February 12, 2020
Great Blockers Volleyball Tip
Ever watch professional volleyball players or top-level Division I players block?
If you haven’t, I suggest you do. It is fun to watch, and can also be helpful to learn from. Pay attention to the speed of their footsteps or their shoulders and core pressing hard over the net.
Being a great blocker is about three main things. Eye work, body and hand positioning and the ability to jump.
Eye Work
A common phrase for coaches to tell blockers is ball-setter-ball-hitter.
- find the ball and where the pass is going
- find the setter running to the ball
- track the ball out of the setters hands to see which hitter it is going to
- watch the hitter’s approach and line up in front of where they aim to hit the ball
This sequence is important for staying focused on the task of blocking. Depending on your level of competition, eye work becomes increasingly more important when the ball is being set at a fast pace. Eye work creates the ability to read and act quickly. If blockers only watch the ball, and then react, they will be late to block.
Body and Hand Positioning
Blockers who control their body and hand positioning are more likely to stuff block a ball. Great hitters who hit the ball hard, can push a blocker’s hands back with the sheer power of their hit. This is common and a great way to score. As a blocker, it is important to have body positioning in front of the hitter combined with strong arms and hands over the net.
Make sure your feet are squared up to the net at the time of jumping to block. This will prevent drifting on your block, keep your ankles safer, and create a higher percentage of blocking the ball.
Jump
It is important to be able to jump high. If you cannot get your hands above the net, you will not be able to block the ball. Practice your footwork and quick jump off the ground to elevate.
If you want to increase your ability to jump, check out my blog post ‘How to Increase Your Vertical.’
About NBC Volleyball
NBC Volleyball opened its first volleyball training camp in 1979. These camp programs focus on building strong fundamentals, skill mastery, volleyball IQ, mental toughness, leadership, and the winning edge. NBC is an acronym for Nothing Beats Commitment and the philosophy that a person's daily work reveals his or her future. For more information about NBC Volleyball camps and clinics visit www.nbcvolleyball.com.