How to Block 53% Better in Volleyball

[@dhruvgupta4998]

A video on how to read the court before setting would be helpful, as a setter I feel like I often am not able to gauge which hitter to set at what time, and just choose randomly. What things should I look at which both my hitters and the opposing teams blockers when setting.

[@zacharyburdick]

Great idea I chose pretty randomly too

[@zacharyburdick]

Great idea I chose pretty randomly too

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Really love this idea I'll have to add it to the list

[@VBMichael_D]

Ah, I might have some info for you! For what I call '3d chess setting', the first step is to never turn your back to the net. Unless you are chasing a horrible pass, you sidestep/cross step to the pass, and always face the 1 zone (left side outside set area). This will help you maintain a visual on the other court. Next, there are two ways you can read the other team's court, the first is peripheral and the second is head turning. I use peripheral but I've seen Chistensen from the US and Sanchez from Argentina turn their head. What you're doing is getting a visual on the opposing teams MB whilst the pass is in the air. I myself use my peripheral vision. Next, if you want to manipulate the block, you run an offense to make the MB move. I.e. if 3 hitters: 13/Go, 31, 93/Red. When your middle is swinging out for that 31, if you see the MB follow him, set the Red/93. Your right side hitter will have one block. If the MB stays put, set the 31. If you happen to see their outside blocker cheating in to cover that 31, set a 13 and have your hitter bounce line (since their blocker wants to freelance!) You could also set a 1.5 tempo pipe if the middle follows the 31. Double quicks are very effective, esp if you have an opposite who can hit back quicks.

[@torstenjohanes7688]

I have tow games today and here we go trying to block some unaware outside hitters. Thanks man ❤

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Let's go! Hope you were able to apply some stuff.

[@itsmerami]

Just in time, playing some vball tomorrow. Going to try these tips! Keep the bangers coming Coach!

[@mitchsterkenburg]

the banger will continue to come Rami!

[@annikad4805]

Those videos are gold

[@mitchsterkenburg]

thank you!

[@VBMichael_D]

The clip starting at 4:20, regarding player #1, and that demonstration, I have one question and two comments. Question is, since he is the left side blocker, WTF is he doing camping out so close to the middle? Comments: Honestly, the correct 'home' spot for an outside blocker is one arm's length from the antenna; your assignment is covering the outside/outside hitter first, not the middle. Since he was not where he should've been, he had to take several steps to get there, and that caused him to drift/float in the air. Drifiting laterally is a NO NO for blocking. That's a good way to get embarrassingly tooled. If a team wants to run that type of blocking scheme where the outside blockers camp out so close to the middle, they can get burned badly by a setter who knows how to set shoots/Go's and 92s with hitters that can bounce line shots.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

It's all about scheme. Yes, there's some team that you play against where you need to be in a base position further out to the pin. This team had really strong middle attackers, so we encourage our guys to help in the middle where they can then peel to their primary responsibility after that. Also, given a lot of the sets to their pins were slower it gives Esteban #1 the time to get out there and block. There's no "correct" home spot. It all depends on matchups, scheme, and the opposition. So in this scenario that's why you see him hedging more towards the middle to help take that away.

[@MindfulRepetition]

Thanks, where did you get the 53% from? Subscribed.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Somewhat arbitrary, but it's my perception of the impact of the content related to the topic.

[@gambore]

every vid is amazing thanks!

[@mitchsterkenburg]

glad you're liking them!

[@rodgergu9428]

Hey Mitch, as a MB I often find myself always being late to the block when the opposing setter goes towards the pins. I feel like it's a combination of my initial positioning (which is more or less wherever I'm standing at the time) and my movement speed towards the hitter (I'm not covering ground quickly enough). Any tips?

[@mitchsterkenburg]

Great question! To start, middles should always start in the center of the court pre-serve, the oppo and OH should work around them so its oriented that way. Doing that will give you a good base if the opponents decides to set a pin on a first ball. Second, pay a lot of attention to the setter and the type of pass they are receiving. Sometimes you can take a step or to in one direction to a pin early on a pass out of system. On in system quick tempo sets sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and stick with your middle, but if the pins are really killing you, it might be advantageous to leave early on a ball you don't think the setter will go to the middle on.

[@rodgergu9428]

Legend - appreciate the reply@@mitchsterkenburg

[@VBMichael_D]

@@mitchsterkenburg ...and that middle better hope the setter they are watching, isn't watching them too. Surely you've seen Christensen from the US and Sanchez from Argentina, turn their head to the other team when the pass is in the air? If they saw the other MB move one way, they're setting it another. If my middle is hitting a 31 and as a setter, if I see you follow him, I'm setting a 92 or 93 to leave my right side with one block. If you don't follow the middle, I will set them, even if I'm on the 3 meter line; if I can get them the set when no blocker is there, I'll put it right on top of the net for them!

[@mitchsterkenburg]

@@VBMichael_D I’m not disagreeing with you totally but you have to acknowledge that you can’t wait for the set every time or you’ll get burned just as bad - and even worse on your primary assignment. I’ll take a 1 on 1 for my blockers over a 1-0

[@VBMichael_D]

@@mitchsterkenburg Here is a PRIME example of why an outside blocker needs to stay outside. Here is your 1-0 scenario (I say that because that blocker's desperate reach was no block at all). THIS is what I meant by having my hitters bounce line because the outside blockers want to secretly be middle blockers. Steve Timmons, the opposite for that team in the video, could do the same thing on the right side. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqnYnnh5p7mrqZY

[@VBMichael_D]

Hey Mitch, here is a very good video to study, from both sides. You can see how the blocks form, and why a lot of them are getting burned. However, you can also see how effective a nasty line shot is. The shots that actually paint the sidelines, are works of art. Hits that paint the sideline like that are very difficult to defend. So, how would you set up a block scheme to stop these types of sets and more importantly, how well the hitters can turn line around the block, like they aren't even there? kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKG2eKSBnJ6nsNU

[@mitchsterkenburg]

First off, the hitters in this video are the 1% of volleyball attackers. 99% of volleyball players out there can't bounce a ball down the line inside the 10 foot line. If there's a play on a team we are playing that is a far better hitter, obviously our focus would be to try and take away their best shot. The reason why I am not overly concerned about these power shots down the line are two reasons. #1 We have our best defender (libero) on 85% of these attack, if the ball comes in their vicinity I like our chances getting at least a touch on these balls - at the level of volleyball I coach at. Not at the olympic level. #2, the margin of error hitting down the line is huge. A little overcorrection in the armswing and you have a deadly kill that goes out of bounds. So it's like having an extra defender to the outside of the Lib. I feel like we're kind of going all over the place in some of these comments crossing over different themes and topics. Ultimately in volleyball most of the time - it depends. Like I say a lot there are no absolutes so there multiple ways to coach and approach different problems we come across. Hope this helps you!

[@VBMichael_D]

@@mitchsterkenburg Your libero isn't defending line from the other team's outside hitters. Either your opposite or setter will be. I also don't understand why the libero isn't in the back middle. IMO, the middle back requires someone with speed and mobility. The back row outside hitter should be on the left side, as they are proficient (or should be) to defend that spot. We didn't have the libero when I played, but we did have the back row specialist. who came in for the middle and played middle back. I played at the college club level and all my hitters knew how to hit line. If I'm coaching, and especially teaching a hitter how to hit, I'm probably going to instruct them to make line their default shot. You're right, those guys are the 1%, and they most likely got to be the 1% because they understood the value of the 'little things' like these nasty line bounces. LOL

[@VBMichael_D]

@@mitchsterkenburg obviously our focus would be to try and take away their best shot This is why the correct approach for hitters should be taught, as well as being able to see the blockers' hands, as well as to be able to disguise their swing and be able to hit line, angle and tool the block intentionally with equivalent effect. I would rather my hitter have multiple, equally effective options; no 'best shot' to take away there.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

@@VBMichael_D True, but you'll see most 'line bounces' coming from the opposite down the line to the Libero. It's pretty rare to see multiple bounces from OHs in a game because connecting with your setters on long sets to free up space for it becomes much more difficult. To your second point, the BIC is a vital part of the game. Having a pin in zone 6 who can attack is an important ingredient in a winning team. If you watch the USA olympic team they set the BIC probably 20% of the time and it is highly effective.

[@VBMichael_D]

@@mitchsterkenburg Yeah, I ran the Pipe (not calling it a bic) when I was in college. We also ran the D sets as well. I do watch the USMNT, quite a bit in fact. But at the same time, it also emphasizes a 'pick your poison' for the opposing block. Again, fast, outside sets and hitters that can hit line (they don't have to be 3m bounces, in fact, if they hit them high, towards the back line, and thus the line defender's face, those are equally difficult to defend), will dismantle a 'pinched in' block scheme. "True, but you'll see most 'line bounces' coming from the opposite down the line to the Libero." Because it seems that again, line shots are becoming a lost art. I see so many outside and right side hitters angle approch, and angle swing into a block, blocking angle when there is at least 2 feet of open line. I'd love to see a modern libero trying to defend right side line being hit by Steve Timmons. His attacks were purportedly exceeding 100mph.

[@corbinator250]

Another banger

[@mitchsterkenburg]

banger by banger

[@Mr.Dobalina113]

There is a disconnect between what you say and what the video shows in the timing portion of your video. The timing of the block is to jump after the hitter. As clearly shown in your video, the middle blocker is not jumping with the hitter or at the same time as the hitter like you said. That would be a poorly timed block. A well timed block is one that is timed to be at or near the peak when the hitter contacts the ball. The hitter will almost always take more time to get to contact than the block will take to get at or near the peak.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

I think you bring up some points that make sense here. But the bigger picture I’m trying to get at is the higher level of play you start to get to, the more on time your block has to be with the hitters. The most often “tools”, and blocking errors I see are from jumping too late and the hitter taking advantage. Which is why I stress jumping as close to the same time as the attacker. Also if you get up early and they see you there they will be more willing to tip.

[@Mr.Dobalina113]

@@mitchsterkenburg I could link other videos here to prove that even at the highest levels and even on most 1st tempo sets, the blockers are almost always still jumping after the attacker in both women’s vb and men’s. I don’t think I should link other videos here, but I think you can study this yourself. And yes, the timing for jumping on middle quicks gets a bit tighter as the tempo and contact height increases but the blocks on the pins don’t change much. I appreciate your reply and keep doing what you do. You have some nice content.

[@mitchsterkenburg]

@@Mr.Dobalina113 gotcha, I’m not saying they should be jumping before the attacking. I’m more saying the longer you wait after the attacker does jump.. the less likely you’ll be successful getting a block. I think we’re getting at similar things. It’s not always the easier concept to break down with random video pulls of games but I think talking about the strategy behind it gets us closer to understanding blocking at a higher level. Thanks for the comment!

[@VBMichael_D]

@@mitchsterkenburg it's sad to see that sort of admission. I had 3 outside hitters on my team that could more or less tool the block at will. I had one OH who even yelled 'tool!' during a game right before he swung, and the ball went off the blocker's hands out of bounds. I saw Karch Kiraly, Steve Timmons and especially Bob Ctvrtlik from the late 80s early 90s USMNT tool the block almost routinely. You could even tell when they were intentional. Those and line shots seem to be a lost art. :(

[@mitchsterkenburg]

@@VBMichael_D not sure how this comment really applies to this thread, we’re talking about timing for blocking that lead to tools, not an ability to tool the block.