Blocking Drills

Blocking is the first line of defense at the net. Good blockers take away the hitter’s best angles.

Basic Blocking Technique

• Hands up above the net, fingers spread wide, thumbs almost touching
• Press hands OVER the net (into the opponent’s side) — don’t reach straight up
• Feet parallel, shoulder-width apart, knees bent
• Jump straight up — don’t drift sideways or forward

Blocking Footwork

• Slide step: For moving along the net to get in front of the hitter
• Crossover step: For covering more distance quickly
• Practice: start at middle, slide to the pin (outside), jump and block, slide back to middle. Repeat 10 times each side.

Reading the Hitter

• Watch the setter to see where the ball goes
• Watch the hitter’s approach angle — it tells you where they’ll hit
• Time your jump to match the hitter’s, not the ball’s