Get a high volume of basic blocking reps and can work on developing balanced movement and control in the air when attempting an angle block.
Set up
# of players : 2-8 players
Ideal : 2 players
Equipment : 4+ balls
Average duration : 10-15 minutes
Description
- An athlete or coach (who ideally is standing on a box) tosses the ball up into the air and hits it into off or around the blocker.
- This drill is normally done with the blocker knowing what the attacker is hitting and working on specific arm and hand positioning for each particular block.
- This drill gives the blocker a great opportunity to practice the two types of angle block.
Evaluation :
# of good reps in each zone(ex. 10)
Variations
- Rotate between players.
- Line shot
- Angle
- Strait
- Switch left and right
Progression
- Angle Block 1:
The athlete makes a quick, low sideways movement into the angle before jumping up for the angle block. - Angle block 2: The athlete stays on the attackers’ line and jumps across into the angle
- Coach can turn his / her body and the blocker can block either line or angle.
- Additionally the block can practice moving across to the angle before jumping back towards the line.
Key points
- Athletes need to make sure that when they jump into the angle that their outside arm is strong and they close up the gap between their hands.
- Athletes need to maintain strong hands throughout both blocking movements.
- Athletes need to stay low and balanced when moving across for block 1 so they do not waste time by having to ‘reload’ the legs prior to jumping up.