How to Block

    How to Block


    A successful block is when the ball rebounds of the hands of the blocker and directly back into the opponent's court or deflects of the hands in such a way that the blocker's team may play the ball. Blocking comes in two forms, single and multiple. A single block, where one person blocks the spike, is often not effective enough to stop a good spiker. The idea is to take away as much as the court possible from the spiker, leaving less of the court the blocker's team has to cover.
    Difficulty: Easy
    Time Required: It's up to you.
    Here's How:


    1. Set up - The most important factor is where you set up your block. Usually you want to be no more than one foot of the net and of course facing the opponent's. Keep you hands up at shoulder level and palms facing forward. Once the ball is set keep your eyes on the attacker. Position yourself on the attackers hitting arm, aligning half a body length to the side of the hitter's hitting arm.
    2. Opponent Jumps First - Wait for the Attacker to Jump - Timing is key and you want to time your jump so that you jump immediately after the attacker jumps.
    3. Reach - Reach your hands over the top of the net penetrating into the opponent's side of the net and positioned on both side of the attacker's hitting arm.
    4. Angle Your Hands - You want to angle your hands slightly so that the ball will rebound off your hands and toward the middle of the opponent's court.
    5. Recover - Whether or not you make contact with the ball, bring your hands back and land on two feet, bending your knees to cushion the landing.
    6. Prepare - Immediately turn away from the net and look for the ball.


    Tips:


    1. Usually, time dictates whether your team will employ a double or single block. However, if time allows you should always put up a double block.
    2. Another advantage to blocking is that by blocking the ball immediately back to the opponent's court this forces them to put up another attack. The longer that a team has the ball the more likely it is that they will make an unforced error.
    3. Normally net contact errors are made on blocking because the blocker penetrates too much, resulting in hitting the net on the way up, or fails to withdraw his hands on the way down.
    4. Inexperienced blockers will also set up too far from the net and actually jump forward to block the ball subsequently jumping into the net.
    5. If you find that when blocking the ball the ball contacts your hands falls between you and the net, then you need to square your shoulders to the net more.



    What You Need:


    * Three friends
    * A net
    * A volleyball





    Source: [url]http://www.volleyball.about.com[/u]

    Some other tips:


    First of all, how to move as a middle blocker to block a ball right or left from you:



    Most people jump at the middle, just in case there's going to be a mid-attack. You then land on your left foot (if you're going to the right). You then turn your body a bit, put your right foot like in the image, a bit away from the net, this to avoid touching the net. Then put your left foot like in the image. The last move is to put your right foot, so far to the right, it's not under your body anymore, this is to prevent you from floating to the right in the air instead of jumping upwards.
    (if you're going to the right, it's the exact opposite)


    When you jump, you want to go up, and not forward. Therefore, kick your legs forward when you jump and focus all your power upwards, then you won't go forwards.




    Then when you put your arms up, make sure you've got your thumps pointing upwards. Because if you forget this, the ball will easily go trough your hands. You've also got to make sure you're push your underarms together as tight as you can, this also to prevent the ball from going trough your arms.


    Hope everyone will find this usefull ;)

    Evangeline!!! What a brilliant explanation! One of the most important things is indeed: "thumbs up" (and fingers spread and hands over the net). Many players don't know this or forget it.


    Another important thing is the position of your head: try to keep it in flexion (banana-form) and not in extension. Cause an extension of the head (neck) will facilitate an extension in the rest of your body which will eventually put you to far from the net.