Blocking
At lower levels of play, blocking does not play that large a role. At higher levels, it approaches passing as the most important skill in the sport. Coaches should adjust their practice time accordingly.

Basic Blocking (265k)
As you watch the "basic blocking" clip (.mov version) , look for these keys:

• Hands are at shoulder height, butt is low, and legs are coiled as blocker patiently waits for hitter.
• As the blocker prepares to jump, he watches the hitter (not the ball).
• Blocker jumps after hitter.
• Hands are always in front the body -- never straight above the head -- and they begin penetrating into the opponent's court as soon as they get above the net.
• Hands are across the net and angled toward the middle of the court by the time the hitter contacts the ball.

A quick and easy summary of proper blocking technique is: jump late, penetrate early! (Too many blockers do the exact opposite, much to their coach's dismay.)

"Step and Close" Footwork (402k)
As you watch this clip (.mov version) , focus on how the blocker moves outside to position his block. He uses the "step and close" method -- i.e., he takes one big step with his "onside" foot (the foot nearest the set), then quickly closes with his trail foot to set the block. Look for these keys:

• Hands are at shoulder height as he moves along the net.
• He stays square to the net as he moves.
• A strong lead step propels him 5'-6' in one motion.
• He stays relatively low as he moves, so he does not spend much time "gathering" to jump when he arrives at the blocking point.
• He has a quick "trail" leg (to avoid getting tangled up with the middle blocker, who would be following him to the set).
• He is stopped and balanced before he jumps, which keeps him from drifting laterally while in the air.
• His eye contact is on the ball as he moves along the net; then his eyes shift to the hitter before he jumps.
• For "in air" details, see the keys for "basic blocking."

"Step-hop" Footwork (472k)
As you watch this last clip (.mov version) , focus again on how the blocker moves outside to position the block. In this case, the blocker must move further than what the "step and close" method can provide, so she uses the "step-hop" technique. She takes one big step with her "onside" foot (the foot nearest the set), then hops a bit further, planting her outside foot first, which makes it easy to stop and avoid drifting. look for these keys:

• Hands are at shoulder height as she moves along the net.
• She stays square to the net as he moves.
• A strong lead step propels her 5'-6'; a quick hop adds an additional 3'-4'.
• She stays low as she moves, so she is ready to jump the instant she arrives at the blocking point.
• She plants her outside foot first to avoid drifting laterally while in the air.
• She is stopped and balanced before she jumps.
• Her eye contact is on the ball as she moves along the net; then her eyes shift to the hitter as she jumps.
• For "in air" details, see the keys for "basic blocking."

Updated February 2005.