Building Blocks: Principles of Effective Blocking [ARTICLE]

By: Doug Beal and Tony Crabb

Provided by - AVCA

Blocking is one of the necessary elements of winning volleyball and has two functions:

To stop the ball from coming across the net (blocking, roofing, or stuffing the ball). This abrupt end to the action will result in a point or a side-out for the blocking team.
To deflect the ball up into the block team's court so that the three contacts can be used to mount an offensive strike.

Players should only block when they can successfully perform one of these two blocking functions. Here are some keys for making that judgment.

How well does the opponent handle the first ball? The worse the control of the first ball, the less chance the setter has for accurately setting the second ball, and thus the less need there will be for a block.
Where is the attacker relative to the set? If the attacker is in poor position (for example, by being under the ball, too late to the ball, or if the ball is coming from behind the attacker), then the blocker should give the unfortunate attacker the opportunity to make a spiking error rather than jump and present the attacker with a potential tool (a target off of which to hit the ball).

The keys to successful blocking are always the same: talk, work hard, analyze, penetrate. The specific responsibilities for blocking change depending on whether one is a right, left, or middle blocker, or blocking the multiple attack.

Left Blocker: The left blocker plays the opponents' number two position attacker (right front). The left blocker calls the offensive crossover or switch (against the crossing play or X) and helps on the quick attack if number two runs the X play. The left blocker also takes the hitter if number two flares out for a back set and sets the block for the middle person.

Right Blocker: The right blocker plays the opponents' number four attacker (left front), takes the number two opponent on the X play, takes the number four attacker coming in for an inside set, and sets the block for the middle person on the left side.

Middle Blocker: The middle blocker must block the quick hitter and always let the outside blockers know what to expect. The middle blockers must identify the attacker quickly and get in on all block attempts.

There are some slightly different responsibilities for blocking the multiple attack:

Each blocker should block person-to-person, being responsible for the person directly across the net.
The right blocker comes over to take the number two hitter who is crossing when the left blocker calls the X. The right blocker always plays person-to-person and helps on the quick attack when possible.
The middle blocker takes the quick hitter, then helps on the X.
The left blocker helps on the X if that blocker's person is Xing. The left blocker calls the X if the left blocker's person is going, then "NO" if that person flares back. The left blocker must eliminate certain variables (especially against an offensive system in which the number two attacker calls where he or she is going to the setter) by intentionally overplaying and then coming back after that attacker.
If the left and middle blockers are on the X, they take away number five. If the middle and right blockers take away the number one, they also need to cover tips.

There are five key principles to keep in mind:

1. Block offensively. Under virtually every situation, the blocker's goal is to stuff the ball.

Force the hitter to hit a secondary shot.
Never give up a straight down kill.
Always penetrate the net.

The goal should be to instill in your blockers a philosophy of intimidation.

2. Do not block or jump. If you perceive that the hitter cannot score (hitter is out of position, ball is very deep, ball is outside antennae, hitter is standing, etc.). Knowing when to block is critical.

3. Seal the antennae. If the ball is set to a pin or beyond, the outside blocker ensures that the ball cannot be hit between the pin and the block. This is an important rule.

4. If the ball is set tight, surround the ball! Never allow the hitter to hit straight down in front of the back row.

5. Know the keys to blocking: See the hitter making contact with the ball, see yourself blocking the ball. Follow the ball with your eyes, then head, then body. Here's the sequence:

See the pass.
Watch the setter set the ball.
Pick up the hitter's line of attack.
Follow the ball with your eyes to its apex.
Shift your primary focus to the hitter, centering on the shoulders.
Watch the attackers make contact.
Follow the ball's direction.
Verbalize the path of the ball.
Keep your eyes open and see the block; make contact with your hands.
On most normal sets (approximately 1.5m or 4 ft. 11 ins, from the net), the timing is for the blocker to jump when the attacker's hitting arm clears his or her eyebrows on the ascent. This is a key point!
Position your block in front of the extension of the spiker's arm.
The outside blocker's primary responsibility Is to establish the position described in point I, then stuff the ball.
The middle blocker's responsibility on outside sets is to attempt to close on the outside blocker; the middle blocker's primary responsibility is to block the cross-court angle.