The Setter’s Role in Hockey

Setter’s Role in Volleyball

“When you think of the setter position you automatically think volleyball. The setter in volleyball is much like the quarterback in football or the point guard in basketball. They are in charge of the offence. They decide who should get the ball and when. It doesn’t matter how good a team’s hitters are if it doesn’t have a setter that can consistently deliver a good ball to hit. The setter is a critical position in volleyball.” live about.com definition

Setter’s Role in Hockey

The setter in hockey is a player (forward or defenceman) who finds an area of the ice surface (all three zones) to support the puck offensively. The role of the setter in hockey is to distribute the puck to a teammate to better position the puck for one of the following reasons:

  1. retain puck possession & control,
  2. rebuild an attack,
  3. advance the puck up ice or,
  4. advance the puck on net.

The setter role is often used to execute the give and go tactical play in all three zones. The video clips below are shared to provide examples of situations where an offensive player has posted up in an area of the ice surface to support the puck offensively for the purpose of bettering the puck position as the setter.

Neutral Zone Setter – Opponent’s Blue Line – Give & Go Play
Neutral Zone Setter Middle Ice Between the Dots – Face-off Win
Defensive Zone Setter – DZ Exit Play
Offensive Zone Setter Designated Shooter Play
Neutral Zone Setter Opponent’s Blue Line
Offensive Zone Setter Give & Go Play
Setter on the Power Play
Tampa Bay Lightning – Middle Ice Setter Role – Tip/Deflection Breaking Winger

Conclusion

The setter in hockey plays an important role in support of the puck offensively. Hockey is a possession game and the setter can play an effective role in retaining puck possession and control and in creating offensive scoring chances. The setter role can help a team manage the puck in all three zones.

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