Blocking like a Wall
A defensive skill used to stop or slow an opponent’s attack at the net. Objective in blocking is to block an attack so that the ball goes back into the opponent’s court or to deflect it high into the air on the blocker’s side of the court so that the teammates can play the ball.
Performing an effective block requires good timing, also be able to anticipate the offensive spiker’s intentions and where the ball will cross the net. If blockers misread, misjudge, or mistime the spiker’s approach and attack, the block may not offer much resistance, resulting in backcourt defenders being forced to cover more court area when trying to dig the attack.
When preparing to block, a player should assume the ready position while watching the opponent’s pass to the setter. In the ready position for a block, the blocker stands facing the net with the feet approximately shoulder-width apart; the knees are slightly bent, and the weight is on the balls of the feet. The hands are held shoulder-width apart at head level between the body and the net. The hands should be open with the fingers spread and the palms facing the net. Then, when the ball is set to a spiker, the blocker must use a “step-hop-step” foot pattern to quickly get into position across from where the spiker will attack the ball. This is called fronting the spiker. If at the sideline of the court, the outside hand should be slightly angled in toward the middle of the court to deflect the ball back into the opponent’s court. If blocking in the middle of the court, both hands should surround the ball. Essentially, the blocker’s hands and arms act as a “backboard” for the attacked ball. Players who are smaller, less skilled at the jump, or late jumping to block may perform a soft block, where the fingers are still spread, but the wrists are angled slightly backward. This soft block merely deflects the ball up into the blocker’s court so that it can be played by a teammate.
Common faults caused by blocking:
(a) Touching the net. On take-off, this may be because the arms are swinging upwards instead of extending
vertically or blockers are trying to reach over too early. Check that after the blocking action the arms are
pulled back enough to clear the net on the way down.
(b) Ball Rebounds out of Court. If it goes to the side, the hands are not facing inwards and the spiker is
taking the opportunity to play off the block. If the ball goes over the end line, the jump was a little too late
so that the hands were not over the ball at the time of contact.
(c) Ball Passes round the Block. Either the wrong line has been set or the spiker has skilfully used the wrist
and hand to turn the ball around the side of the block. The backcourt defenders will be able to tell the
block if the correct line was chosen.
(d) Balls Drops between Blockers and Net. The hands must reach over the net so that on contact the ball
will drop on the other side of the net.