Lindsey Berg: Volleyball Footwork Makes Perfect Passes

Olympian Volleyball player Lindsey Berg espouses one thing that she thinks all might agree on in the volleyball footwork world. That a shorter/smaller setter will make faster moves to the ball. She’s been addressing these and other skill sets specific to small setters in her recent blog posts, like this one. How Your Feet Help to Make Perfect Passes.

See more Lindsey Berg Blog Posts; search out topics specific to your position.

Here Lindsey imparts this latest advice covering Efficiency on the Court through Volleyball Footwork

To be efficient means achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense. It’s one thing to say, “Get to the ball faster,” but at the end of the day if you are efficient with your steps you will get there as fast as you can.

I’m going to talk about footwork options related to the location of the pass. I will also refer to rhythm and cover the left-right finishing footwork that I used as a player.

Some coaches might teach the opposite, but I am here to teach what made me the setter I am. Rhythm and left-right finishing footwork were two very big keys for me.

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PERFECT PASS ON THE NET

Setting is about rhythm. If the pass is perfect, you will use a left-right foot pattern under the ball (see photos below), unless you’re jump setting and no movement is needed to get to the ball. In that case, you will only need to walk a couple of steps to the ball with volleyball footwork.

The left-right footwork pattern helps you establish a good setting rhythm. Start by stepping with your left foot. Turn toward Zone 4 if you’re not already facing that direction, then push off with your back foot (left foot). Finally, take a step with your right foot and transfer your weight forward.

PASS A FEW FEET OFF THE NET

For passes that are close but not right on the net, you have several options:

1. Shuffle, shuffle: This is simple enough. You take a couple of shuffles toward the ball, then finish with your left-right footwork – or a jump, if you are jump-setting.

Shuffle, shuffle footwork is an efficient way to get your feet to the ball.

2. Step, crossover: Here, you take a step in the direction of the ball with your left foot, then follow with a crossover step with your right. Finish with your left-right footwork or a jump for the jump set.

Step, crossover footwork is another good way to get your feet to the ball. Once you turn toward your target (photos 5 and 6), finish by using the same footwork pushing off with your left foot and stepping forward with your right.

3. Step, crossover off one leg: As with the “step, crossover,” this starts with a step with your left foot in the direction of the ball. Next, take a crossover step that results in a one-legged jump off your right foot as you turn to square up to the target. This is a more advanced move.

Step, crossover off one leg is more advanced than the two-step movements.

PASS TO THE 10-FOOT LINE

Same technique as the other moves, except you will take an extra step and or shuffle.

That’s a good amount of data to process. Take steps at home to practice these moves. Watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you get it right or have a parent or sibling follow your technique with you. I guarantee, when you step back on the court, you’ll be moving toward making the perfect pass!

Thanks for following me and my SportStars blog. I have a lot more experience and techniques to share with you. As the founder of the CUORE PROJECT, I hope you will watch our latest CUORE Feature Video with HANNAH TAPP.

In our latest CUORE Feature Hannah Tapp talks about going from having a noodle underhand serve to figuring out life playing professional volleyball overseas.

Lindsey Berg founder of “THE CUORE PROJECT”. An all-digital programming network featuring films, editorials, and podcasts with the mission to share stories and information to educate and inspire the next generation of female volleyball athletes.