Block against hitting lines 4-3-2

Three hitters, one blocker. That is unfair, and that is the point: he cannot possibly be everywhere, so he has to choose. The whole drill is about the moment he makes that choice — too early and he is standing in the wrong place, too late and he no longer gets to the pin.

6 players 9 phases ± 20 min 6 balls, full court with a net Advanced, from U19 upwards

Phase 1 of 9B is in attack formation 4-3-2, the block stands in the middle

Your own team (S = setter, the other player is the blocker) The opponents in a 4-3-2 attacking formation (S = their setter) Ball

This animation comes straight out of the Koach app. In the app you play it at your own pace and the positions carry your players' real names.

Open in the app

How the drill runs

What you are training

The attack runs 4-3-2; the blocker reads the set, moves to the right pin, blocks and sets up the transition.

Reading the set: direction, height and speed decide whether you go or stay.
Choosing which hitter you let go, and saying it out loud.
Playing on after the block: the deflection is the start of your own attack.

Coaching points

Watch their setter's hands at the moment he touches the ball.

The direction is already readable in the angle of his wrists and shoulders. Wait until the ball is on its way and all of your time goes into running.

On a high set to the pin: stay calm, you have plenty of time.

Most blockers sprint and then jump too early. On a high outside set you can get there walking and still be standing there waiting for the hitter.

You only jump on the middle if you already saw him start his approach.

A middle attack is faster than your movement. If you did not see his approach, stay where you are and cover the pin — being halfway to the middle is worse than not being there at all.

Say which hitter you are letting go before the ball comes.

Your defense can only set up once it knows where the gap will be. A blocker who chooses in silence leaves his back-court players guessing.

Variations

Easier: The opposing setter only sets the pins, never the middle, and sets high every time.
Harder: All three hitters run a real approach on every ball, including the ones who do not get the set.
With six players: Two blockers against three hitters and a setter; the blockers swap with the hitters every four balls.
As a game: The attacking side plays ten balls. A stuffed ball is two points for the block, a ball that scores without a block touch is one point for the attack. Then switch sides.

Volleyball drills

4 players · 6 phases SafeVolley base round Warm-up 3 players · 5 phases Shoulder activation with band Warm-up 2 players · 6 phases Dynamic movement patterns Warm-up 5 players · 5 phases Core plank with rotation Warm-up

Read on in the knowledge base: five tells that give away the setter's set · read blocking or commit blocking · the switch from defense to attack