Register TODAY! for my
Coach April's April 25-26
Serve and Pass clinics
Register TODAY! for my
Coach April's April 25-26
Serve and Pass clinics
email: info@improveyourvolley.com to register or for more infoEmail: info@improveyourvolley.com for info or to register for this weekend's clinics!
Sunday, April 19th I coached the SQUAD VBC Girls 18s team to a 5-0 finish and gold medal winning our bracket at the SCSN Girls -18s Championships.Sunday, April 19th I coached the SQUAD VBC Girls 18s team to a 5-0 finish and gold medal winning our bracket at the SCSN Girls -18s Championships.
- Improve Your Volleyball with Coach April
- Volleyball Positions: What Are The Six Volleyball Roles
- Middle Blocker in Volleyball
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.
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
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Middle Blocker in Volleyball
Upper Body Skills
Hand Positioning
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.
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
Hand Positioning Full Arm Extension at Max Jump
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.
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.
Thanks for visiting. Be sure to check out more of my volleyball passing articles by clicking one of the links below! (April Chapple)Do You Follow Me on Instagram?
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.
Volleyball Positions Where Do You Go From Here?
We know where you need to go now! Here are three options:
- Learn more about Blocking Skills by clicking one of the links in the Related Links below.
- Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
- 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.
Here's what to read next about volleyball positions!
Volleyball Positions on the Court: Backrow Rotations in Volleyball
Learn the descriptions and the different backrow volleyball positions on the court and how the rotation in volleyball works in the backrow player positions.
Volleyball Positions: What Are The Six Volleyball Roles On The Court?
Here's an extensive breakdown of the volleyball positions on the court you can pick to specialize in.including setter, hitter, opposite, middle blocker libero.
Volleyball Setter Position: What Makes A Good Setter And Team Leader?
Like quarterbacks in football, the volleyball setter position requires the setter to run the offense by deciding the volleyball plays her offense will run.
Volleyball Positions and Rotations 3 Front Row Positions in Volleyball
Learn the descriptions and what the different volleyball positions and rotations work for each of these front row player positions.
Defensive Specialist in Volleyball How To Dig A Step By Step Guide
A defensive specialist in volleyball can learn to dig a ball with my step by step volleyball tutorial for diggers playing in the backcourt in defense.
Being A Left Handed Volleyball Setter in the Front Row Has Advantages
For a left handed volleyball setter who receives a good pass, the ball will get to your dominant hand first, which means that you can dump the ball faster.
Libero Volleyball Player Responsibilities, Roles, Qualities and Rules
The libero volleyball player has specific qualities and specialized responsibilities in their defensive roles along with special rules created just for them.
The Middle Blocker Volleyball Position Offensive and Defensive Duties
A middle blocker is the team's primary defensive presence at the net, responsible for blocking opponent attacks and running fast and quick offensive plays.
Playing The Opposite Position in Volleyball: Tips, Skills and Strategy
Everything you need to know about playing the opposite position in volleyball discover essential tips, skills, and strategies for mastering this crucial role.
The Opposite Hitter In Volleyball: Right-Side Skills Strategies Tips
What you should know about the opposite hitter in volleyball position from blocking to attacking strategies to help you understand this versatile position.
Outside Hitter Volleyball Position What Is The Left Side Hitter's Job?
Outside hitter volleyball position. The left side hitter usually receives the most sets during a game and are required to pass well and hit to score points.
Each Player Position in Volleyball And The Court Zones They Play In
There are specialized areas that each player position in volleyball plays in. Learn where setters, opposites, middle blockers, liberos and outside hitters play.
6 Positions in Volleyball: Setter Libero Hitters Middle Blocker, D.S.
Setters, liberos, middle blockers, defensive specialists or spikers are the 6 positions in volleyball that players specialize in on varsity high school teams.
Right Side Hitter Volleyball Stuff The Strength Of The Opposite Side
Discover what makes the right side hitter volleyball position essential with responsibilities, training tips and strategies for mastering this dynamic position.
- Improve Your Volleyball Performance with Vegas VB Coach April Chapple ›
- Volleyball Positions: What Are The Six Volleyball Roles On The Court? ›
- A Middle Blocker in Volleyball What Makes A Good Middle In Volleyball?
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From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend
Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.
- the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
- named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
- former USA National team member
- one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist
April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match
Coach April's 2026-27 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training
Pre-Registration now open for 2026-27 Private and Semiprivate Training Sessions with Coach April . Get prepared for club tryouts or train with me during club season!
Email now for information on semiprivate or private indoor skills, individual or small group training volleyball classes and my Breakfast Club for College Players training for 2026-27.
Invest in your improvement while preepping for your next level and college goals while working hard and training smart.
Email me right now to register or for more information.
info@improveyourvolley.com
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Get my Targeted Volleyball Checklist Bundles by Skill Level
(only $27 each)
Bundle #1:
Complete Beginner Serving System - $27
Complete Beginner Serving System: The Ultimate Support System for Beginners
Click to Download Your Pre Serving Ritual Mastery Checklist pdf:
🎯Volleyball Pre Serving Ritual Guide - $7
Transform Your Serve from Weak to Weapon
Stop letting pressure situations destroy your serves?
You'll Get
- ✓3-bounce physical preparation setup system
- ✓Mental routine for target pre-selection and visualization
- ✓Technical execution checklist for automatic consistency
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Click to Download Your Parent's Volleyball Serving Guide Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves (Even If You've Never Played) Checklist pdf:
🎯Parent's Volleyball Serving Guide Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves Guide - $7
You'll Get:
✓Learn exactly what to look for in your player's serving form so you can provide meaningful feedback.
✓Discover how to provide encouragement that actually improves performance and mental toughness.
✓Know exactly what to ask coaches to show you're engaged and help your player develop properly.
✓Simple, effective drills that don't require a gym or expensive equipment.
✓Understand the language coaches use so you can better support your player's development.
✓Help your player develop the psychological aspects of serving that many coaches don't have time to address.
From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?
What Are You Looking For?
Click to Download Your Pre Serving Ritual Mastery Checklist pdf:
🎯Volleyball Pre Serving Ritual Guide -
Players! Learn How To Transform Your Serve from Weak to Weapon
Click to Download Your Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist pdf
🎯Parent's Volleyball Serving Checklist Guide
Parents! Help Your Player Develop Championship Serves (Even If You've Never Played)
Hi there!
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you learned something today that will help you reach your volleyball goals.
Be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter so you can learn more each week!
Stay strong! Stay motivated!
-Coach April
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Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!
A-1 Vegas Volley VBC
In It To Win It Tournament
May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament
Gold Medalists
18s Premier Division
Vegas Volleyball's Unsung Heroes: Celebrating Moms with Peace Love Volleyball Shirts
Ready to energize your volleyball mom journey?
Subscribe to my 'Producing Powerful Passionate Peaceful Players' email list above on ImproveYourVolley.com.
You'll receive energy-boosting tips, exclusive insights from me, Coach April Chapple on maintaining momentum in volleyball.
Let's power up the Vegas volleyball scene together!
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