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- Improve Your Volleyball with Coach April
- Volleyball Game Rules: Serving, Score,
- Volleyball Blocking Rules
4 Volleyball Blocking Rules and Rule Violations To Know in Volleyball
Learn four volleyball blocking rules, regulations and violations that you can and cannot do when you are front row performing defensive skills at the net.
Volleyball blocking rules are established so players, teams and coaches compete fairly in their quest to win a match.
This page is written to provide you with important information that should help you improve your defensive skills in volleyball.
Make sure when you get to the front row, you know what you can do and what you can't do while blocking a ball.
Blocking Volleyball Drills:
Skinny Court Two vs Two during Breakfast Club with Coach April
USA Volleyball Block Rules:
Learn The Basics
Blocking is the first line of defense.
To block well you are required to
- have good footwork
- have great body control while moving laterally and vertically
- read your hitter to anticipate where and how she plans to attack
- penetrate your hands over the net to block the ball by deflecting it back into your opponents court
1. You can jump and place your arms, hands and shoulders over the net to stop a hitter or setter from attacking the ball into your court. But...
- a volleyball player can't touch the net on the way up or on the way down with any parts of the body while the ball is in play.
Volleyball Blocking Rules and Tips: Time your block so you jump and penetrate the net with your arms ..just before the hitter contacts/spikes the ball
2. While blocking, your feet may come in contact with the centerline also known as the halfcourt line. But...
- a player can't step over the half court line during a rally in a way that keeps the opposing team from safely playing the ball.
3. While your team is on defense you can block any attacked ball but...
- Only front row players in defense are allowed to block a volleyball.
4. While on defense in the front row, you can come off the court on the opposing team's side to retrieve a ball back into your court but...
- while in pursuit of a ball a player, (usually its a blocker) is permitted to enter into the free zone of the opponent's court as long as doing so doesn't interfere with the action going on.
This usually occurs when a blocker steps over the center line and for some reason, often in transition, lands and steps outside of the sideline (but into the free zone) of the opponent's court.
Because the free zone is considered the playing area of the court, this is legal and one of the few times a player is permitted to step across the center court line during a rally.
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.
How To Play Volleyball: Where Do You Go From Here?
We know where you need to go now! Here are three options:
- Learn more about Blocking 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.
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AUTHOR BIO
April Chapple is an elite private volleyball trainer, former USA National Team member, and University of Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee who has coached in Las Vegas for 15+ years, training hundreds of athletes and helping numerous players reach college volleyball, including Division I standouts.
She's also the head coach for girls and boys 18s at Squad VBC and offers coaches consulting on technical teaching and player development. Connect with April on LinkedIn or at ImproveYourVolley.com, where her eye for overlooked talent sets her apart.
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
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Bundle #1:
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Complete Beginner Serving System: The Ultimate Support System for Beginners
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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.
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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
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