Beach Volleyball Blocking Tips - How and When to Drop

[@traveljunkies5239]

Another good video guys! Thanks for making things short and understandable. I look forward to all of your new videos and have seen an improvement in my game since I started watching them. I really like the skill videos but in all honesty, I seem to have benefited the most from you videos on mindset, focus, and belly breathing etc. so far. Hoping to put the skill videos into practice also.

[@traveljunkies5239]

Switching gears a little but, maybe a breakdown of a hitting approach and how to get your timing correct. It's something I still struggle with and tend to get too far under the ball when approaching.

[@pedrochaparro]

Crawling techniques, why it is important and when to use it, how to training it :)

[@mattgentry6913]

A good duo to watch is the Partain brothers. Neither Miles or Marcus are incredibly big, so they pull really well and very often. They also have an incredible on-two offense because of their ball control off of the drop. If you'd like to know more about when to drop/block I'd suggest watching some of their matches.

[@fabricehenry6065]

more video on blocking plz, when to jump

[@jonaseicher587]

Great video guys! I'd love a video going in depth about blocking. Where to look at, what to do with your hands once you're up, how to deal with tightly set balls, jousting, when to block diagonally and how, etc.

[@romerositios]

Hello guys! Can a blocker follow up after his initial one touch? how many contacts are there? thanks!!

[@musicps]

How do you drop cross? Are there recommendations when to drop line or cross, what are the pros and cons of​ the different tactics?

[@Kalli-sig]

I would also like to hear about dropping cross. Do the blocker have special signal for that?

[@vbsand5882]

Preach, just today got burned pulling on a bad pass .

[@shannongood3425]

Yo! QUESTION. Which side does the blocker drop back to? His normal side or the side his partner is not? Love the vids!

[@shannongood3425]

The McKibbin Brothers yea it does! Def makes sense to drop back the same side your blocking! Thanks for the reply man!

[@Pjsmith1856]

Hey guys, just found your videos and they are great! One problem I have is timing. I often attack the hit too soon, which you covered in another video (Thanks!), but i feel like my blocking timing is off. Could y’all expand more on that? Cheers! Thanks for the content

[@VBpeace1]

HI Maddison and Riley, This is Cookie Stevens (Tyler's MOM) and now coaching at NC State in Raleigh North Carolina. I am so happy you guys have made this information available for beginnings and all VB players. I am going to train our NC State team on the beach in a couple of weeks. Most have never played beach before. Your steps and tips, and Geena and Kelly's contribution will be very beneficial to me helping me expose the FUN of Beach Volleyball to our players. Thanks and keep up the great videos!

[@davepicklyk3198]

Thanks for this tip! I always suck at dropping back. I'm always either backpedaling or turning around and running towards the back and not keeping my eyes on the hitter. The way you do it, running with hips perpendicular to the net makes sense for more speed. Also, my hands are down for more of a downball instead of at my hips! HAAH and I tend to back off when I see a bad pass--you nailed my problem! Wow, great great stuff I'm trying this tomorrow! Thanks.

[@ryanhoughtlen2348]

Can you post a video of blocking basics? Like hand positioning, reaching over, turning hands, what you are watching for when the swing, and more basics?

[@nateflex]

Really enjoy your videos! I noticed that when you prepare to receive a serve, you have your feet staggered but when dropped back during this video, your feet are parallel in prep for the oncoming spike, why the difference in foot spacing? Keep up the great work! Healthfully, Dr. Nate Santa Monica CA

[@scottwarrington8902]

hey guys, great work and have really enjoyed the video. I saw in the video how you were open hand receiving a hard driven ball. I was told that indoor that is ok, but not in sand. I started indoor and have really had to force myself to close hand receive (when it's above my shoulders). Could you clarify for me?

[@Kursleiter22]

Thanks for this well explained video! However wouldnt the ref call double contact when you defend the ball above your head like you do in the video? Indoors no problem but in beach volleyball...?

[@graemegalloway]

Could you guys do a video about lining up a block? I'm interested in your opinions on: where to be positioned for second contact to limit an on-two attack, how you move into position from there to a third contact block, where you're watching throughout the whole blocking movements and the actual block (ball vs player), then into how you line your body up to the hitter for each call (line/cross), and how you position your arms through the block for each call (line/cross). I'm especially interested in how you block cross; do you line your body up to the cross of the player and jump and reach vertically, or do you like to line up more in line with the hitter and jump vertically while angling your arms slightly to the side, or do you do it some other way?

[@firstbloodwarrior3868]

This was very helpful and I actually used the techniques in competition. I had a bad habit of pulling too soon and NOT having my hands UP. BIG HELP. (Entertaining instruction too btw) :)

[@chemasanchez8649]

Hello, i love your videos. But just one question. What about if your first step is looking to the line? that´s a way a lot of people do in Spain. And works good.

[@rhysfreitas7089]

Awesome videos guys! I noticed you don't have one on blocking form. (Footwork and penetration) I feel like this would be super helpful and a great prelude to the blocking calls videos.

[@SteveMcMief]

Hey Madison, great vid! I have sent it to tons of friends already who I thought needed the advice too. hahaha. However, I have a question. I have the steps down, but I find it hard to drop when I start moving from (sort of) the middle of the net to face the hitter first. Especially if the pass goes outside towards the antenna. Do you decide to drop before you move? I end up moving from the middle in the direction of the hitter, then see that the set is off the net, however its then often to late to drop properly. Whenever I do, I end up in no-man's land. Whats your advice? How do you avoid such situations?

[@mattydruce8113]

Thanks for yr fun and clear vids! Just have seen set receiving in yr vid and in recent Australian competition- we are taught : no setting first shot - hands together?

[@pedrochaparro]

In Blocking, what should be the exactly moment to jump and go for the block? Should we have our eyes on the ball or on the attacker arm/hand?

[@vbsand5882]

Great stuff - Important for you open players and Huge for average weekend hack level matches where every other set is 10 feet off the net !

[@williagr]

Is there a distance measurement you try to hit on dropping? 10/15 ft back or is it strictly dependent on your hitter? Also, videos on plyo workouts to help out my sand vertical would be awesome! I grew the beard but that doesn't seem to be helping.

[@fabricehenry6065]

Guys i really need your help for blocking techniques.plzzzz help🤙

[@pedrochaparro]

Where can I get a cap like yours? :). Great content, good good job guys. Thanks

[@rolandovaldez8369]

Do all of your blocking techniques work for indoor?

[@robgronbeck8862]

legends keep em coming!! Getting tonnes from your vids, so are some team mates!! cheers lads :D

[@XxXStoneFingerXxX]

Instead of having my feet parallel, i often open just slightly to the big part of the court so is feet are slightly staggered

[@K2Kassandra]

thanks for finally making beach tutorial ! so helpful!

[@dinopatroni]

Great tips Maddison! Love all your videos; quick question: I'm short 5'10 and getting old (49), used to be fast too ;). I really have a problem dropping off when they roll line lollipops which they land in the last foot or two of the court. Probably I stop too close to the net and then I need another 1-2 quick steps (running sideways again, almost like a second drop?) to save the ball. But that's easier said than done. Do you have another suggestion? Thanks a lot again for your videos and wish you guys good luck in the next AVP season! Dinu.

[@dinopatroni]

Thanks, see you on FB then:)

[@ioannissiounas9862]

Can you make a video for either short players or not so high level ones?

[@dufasaurjoe2899]

these tips are not always applicable to players of a lower level which means many beach players. I've seen coaches telling players to do this when they can hardly reach the net on the top of their block and none of the players on the court can actually hit. Hey the net does the blocking. They watch people play on TV and think this is how you play. No that is not how you play at a world calibre level. On of the biggest mistakes I see many players make at lower levels is blocking too much.

[@dufasaurjoe2899]

Teaching adults and teaching kids are different. Also the woman's and men's games are different. The net height changes but the court size is the same. At lower levels women's blocking is less important than covering the court. Also at lower levels I think the setter should pull back after they set rather than trying to pick up something off the block. They are more likely burned by someone shooting a one or two ball. Watch how seniors play. We seldom block unless we play with a lower net- we are more successful defending. Untill someone can actually hit a hard driven ball that is difficult to dig I think it is better to defend. How I defend against a hitter and a chipper is different. Some players are very good at short stuff and jumbo's but they can't really hit. You might want to sometimes play in an I formation. Coaching kids to block and peel is good but if they are playing against players that can't hit well- they should probably defend most of the time.

[@BenightedStar]

Liked the video cause of the six pack. Can relate.

[@williamkilgannon6479]

Will a retreating blocker ever use the scoop defense?

[@simonscottdotcom]

Super clear explanations, really helpful, thank you!

[@c.rucireta4755]

Hi guys! Thank you for those awesome videos, they're so helpful! Could you give us some tips about how and where to place block and defender in relation with the attack position (left, right and centre of the net)? Thank you so much!

[@c.rucireta4755]

Thank you for your answer! I can't wait for it! Greetings from Italy

[@tannigervolleyball]

Hi Guys, Amazing vidéos, love you and keep going ;) From swiss

[@tannigervolleyball]

The McKibbin Brothers Do you play all tournament togheter now?

[@steveammon-prsnl6915]

Great vid. Would have liked to know whether you drop your side or on the side of your block call.

[@infernal..]

It's the side

[@HellsBells-op2ed]

Love these vids keep em coming

[@pablopegc]

If the attacks is in the middle of mesh. How do i Block?

[@pedrochaparro]

Did u get some answer? :P

[@davidculjak882]

Thanks man u re great!

[@pedrochaparro]

Me again :P, in the dropping footwork , when I abandon the block, is there a right side to face when I run back? In he video it is with the body facing my part of the field and the side line is in my back. Doing in the opposite way is a mistake? or it really does not matter? Thanks

[@pedrochaparro]

I got it, thanks for the quick reply, then the main reason would be because the probability the left side hitter actually attack really near or over the side line (on my right) is low compare to the probability the ball goes to the big part of the court?

[@sespretz]

I think it is best to have your body facing towards the court! It is easier (and more likely) for a hitter to hit down the middle of the court rather than right on the line, so facing the court allows you to step into that seam to dig. It also allows you to set the ball if your partner is the one that passes.

[@jakobnordin]

Great as always!