Blocking drills for your middle blockers
The block is the most undertrained weapon in amateur volleyball: everyone jumps along now and then, almost nobody trains it deliberately. Three drills that change that — starting with the feet.
Why block training starts with the feet
A block rarely fails in the air and almost always on the ground: left too late, wrong step, off-balance landing. You can only train timing and hands once the movement is right. So keep the order fixed: footwork → timing → reading the attack.
Drill 1: Block shuttle without a ball (footwork, 10 min)
Flow: middles slide along the net — block left, side step or crossover to the middle, block, on to the right. Emphasis: hands above the tape on every jump, balanced landing. Scoring: three flawless shuttles at tempo = done. Perfect as part of the warm-up on blocking days.
Drill 2: Block timing on a toss (timing, 15 min)
Setup: an attacker on a platform or with their own toss hits over the net; the blocker times the jump. Build-up: first with the direction announced, then free. Scoring: a blocked or touched ball is a point for the blocker; first to 5 rotates. Pitfall: jumping at the moment of the swing instead of after it — the blocker always jumps just later than their instinct says.
Drill 3: Block reading 2-on-2 at the net (reading, 15 min)
Flow: two attackers get sets from a fixed setter; two blockers communicate and decide who jumps. Scoring: kill block 2 points, a touch that drops back playable 1 point. Why: at amateur level the reading block — watching shoulders and approach — scores more than the athletic one.
Measure your block in touches, not just kills. A block that slows the attack down to a defendable ball is a rally win in the making. Counting only kill blocks structurally undervalues your middles.
Frequently asked questions
From what level is block training worthwhile?
As soon as opponents attack in an organised way — usually from the older youth ranks. Before that, defensive positioning behind a 'block' is often more instructive than the block itself.
How do I prevent net faults when blocking?
Almost always a distance problem: taking off too close to the net. Train the arms to press 'over' instead of 'into' — reach over the net without touching it, and land half a foot from the line.
Should outside hitters join blocking drills?
Yes — in matches they block along on the pins. Give the middles the lead role and the volume, but have the pin players at least join the 2-on-2 reading game.
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