How to Block a Volleyball

"Blocking well is a combination of body positioning and timing," says Rob Heidger, pro beach volleyball player. "I like to count 1,001 as soon as the hitter jumps, then go up for the block. 'Late and quick' is what we call it."

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Volleyball Boundary Sets
• Knee pads
• Volleyballs
• Volleyball Net Systems

1. Follow the set and line up with the hitter.

2. Focus on the hitter to read where he or she is going to hit and how hard.

3. Stand as close to the net as possible without hitting it.

4. Jump up straight with big arms and open hands.

5. 

   Reach over the net and down to cut off the hitter's angles.

6. Go after the ball and "grab it" on a tight set.

Tips & Warnings

• "Blocking drills are a good way to stay in shape, build quickness and leg strength," says Heidger. "They are a common component of any serious volleyball player's workout routine."
• To run a blocking drill, block jump and come down, then shuffle to one side and jump again, then move back in the other direction and jump again.
• Work on leg strengthening in the gym by doing squats, quadricep and calf extensions, leg curls and so on.
• Heidger and his teammate Kevin Wong are the No. 1 ranked U.http://www.ehow.com/images/ehows/steps/vballblock_5_s.gif /images/ehows/steps/vballblock_5_s.gifS. Men's Doubles Team in beach volleyball. Keep tabs as they aim for their slot in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

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[glg5280]

on 9/12/2008 In beach volleyball, a block does count as a hit. It does not in indoor volleyball. Therefore, on the beach or anywhere on the sand (at least in the AVP; local leagues may have different rules), if you block the ball, you've only got two more hits before the ball has to go back over.

[volleyballguy]

on 4/5/2008 You have to make sure that your hands and arms are angled downwards so the ball goes down in your opponents court instead of flying to the next court. Once you do that be sure to turn your hand closest to the sidelines toward the center of the court so they cannot use it to hit off of out of bounds for the point.

[jamesy]

on 12/18/2007 Im new to volleyball. SHould my hands be near enough to each other so that the ball cannot pass through it? Or spread out my hands to cover more area to the sides?

[gbottles]

on 5/14/2007 Strategy of the block- are you trying to get the hitter to change their shot, are you trying to go for a kill block. Remember the worlds best hitters will beat the worlds best blockers the majority of the time. Have a game plan, have fun.

on 8/29/2006 A technique that I have found that increases my blocking success is to start my jump to one side of the spiker and "float" across, left to right, in front of him. They take a sight picture of me to their right as they jump and so aim away from the blocker. By the time they contact the ball I've moved sideways and am now directly in their hitting path. This mainly works when people fret about being blocked and so aim away from you.