What Is Blocking In Volleyball? Rules and Definitions Players Know

What is blocking in volleyball? When the serving team's on defense with 3 front row blockers who try to stop opposing hitters from hitting into their court.

What is blocking in volleyball? When the serving team's on defense with 3 front row blockers who try to stop opposing hitters from hitting into their court. (R. Aversen)What is blocking in volleyball? When the serving team's on defense with 3 front row blockers who try to stop opposing hitters from hitting into their court. (R. Aversen)


What is blocking in volleyball?

Blocking in volleyball is the first opportunity the players on your serving team on defense have to stop the opposing team from spiking, bumping or tipping the ball successfully into your court. 


Here's Why Blocking In Volleyball Is So Important


Once your team serves the ball over the net, you guys are now "on defense" while the other team is "on offense."

Now that you're one of the six players on the defensive team the purpose of blocking in volleyball is to stop the other team's spikers from hitting the ball over the net into your court. 

If your three front row hitters, who are now called "blockers" in volleyball since your team is on defense, can't stop the opposing team's hitters then it's up to your three back row players to dig the hard hit or the tip up so that your team can replay it and send it back over the net in an attempt to earn a point and to win the right to serve the ball.






Blocking in Volleyball Is The First Line of Defense for The Serving Team


Another way of explaining what is blocking in volleyball is to describe it as "the first line of defense for the serving team in a rally." 

After the serve, the front row players on the serving team now known as blockers, are in a three player blocking formation at the net ready to deflect any attack hit from the opposing team by jumping and extending shoulders, arms and hands over the net to create a wall that blocks the ball from re- entering their court


What Is Required To Block
A Volleyball Well?


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 - either line or cross court, or do they plan to tip over your block
  4. penetrate your hands over the net to block the ball by deflecting it back into your opponents court

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. 




  1. Improve Your Volleyball Performance with Private Volleyball Coach April Chapple
  2.  ›
  3. Six High School Varsity Volleyball Skills That Top Prep Players Crush
  4.  ›
  5. What Is Blocking In Volleyball? Rules That Varsity And JV Players Know
  6.  ›

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