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. 

Top 4 Volleyball Blocking Rules and Rule Violations in Volleyball To Know: Improve your volleyball by knowing the USA volleyball block rules. (Photo by Chris Daines)

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.

Volleyball Blocking Rules: Blocking is the first line of defense. 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.

Blocking is the first line of defense.  

To block well you are required to

1. have good footwork  
2. have great body control while moving laterally and vertically 
3. read your hitter to anticipate where and how she plans to attack 
4. penetrate your hands over the net to block the ball by deflecting it back into your opponents court

Top 4 Volleyball Blocking Rules. 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. (Al Case)

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. 

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.  

Top 4 Volleyball Blocking Rules. Volleyball block rules are established so players, teams and coaches compete fairly in their quest to win a match.

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)

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 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. 

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