The Volleyball By Design Podcast
Jun 8, 2026 · 1 hr 8 min · 13 segments
In this episode, I sit down with former Canadian National Team setter and Olympian Brett Walsh (@Brettjwalsh) to break down the key skills that separate good…
Brett WalshGuestBrian SingHostBut w- we're gonna start with the, the biggest thing that every coach is gonna wanna hear on this episode.
Uh, let's say that you were, you were gonna work with a setter for the very first time.
what are you teaching? What are the mechanics that you're going through with a setter? Let's start from the ground up.
Well, I think you just said it, like, starting from the ground up is the way to do it, so starting with footwork.
It seems like the women are using the one foot, like, take off and pivot more often than men are.
So that's something that kind of I've had to teach myself how to teach a little bit, um, 'cause it's a really useful tool in the men's game, but it's kind of like one specific... one or two specific scenarios that you use it, like when the ball's a little bit low and off the net but you still wanna cut it off and intercept it high and keep the, the speed of the offense at a high contact point.
But in the women's game it seems like, especially actually at the younger ages when they're not as strong as they will be eventually, using the one foot pivot just allows them to generate a lot more energy on the ball.
Um, I like to coach a right left finish, so the last two steps, um, before you either stand and set or jump and set.
I think it's still predominantly right left everywhere in the world as far as I can tell.
Um, but there isn't necessarily a right or wrong way, but I like to teach, um, teach right left.
Um, so just really, like, starting really simply and teaching that movement pattern, often even without a ball, um, just to ingrain what it feels like to finish right left and then locate the ball in a good spot above your head is super important.
But w- we're gonna start with the, the biggest thing that every coach is gonna wanna hear on this episode.
Uh, let's say that you were, you were gonna work with a setter for the very first time.
what are you teaching? What are the mechanics that you're going through with a setter? Let's start from the ground up.
Well, I think you just said it, like, starting from the ground up is the way to do it, so starting with footwork.
It seems like the women are using the one foot, like, take off and pivot more often than men are.
So that's something that kind of I've had to teach myself how to teach a little bit, um, 'cause it's a really useful tool in the men's game, but it's kind of like one specific... one or two specific scenarios that you use it, like when the ball's a little bit low and off the net but you still wanna cut it off and intercept it high and keep the, the speed of the offense at a high contact point.
But in the women's game it seems like, especially actually at the younger ages when they're not as strong as they will be eventually, using the one foot pivot just allows them to generate a lot more energy on the ball.
Um, I like to coach a right left finish, so the last two steps, um, before you either stand and set or jump and set.
I think it's still predominantly right left everywhere in the world as far as I can tell.
Um, but there isn't necessarily a right or wrong way, but I like to teach, um, teach right left.
Um, so just really, like, starting really simply and teaching that movement pattern, often even without a ball, um, just to ingrain what it feels like to finish right left and then locate the ball in a good spot above your head is super important.
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