Closing the double block at positions 2 and 4

Three blockers at the net, but only two of them jump each time. The third stays down, and that is exactly the hard part: they have to hold themselves back while a ball is coming in right next to them. Both sides come up in the same round, so every blocker is the one closing once and the one staying down once.

9 players 13 phases ± 20 min 6 balls, full court with net From U17 upwards

Phase 1 of 13Three blockers at base on the net, B builds the attack

Your own team (M = blockers, L = libero) The opposition with setter and outside hitters 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

Blocking: two blockers shuffle together to close on the outside attack while the third stays in the middle. The hitters switch sides.

Closing with two while the third blocker deliberately stays down.
Both sides in one round, so the middle learns to close to the left as well as to the right.
From closing to getting back off the net without a stop in between.

Coaching points

The middle closes to the pin, never the other way around.

The pin stands on the outside edge of the court and has nowhere to go. If the pin slides in as well, the sideline is wide open and the ball is in without anybody touching it.

The blocker who stays down turns their shoulders with the play.

They are the first defender on the ball that lands just behind the block. Stay square to the net and there is no way left to react to it.

Closing takes two steps, not four.

A blocker shuffling across in small steps does not get there in time. One directional step and one big crossover, then jump.

After landing, first back to your starting spot, then look for where the ball went.

The next set comes from the other side. The blocker who stays put to watch the ball misses their own spot for the next one.

Variations

Easier: The setter announces which side they are setting to, and always sets high.
Harder: The setter may also set short to the middle. The block then has to close with three in the middle or deliberately let the pin go.
With six players: Two blockers, a setter and three hitters; block and attack swap after every series of six balls.
As a game: Every ball that falls between the two blocking hands is a point for the attack, every blocked ball two for the block. First to twelve.

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: organizing your block against a strong hitter · the front-row player who does not block · perimeter and rotation cover behind the block