Blocking is one of the most challenging and crucial skills in volleyball, as it requires physical, technical and tactical abilities. Blocking is not only a defensive action, but also an offensive one, as it can score points, disrupt the opponent’s attack, and create opportunities for counterattack. Therefore, blocking is a skill that every volleyball coach should pay attention to and develop in his or her players.

In this paper, we will discuss some of the main principles and methods that can be used to teach and improve blocking, based on the experience and knowledge of some of the most successful and influential volleyball coaches in the world. We will not mention the names of the coaches, but we will refer to their ideas and philosophies as they are found in literature and online sources.

The attitude of the coach and the player

One of the first aspects that we want to highlight is the attitude of the coach and the player towards blocking. Blocking is a skill that requires constant learning, improvement, and adaptation. Therefore, both the coach and the player should have a humble, passionate, and curious mindset, willing to study, analyze, and experiment with different solutions for each situation. Blocking is also a skill that requires confidence, calmness, and motivation. Therefore, both the coach and the player should have a positive and energetic attitude, able to inspire, motivate, and overcome difficulties and challenges.

The system block

Another important aspect that we want to emphasize is the concept of the system block. Blocking is not an individual action, but a collective one, involving the whole team. Therefore, blocking should be taught and practiced as a system, not as an isolated skill. The system block implies that every player on the court has a role and a responsibility in blocking, regardless of his or her position or height. The system block also implies that every player on the court communicates and coordinates with each other, creating a cohesive and effective blocking strategy.

The reading and reacting skills

A third essential aspect that we want to stress is the development of the reading and reacting skills. Blocking is a skill that requires fast and smart decision making, based on the observation and interpretation of various cues from the opponent’s attack. Therefore, blocking should be trained as a dynamic and proactive skill, not as a static and passive one. The reading skill refers to the ability to watch the right things when blocking, such as the setter’s hands, the hitter’s approach and arm swing, and the ball trajectory. The reacting skill refers to the ability to move quickly and efficiently on the net, adjusting one’s position, timing, coordination, and anticipation according to the information gathered from reading.

The progressive training method

A fourth key aspect that we want to underline is the use of a progressive training method. Blocking is a skill that involves many complex and interrelated elements, such as footwork, hand position, eye movement, body posture, etc. Therefore, blocking should be taught and practiced gradually, starting from simple situations and increasing the difficulty and complexity progressively. The progressive training method allows the players to master each element of blocking separately before integrating them into more realistic game situations. The progressive training method also allows the players to adapt to different scenarios during the game, by exposing them to various types of sets, hitters, and attacks.

Tips

• To train the timing and coordination for blocking, you need to practice reading and reacting skills. Reading skills refer to the ability to watch the right things when blocking, such as the setter’s hands, the hitter’s approach and arm swing, and the ball trajectory. Reacting skills refer to the ability to move quickly and efficiently on the net, adjusting your position, timing, coordination, and anticipation according to the information gathered from reading
• To practice reading and reacting skills, you can use different drills that simulate realistic game situations and challenge your blocking abilities. For example, you can use a drill where a ball is tossed from behind the blocker to a hitter on the opposite side of the court. The blocker tracks the hitter and times the block accordingly. The hitter attacks the ball as if it were a set
• To improve your coordination and balance for blocking, you need to work on your physical conditioning as well. You need to develop your speed, agility, power, strength, core endurance, and dynamic stability. You can use different exercises that target these aspects of your fitness, such as sprints, jumps, squats, planks, lunges, etc
• To enhance your coordination and balance for blocking, you also need to work on your hand-eye coordination. This is the ability to coordinate your movements with what you see. You can use different exercises that involve hitting or catching a ball with different parts of your body, such as your hands, elbows, knees, feet, etc. You can also use different types of balls, such as tennis balls, medicine balls, volleyballs, etc

Common mistakes

• Touching the net or crossing the centerline while blocking. These are violations that result in losing the point and are often caused by improper form or positioning. Blockers should jump vertically and avoid contact with the net or the centerline
• Allowing the hitter to tool off the hands of the blocker. This happens when the hitter hits the ball off the side of the block and causes it to land out of bounds. Blockers should angle their hands inward and press them over the net to prevent this
• Blocking from the back row. This is a violation that occurs when a player who is in the back row of the rotation attempts to block at the net. This is similar to hitting from the back row in front of the ten-foot line. Blockers should be aware of their position in the rotation and avoid blocking from the back row
• Reaching over the net. This is a violation that occurs when a blocker touches the ball while it is still on the opposite side of the net without any movement toward their side. Blockers should wait until the ball crosses the plane of the net or is moving toward their side before blocking