Today, I want to share some stuff about volleyball blocking. I’ve been playing volleyball for a while now, and blocking is one of those things that can really make or break a game. So, I figured I’d write down what I’ve learned.
First things first, you gotta be ready at all times. I mean, you never know when the other team is gonna try to spike the ball over the net. So, I always make sure I’m in a good position, knees bent, hands up, ready to jump.
Timing is super important. I can’t stress this enough. You gotta jump at just the right moment. Jump too early or too late, and you’ll miss the block. I’ve learned this the hard way, believe me. It took me a while to get the hang of it, but now I can usually time my jumps pretty well. What I did was keep my eyes on the setter. Then try to predict where the ball was gonna go.
Then, it’s all about the hands. You want your hands to be strong and firm, like a wall. I usually try to get my hands over the net as much as possible, so the ball just bounces right back at the other team. Also, make sure your hands are positioned correctly. If your hands are angled wrong, the ball might go off to the side or, even worse, back at your own team. That’s not good at all.
Here’s what I do to practice:
- Read and React: This is all about watching the other team and figuring out where the ball is going. I watch the setter, look at the hitters, and try to guess where they’re gonna hit the ball.
- Practice, practice, practice: I spend a lot of time just practicing my blocking. I have a friend hit balls at me, and I work on my timing and hand positioning.
My practice record
I started by just standing at the net and jumping straight up. No ball, just jumping. This helped me get used to the motion and figure out my timing. Then, I had a teammate toss balls over the net, and I practiced jumping and getting my hands on the ball. It was tough at first. I missed a lot of blocks, and sometimes I’d jump too early or too late. But I kept at it. I watched a lot of videos online, too, trying to see how the pros did it. After a while, I started getting better. My timing improved, and I was able to get my hands on more balls. It was a good feeling to see myself improving.
Blocking is tough, but it’s also really rewarding when you get it right. It’s a great feeling to stop the other team’s attack and give your team a chance to score. If you keep these tips in mind and practice hard, you can become a great blocker, too!
