Middles 'Running the 3' need these essential elements!

The importance of the 3 is to create new routes that we can still hit with speed and power. The 3 runs into the gap between the rightside and the middle, and since it's in front of the setter and coming in front of the middle, it's a great play to add variation without overcomplicating the delivery and swing mechanics. When run effectively, we can get the opposing blocker to shade slightly to us or fully commit to our route. This hopefully gives the setter a 1 on 1 matchup for the rightside. When running this route it's critical to be aware of spacing, timing and mechanics.