in the appropriate position, we can achieve precise control.
In other words, it is more important to “capture the ball along the line connecting the center of the body and the target” rather than the orientation of the body. Then simply extend your arms straight towards the ball and transmit power, and the ball will fly towards the target.
“Facing the direction we want to set the body” may make it easier to capture the ball along the line connecting the center of the body and the target, so if you have enough time, it’s okay to do so, but it is not necessary. On the contrary, if you have to go around behind the line connecting the target and the ball, you may not make it in time, there will be a big disadvantage of capturing the ball in an ambiguous position while changing the direction of your body.
I repeat, it is much more important to capture the ball in a position “where to capture the ball in relation to the body” than “where the body is facing,” so to avoid ambiguity in the capturing position, it is necessary to “stop the rotation of the body and fix the direction” before trying to hit the ball using the power of the legs (floor reaction force).
First of all, setters need to be able to set in the direction of the left and right side and the center for quick attack and back row attack, making it almost impossible to “face the front (or back) of the body towards the direction of the target”. Shouldn’t we learn the foundation of “capturing the ball on the line connecting the center of the body and the target” from the beginning?
