The other team has one very strong hitter. Every time she jumps, the ball flies down past Keza's team for a point. "Put a wall in front of her," says the teacher. "A wall made of hands."
That wall is called a block. Today you will learn how to block at the net, and how the blockers and the rest of the team defend together.
1Warm up first
Side-step along the net line and back, three times. Do 10 jumps with your arms reaching high, landing softly on both feet. Finish with finger stretches and wrist circles.
2What is a block?
A block is when players at the net jump and reach their hands above the net to stop or slow down the other team's attack. A great block sends the ball straight back down on the attackers' side.
3The rules of blocking
Only front-row players may block. Back-row players and the libero may not.
A block touch does not count as one of your team's three touches. After a block, your team still has three touches, and the blocker may even play the ball again.
When you block, your hands may reach over the net. But you may not play the ball while it is still on the other team's side before they attack it.
Touching the net is a fault. So is stepping over the centre line under the net.
4How to block, step by step
Ready: stand about an arm's length from the net, facing it, knees bent, hands up in front of your shoulders.
Watch: look at the setter first, to see where the set goes. Then watch the hitter.
Move: side-step along the net until you are in front of the hitter's hitting arm.
Jump: jump straight up, a moment after the hitter jumps.
Press over: push your hands up and over the net, fingers spread and firm, thumbs up, hands close together so the ball cannot slip between them. Tilt your palms down into the other team's court.
Land on both feet on your own side, then turn to find the ball.
5Blocking tactics
Single, double and triple blocks: one, two or three players can block together. In a double block, two blockers jump side by side with their hands close together, to make a bigger wall.
Soft block: if the hitter is much taller than you, reach up with your palms tilted back. You will not stop the ball, but you slow it down and knock it up for your teammates to play.
Blockers and diggers work together: the block takes away one part of the court, for example the line. The back-row players stand in the parts the block does not cover, ready to dig (a low forearm pass of a hard-hit ball).
A block can win without a touch: if your block makes the hitter change to a weaker or easier shot, it has done its job.
6Drills with little equipment
Mirror at the net: two players face each other across the net. One side-steps and jumps; the other follows like a mirror and jumps with hands over the net. No ball, and no touching the net.
Block the throw: with a low net or rope, a partner on the other side throws the ball down over the top, close to the net. Jump and block it back.
Block and dig: work in fours. A throws or hits from one side, B blocks, and C and D stand back to dig any ball that gets past the block.
7Small-sided game: block bonus
Play 4 against 4 over a low net. A point won straight from a block scores 2 points.
8Cool down
Walk slowly. Stretch your calves, shoulders and fingers. Drink water.
A triple block in a men's international match in Germany. Three blockers in white jump with their arms high and hands spread, while the hitter in black (number 13) swings at the ball above the net. Photo: pjt56, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Warning
Stay safe
Never touch, grab or hang on the net.
Land on both feet on your own side, and never step under the net.
Keep your fingers spread but firm, and watch the ball all the way into your hands.
Take off rings, watches and bracelets before you block.
Tip
Setter, hitter, step, jump, PRESS!
Watch the setter, find the hitter, side-step in front of them, jump just after them, and press your hands over the net like a roof.
✦
Try it yourself
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
1
Which players are allowed to block?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: Only the front-row players. Back-row players and the libero may not block.
2
Uwase blocks the ball and it bounces up on her own side. How many touches does her team have left?
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Answer: Three. A block touch does not count as one of the team's three touches.
3
Where should a blocker look first: at the setter or at the hitter?
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Answer: At the setter first, to see where the set goes, then at the hitter.
4
When should the blocker jump: before the hitter, at the same moment, or just after?
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Answer: Just after the hitter jumps, so the blocker's hands are up when the ball is hit.
5
Your block does not touch the ball, but the hitter has to change to a soft, easy shot. Did your block help?
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Answer: Yes. It forced a weaker shot that your diggers can play.
What you learned today
Only front-row players may block, and a block touch does not count as one of your three touches.
Watch the setter, move in front of the hitter, jump just after them and press your hands over the net, without touching it.
Blockers and diggers work together: the block covers one part of the court and the diggers cover the rest.
Sources and credits
Volleyball, by Wikipedia contributors, English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Facts (the block, reaching over the net, palms tilted into the opponents' court, the soft block, single, double and triple blocks, the dig, blocks that succeed without a touch, back-row players and the libero not blocking, and faults for touching the net, crossing the centre line and playing the ball above the opponents' court) adapted and simplified by Ganzaa.
Volleyball, by Simple English Wikipedia contributors, Simple English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Facts (front-row players block, and a block touch does not count as one of the three touches, so the same player may play the ball again) adapted and simplified by Ganzaa.
