Block wall along the net (8)

Four blockers sliding along the net as one block. That never happens in a match, but it shows you at a glance who leaves too late and who jumps too early: with four players side by side, every difference stands out. For a big group this is the quickest way to train blocking footwork without a queue.

8 players 7 phases ± 15 min 4 balls, a full court with a net From U15 upwards

Phase 1 of 7Four blockers in the wall, the tossers ready with the ball

The blockers in the wall (M) Hitters and the tosser 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

Training block footwork: four blockers shuffle along the net from position to position and close together each time against the hitters on the other side.

Moving as one: the wall is just as wide on the move as it was at the start.
One shared take-off, without anybody having to count or call it.
Closing on the last step, so no gap is left between two blockers.

Coaching points

The outside blocker leaves first.

That player has the longest way to go. If the whole wall leaves at the same time, the outside blocker pulls it apart and the gaps turn up right in the middle.

Watch the ball, not the player next to you.

Blockers who time off each other always jump a fraction after whoever goes first. If everybody watches the same ball, they come up together by themselves.

You jump on the hitting arm, not on the highest point of the ball.

The tosser feeds the ball high and the temptation is to go the moment it starts dropping. Wait until the hitter's arm goes back.

Land and get straight back into blocking position.

In this drill the next ball comes quickly. Drop your arms after landing and you are late for the next jump — exactly like in a long rally.

Variations

Easier: Without an attack: the tosser only points to where the wall has to go, and the four slide and jump.
Harder: The tosser feeds two balls in quick succession to different sides, so the wall has to move again right after landing.
With six players: Three blockers against two hitters and a tosser. Swap roles after every series, so everybody does both sides.
As a game: Ten balls. Every ball that goes through a gap between two blockers costs the wall a point, every blocked ball earns one.

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: blocking drills for your middle blockers · training twenty players on one court · blocking technique from feet to hands