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One Volleyball Blocking Tip For Players On Defense In The Front Row
This volleyball blocking tip describes the importance of watching the hitter when you are at the net about to block the opposing spiker in front of you.
Using good volleyball blocking skills are important when you're in the front row and your team is on defense.
Here is one way to improve your blocking technique so that you can stop more balls at the net.
Volleyball Blocking Tips
Watch Your Hitter With Your Shoulders Parallel to the Net
As the opposing team sets the ball, you as a blocker, want to watch the setter as she sets the ball to her hitter.
This is called "reading the play" and you want to read and react to what the setter is showing you so that
- you can decide on who to block
- where to block or
- where to play defense
You watch the hitter to get indications of how she intends to hit the ball.
Here are some things you are looking for:
- Is the player approaching you with her shoulder at an angle, indicating that she is going to hit cross-court?
- Are her shoulders coming at you straight on with the intention of hitting down the line?
- Does she have a quick or slow armswing?
- Does she hit the ball low across the net?
- Does she hit on her way down?
Ultimately, you should even be able to see if your hitter is turning her shoulders to face outside the court, which will show you that she intends to wipe off your block.
"Watching" means keeping your eyes open.
Don’t laugh.
I can show you hundreds of action shots of players blocking with their eyes closed.
Watch your blocker, then go get the ball.
I say it this way to emphasize reaching over the net to grab or block the ball.
When you reach over keep your shoulders square to the net.
This means at the height of your block jump you want to reach over the net - ideally getting your armpits as far over the net so that if possible you block the ball on the opposing team's side of the net.
This is called penetrating over the net with your arms and shoulders so that you contact the ball, blocking it on the opposing team's side of the net.
If you don't touch the ball by putting up a strong block you will still cover a particular area on your court so the hitter has to hit to another area on your court to avoid your block.
Depending on the type of defense your team runs your back row digger should be covering the area that your blockers don't take.
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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.
Related Links:
Blocker Footwork and Timing For Making A Good Block
Check out these
volleyball tips on the pages below.
Volleyball Tips on Playing Better and Improving Your Basic Skills
Use these volleyball tips as helpful hints and lessons on how to play better volleyball starting with passing, setting, spiking, digging, blocking and serving.
Your Serve in Volleyball: 10 Tips To Get You From Bench to Starter
I hold Tennessee's #2 career aces record (244 aces). Last month I coached 7 players to state finals. These 10 serving tips separate legends from bench players.
Overhand Jump Serve Volleyball Tips To Score Many More Points and Aces
My "Coach April Overhand Jump Serve Volleyball Tips" designed to help you increase your serving accuracy, power and the ability to serve more aces in volleyball.
Good Volleyball Serve Secrets: How Bench Players Earn Playing Time
Club tryouts start in 17 days. Having a good volleyball serve will make or break your chances. Learn from someone whose serving records have lasted 40+ years.
Tips for Serving a Volleyball: Mental Strategies That Create More Aces
Why do some players score aces when others hope to get the ball over the net? My tips for serving a volleyball reveal the mental game behind successful serves.
10 Volleyball Serve Receive Tips: A Guide To What Happens On Offense
This page explains what happens when a team is on offense along with a reprint of my 10 Volleyball Serve Receive tips article that appeared on Active.com
Do Volleyball Wall Drills Accelerate Your Passing Skills 5x Faster?
volleyball wall drills
Serving in Volleyball Tactics For Scoring Points With Your Float Serve
When serving in volleyball there are two places where you can serve to on the opposing team's court to increase the chance of scoring points with your serve.
Learn How To Properly Set With My Can't Miss Setter Volleyball Tips
Non-setter players should regularly work on setting skill and technique with regular wall ball reps with a partner. Learn more with my setter volleyball tips.
A Setter Volleyball Checklist With Tips To Improve How To Set A Ball
Learn how to improve your setting technique with these setter volleyball checklist tips that breakdown what to do with each body part from head to toe.
3 Volleyball Player Passing Tips To Quickly Fix Serve Receive Skills
3 volleyball player passing tips like keep arms straight, feet on the ground and move your feet quickly to the ball when you need to improve your serve receive.
5 Volleyball Passing Tips: Essential Techniques to Fix Common Mistakes
These are 5 volleyball passing tips beginner players need to see that show how to improve your serve receive skills
5 Volleyball Serving Tactics List: Go From JV Bench to Varsity Starter
Use my volleyball serving tactics checklist to start serving strategically and adopt the tactical intelligence that separates JV hopefuls from varsity weapons.
4 Serving Tips For Volleyball Players To Add More Power To Their Serve
Here are four serving tips for volleyball players to add power to their serve...face your target, visualize your serve, toss the same way, serve like you spike
Improve Your Forearm Pass in Volleyball With My Two Receiving Tips
The forearm pass in volleyball describes how a player on the receiving team contacts the first ball served over the net by the serving team on defense.
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.
Struggling with passing consistency?
I help talented passers tired of getting pulled from games because of inconsistent serve receive skills BUILD passing confidence without expensive private lessons using the same 3-step system that's helped dozens of my athletes get recruited.
Download my eBook for $17.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.
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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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.
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info@improveyourvolley.com
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Bundle #1:
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Complete Beginner Serving System: The Ultimate Support System for Beginners
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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
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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)
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Thanks for stopping by. Hope you learned something today that will help you reach your volleyball goals.
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-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
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