15 club volleyball tryout tips from a Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee and elite club coach who's helped hundreds of athletes navigate tryouts successfully.15 club volleyball tryout tips from a Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee and elite club coach who's helped hundreds of athletes navigate tryouts successfully.

What're Terms For Volleyball Blocking Skills All Blockers Should Know 

I describe blocking terms which explain common volleyball blocking skills and techniques varsity players know like "the joust"

Terms For Volleyball Blocking Skills: After the serve, blockers at the net jump to deflect an attack hit to keep the ball from crossing the net. (Ralph Aversen)Terms For Volleyball Blocking Skills: After the serve, blockers at the net jump to deflect an attack hit to keep the ball from crossing the net. (Ralph Aversen)

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Welcome to my blocking page where I describe volleyball blocking skills like;

  • joust

Let's get started.  

Blocking in volleyball is the first line of defense for the serving team in a rally.



Terms For Volleyball Blocking Skills
What's a joust?

East Carolina vs. Rice In A Blocking Volleyball Joust At The Net. A joust occurs when two players contact the ball over the net at the same time. (Michael E. Johnston)East Carolina vs. Rice In A Blocking Volleyball Joust At The Net. A joust occurs when two players contact the ball over the net at the same time. (Michael E. Johnston)

What's a joust?

A joust occurs when two players contact the ball over the net at the same time.


Terms For Volleyball Blocking Skills: A joust occurs between one blocker and one hitter who was trying to tip the ball over the blocker and instead the ball was set close to the net (M. E. Johnston)Terms For Volleyball Blocking Skills: A joust occurs between one blocker and one hitter who was trying to tip the ball over the blocker and instead the ball was set close to the net (M. E. Johnston)

This action occurs between two opposing blocking volleyball players, or one blocker and one hitter who was trying to tip the ball over the blocker and instead the ball was set close to the net, so now both players are contacting the ball at the same time, with both of them trying to push the ball into the other team's court.

Nine times out of ten, if two opposing players go up to contact a ball at the same time over the net, the last player to contact the ball almost always wins because they have momentum on their side.


Terms For Volleyball Blocking Skills: If two opposing players go up to contact a ball at the same time over the net, the last player to contact the ball almost always wins (Ralph Aversen)Terms For Volleyball Blocking Skills: If two opposing players go up to contact a ball at the same time over the net, the last player to contact the ball almost always wins (Ralph Aversen)

Their advantage is that they are going up and pushing the ball over while the first player is coming down from their jump losing momentum and power as they get closer to the ground.

That's the secret to winning the joust.

It's one of the most important blocking secrets for short players. You must  try to be the second player to touch the ball in a joust. 

Once I learned this trick of being the second player to touch the ball, I hardly ever lost a joust because I knew that all I had to do was wait as long as I could, then once I saw the opposing player touch the ball then I put my hands on the ball and pushed it over into the opposing court.


This has been an important message by your favorite volleyball coach! That's me!!

Thanks for visiting.

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

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Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag 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. 




The Volleyball Word
Where do you need to go now? 


Here are three options: 

  1. Learn more about the volleyball words, terms and terminology 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 Information section in the drop down menu at the top of the page. 

Read more about volleyball terms on these pages. 

If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.

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From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?

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! In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier Division

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!

A-1 Vegas Volley VBC

    In It To Win It      Tournament   

May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament

Gold Medalists

18s Premier Division



Making A-1 Vegas Volleyball history as the very first TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! In the In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament, A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier DivisionMaking A-1 Vegas Volleyball history as the very first TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! In the In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament, A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier Division




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With motivational messages and vibrant designs, they mirror the dynamic energy of our city while celebrating your constant presence in your player's volleyball adventure.With motivational messages and vibrant designs, they mirror the dynamic energy of our city while celebrating your constant presence in your player's volleyball adventure.
In a town that's always on, you're the ever-present force driving your player's success.In a town that's always on, you're the ever-present force driving your player's success.

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!


Struggling with the unique demands of being a volleyball mom in the desert? My Peace Love Volleyball shirts offer both comfort and inspiration for the challenges you face. From dealing with intense heat during outdoor practices to long drives across the valley for tournaments, Vegas volleyball moms face obstacles that others might not understand.Dear Vegas Volleyball Mom, I know that balancing Vegas life with volleyball commitments can feel like walking a tightrope, but my Peace Love Volleyball mom shirts are here to support you every step of the way.
As the Vegas volleyball scene grows, so does the pressure on players and moms alike. My Peace Love Volleyball shirts are here to remind you of your inner peace amidst the chaos.As the Vegas volleyball scene grows, so does the pressure on players and moms alike. My Peace Love Volleyball shirts are here to remind you of your inner peace amidst the chaos.
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