Block movement along the net

Two balls, two sides, and the back-row players shift along with the block. The drill shows whether your defense follows the block or goes its own way: if the block is closed on the left and the back row is still standing in the middle, the cross-court is wide open. With two feeders there is no breather between the two sides.

12 players 10 phases ± 20 min 2 balls, full court with net Advanced, from U19 upwards

Phase 1 of 10The block stands in the middle, two tossers ready with a ball

Your own team (M = blockers, P = outside hitters, L = libero, D = opposite) The feeders and the players on the other side 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

Three blockers shuffle along the net with the attack while the back players cover. Timing and movement are the focus.

Block and back court moving across as one unit.
Two blocking moments in quick succession across the full width of the net.
Recovering to base position before the next ball comes.

Coaching points

The back-row players move with the block, they do not trail behind it.

If the block sets up on the left, the ball comes right or over the top. Back-row players who stay in the middle of the court are covering exactly the angle that is already closed off.

The defense is standing still the moment the hitter leaves the floor.

Anyone still moving during the swing can no longer get to a low ball. Your last step should be planted while he is on the way up.

The blocker on the far side leaves first.

On a move across the full width he has the longest way to go. If he waits for the rest, the block closes half a meter too late.

Recovering means walking back to your base spot, even when the ball is already dead.

Teams that stay wherever they happen to end up start the next rally out of shape. Recovering is the first part of the drill people skip.

Variations

Easier: One ball and one side per round, so block and defense can walk through the pattern calmly first.
Harder: The feeders choose the order themselves and now and then send two balls in a row to the same side.
With six players: Two blockers and two back-row defenders against two feeders; everybody swaps roles after a round.
As a game: Four balls per round. A ball that comes up under control is a point, a ball on the floor is nothing. Two teams, three rounds.

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: matching your defense to the block · what a defender is reading · the front-row player who is not on the block