A Middle Blocker in Volleyball What Makes A Good Middle In Volleyball?

A middle blocker in volleyball needs to have good upper body technique including hand positioning, shoulder penetration and full arm extension over the net. 

A middle in volleyball needs to have good upper body technique including hand positioning, shoulder penetration and full arm extension over the net. (Ralph Arvesen)

As a middle blocker you need to use your upper body  - specifically

• your middle blocker's hands 
• your middle blocker's arms and
• your middle blocker's shoulders

when you block in volleyball. 

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Middle Blocker in Volleyball Upper Body Skills Hand Positioning(Shakes KC)

If you're a middle blocker in volleyball, at the max height of your block jump, you want to have your arms, shoulders and especially hands angled towards where you want the ball to go, once its blocked. 

Middle Blocker in Volleyball Upper Body Technique: Stanford blockers hands face the middle of the opposing court so ball deflects back to the middle of the court. (Penn State News)

As a middle blocker in volleyball, you want your blocking hands and arms angled towards the middle of the opposing team's court while penetrating the net to block. 

The ball will be deflected back into the court and not out of bounds.

Middle Blocker in Volleyball Upper Body Technique: Iowa State triple block with blocking hands/arms angled towards the middle of the opposing team's court while penetrating the net. (R. Arvesen)

Middle Blocker in Volleyball : Full Arm Extension at Max Jump (Matt Van Winkle)

Another thing to remember when you learn how to block a volleyball is to try to fully extend your arms across the net at the maximum point of your block jump.

A middle blocker in volleyball has to block quick sets which are so fast that they only have time to just get there hands over the net to stop the ball.

A Middle Blocker in Volleyball Needs To Penetrate Arms and Shoulders Over the Net (Matt Van Winkle)

But outside blockers who block 4's and 5's, balls that are set high to the outside or shot out at a quicker pace to the outside have time to use the full extension of their arms to block the ball.

If you were born with arms that are 45" inches long then you should be reaching some 45 plus 1 or 2 inches as far over the net as you can get to perform your maximum block jump with your longest arm reaching ability.

A Middle Blocker in Volleyball : Keep your arms and shoulders fully extended over the net, without touching it for as long as you are jumping. (Ralph Arvesen)

Thanks for visiting. Be sure to check out more of my volleyball passing articles by clicking one of the links below! (April Chapple)

Follow me on Instagram @coach_apchap to improve your game even faster!

I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list. 

We know where you need to go now! Here are three options: 

1. Learn more about Blocking Skills by clicking one of the links in the Related Links below. 
2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. Or visit the pages in the How to Play Volleyball section in the drop down menu at the top of the page to get started. 

1. Improve Your Volleyball Performance with Vegas VB Coach April Chapple
 ›
2. Volleyball Positions: What Are The Six Volleyball Roles On The Court?
 ›
3. A Middle Blocker in Volleyball What Makes A Good Middle In Volleyball?

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