What are some positives and negatives of the 5-1 and 6-2 offensive system?

Question

I just can't believe it has been 6 hours since the last question, so I thought I would ask one. I really like all of you guys and gals asking and answering all of these questions about volleyball. It is absolutely the best game in the world.

Anyway, I am a high school coach and I am going to have a bunch of girls this year that are good setters. I have used both systems in the past and found them both very effective for different reasons. Both coaches and players please tell me why you like either system. Thank you for all your great answers ahead of time.

Answer 1

I know 5-1 system, but do you mean 4-2 system? Not 6-2 , right?

I think 5 - 1 system is better. However, if u run a 5-1 system, the critical element is YOU NEED AN EXCELLENT SETTER. This is the most important. However, good setter is not easy to train and find. In national team, only China woman national team get a grade  AA setter. Therefore, they are really sucessful in strategy and complex spike.

If your player got several really strong spikers. Then run 4-2 system is better. All the people can attack and the requirement for quality setter is lower. Cuba national woman team is typical example.

Answer 2

For the 5-1

Positives

+ since there is only one setter, the hitters get very comfortable knowing where the sets will be located

+ you do not need as many quality setters on the team

Negatives

- If anything happens to the setter, it throws off the timing of the offense

- you need a setter that is capable of running this more complicated system

- there are 3 rotations where you only have 2 front row hitters

- the setter needs to be somewhat tall to help out with the blocking when they are in the front row

- the setter has to be in great shape

For the 6-2

Positives

+ you always have three front row hitters

+ the hitters are used to working with different setters and will not be affected as negitively if one of them "goes down"

Negatives

- the setters need to be disciplined in order to stay out of the way of the blocking scheme

- you need to "carry" more setters on the team

You should let the talent, experiance and abilities of your players show what type of offense to use.  I just finished reading "John Wooden: American Treasure" and one of the things that was discussed was how he was willing and able to change the way he coached his teams based on his personnel.

Answer 3

5-1 was what I ran in middle school, and I was the setter. I particularly like 6-2, which is what my team ran in club, because I like to hit and set. We had to make modifications to the 6-2 offense though because we didn't like the setter going back to the back row every time the ball went over. We also changed it to where the setter that's hitting instead of setting at the time stayed up in the setter spot when the other team was serving so the setter could stay back and pass if it came to them the first time. If it didn't then the setters would quickly switch each other spots to where they normally would have been. That worked a lot better than the setter being in front because the other team would soon figure out where to serve the ball to to mess us up. So, I would say the 6-2 is a better offense because it allows you to do more things and lets your setters be hitters also.(That's great for when you have setters who are really good hitters too.)

Answer 4

When I set I prefer setting out of a 5-1.  We typically have 2-3 players that can hit from the backrow so I'm never worried about only having two hitter in the front.  I will jump set a lot as well when I'm in the front row to draw blockers.  However with some blockers it doesn't matter.  I've also been known to hit a high pass a time or two when it looks like I'm going to jump set the ball.  This works very well if you verbalize a two ball or shoot or something else pretty quick that can get blockers moving.  

It really all depends on the players you have.  Setters also tend to make very good passers and at any level nothing is more important than the pass.

Answer 5

In a 5-1 the atvantage is that your whole team gets used to one setter instead of having to get used to two because all setters set differently.  But also in a 5-1 the setter has to be kind of tall because they have to block the outside hitters who are usually the best hitters on the team.  In a 6-2 the setter doesn't have to be  as tall and you always have 3 hitters in the front row instead of sometimes having 2.

Answer 6

I always run a 6-2. But I coach club at the 14 & under level. So I'm still developing setters. But with the older age groups a 5-1 is preferable. Particularly if the setter is tall and left handed. At the older age group it adds a bit more consistancy in the offense.

Answer 7

i like a 6-2 because if one of your setters is having trouble all you need to do is get through a few rotations and your new setter will take charge. a 5-1 may be less confusing because there is only one setter. if using a 5-1 i would make sure that your setter is very consistent.

Answer 8

I think 5-1 is ideal for varsity high school and older.  There will nearly always be one player who is dominant either in skill, height, consistency, etc... and, thus, should be the full time setter.  

It's also better for team cohesiveness.  The setter's potential to manage the offense efficiently is diminished by the fragmentation of a 6-2 offense.  Similar to the problems faced by football teams with two quaterbacks.

Answer 9

Personally I prefer the 6-2.  I always have hitters from all positions on the court, three on the front and back row as well.  It requires communication but the same happens with the 5-1.  Also with the 6-2, you basically only have to learn one way to play.  With the 5-1, you have to know the 4-2 as well when the setter's on the front row.  If you had only one good setter, I would consider the 5-1, but the 6-2 allows more attacking.  Yes, when the setter's on the front row she can swing away on 2, but I'd take a good hitter swinging over a setter dinking any day.

Ultimately, it depends on your personnel, but it seems to me you should run the 6-2 because of the number of setters you have.

Answer 10

Personally...if you have one great setter that is on the taller side...I would run a 5-1...better blocker and hitter if needed. But on the down side...you only have two hitters when she is in the front row...but I think you can get more out of passing with a 5-1.

6-2...do you have two setters with about the same talent? Then this is what I would go for...and also if they are vertically challenged...Then you can always have three hitters...it is harder work for the setter but then they can switch out. Downfall(depending on how good a passing team you are) is that you always are pulling the setter up or back and you have to deal with any hitters who have to pull back...again maybe they are good passers...good luck