Middle Quick Attack: Spacing and Timing

This video was taken from Max Holt hitting a quick ball or 50 in his warmup. I love the slow motion capture of his tracking the ball to give him proper spacing in relation to his setter, and his timing of take off in relation to when the ball is being set. Enjoy!

[@samsymonds5020]

As a 16 year old middle blocker this video is super super helpful thank you!

[@rowestrength]

You are most welcome.

[@delianfast8587]

16 yo setter , also thankful

[@taoufiqallali7431]

Thank you very much!! I really needed this, I subscribed and I hope you keep doing this kind of videos analyzing pro volleyball players actions

[@douglasallen6101]

Nice Video. and a great choice of videos to show it all.

[@suedillon5115]

This is a great breakdown of MH timing! Just what I was looking for to share with my high school middles! Thanks!

[@rowestrength]

You are most welcome.

[@gregorysh5754]

Great video, thanks!

[@zinjinx7714]

I just wanna say after watching this video I’ve scored more points in my practice games than I have last week

[@dennisdelosreyes120]

That is the right sequence for a quick. Jump-set-spike.

[@user-iu1ru1qz7u]

Great video, thank you.

[@rowestrength]

You are most welcome

[@hellou4551]

Extremely helpful!!! Thank you

[@rowestrength]

You are most welcome.

[@dominikurbanski1079]

I'd love to see similar video about timing and technic in jumpserve

[@user-pb1jy7sd1j]

excellent

[@irmaktemel7171]

As a 15 year old setter this is helpful. Now I am gonna wait for the middle blocker to jump first before I set

[@rowestrength]

Awesome. It will really help the middle attack truly be "quick". You will catch many young blockers off guard.

[@MauMight]

I was a 1,80m mid blocker and coach said tô practice this bus after 6 atempts he said, go with what u can

[@rowestrength]

Middle blockers have the smallest range for error because of the speed of the attack. It takes time for the setter to feel where you are, but if you are consistently in the same space in front of the setter, they will have an easier time seeing you and finding that connection. Keep up the good work!

[@devyncarter4171]

This video helped soooo much, thank you. Could you do one of a middle hitting a 31 or suggest any video breakdowns of that?

[@rowestrength]

You are welcome. The timing for a 30 is actually the same as the 50. The difference is spacing. Depending on who your coach is, the 30 will either be positional, meaning always trying to split the opponent middle and right side blocker. Or it will be relational to the setter in that you will always be 3m(ish) away from your setter based on the pass location.

[@user-ch1cq9qj4h]

As a 169 cm middle, this video is gonna be engraved into my memory

[@rowestrength]

Great!!

[@crackedteeth]

Super helpful video for a recreational player learning volleyball in his 30’s lol

[@joshuaculp9417]

There is a modification to this - when the ball leaves the hands of the setter, the ball should be hit. I am talking millimeters from the setters hands. It is possible to do, but does take some practice to get it in tune with the hitter and setter. What this does is constantly get the middle blocker to be jumping to block and leaves the wings more exposed for a 1v1, which is what is ideal. It's an uncomfortable thing to learn because you are really touching the setter as you come through, which can freak people out, but that really quick hit always changes the dynamics of the game to a more consistent 1v1 matchup at the net.

[@othassari1995]

Any advice for a lefty middle ? I'm really struggling to hit since opening my shoulder makes me unable to see the ball.

[@rowestrength]

Great question! That is a tough ball to hit as you have to wait for it to come across your midline before you can really hit it. I would start with just a little more space between you and the setter in relation to the net, so you're back off the net a little more, and you can keep the ball in front of you. That means your setter will have to set back towards you more, but it will give you better vision of your setter, the ball, and the block. Does that make sense?

[@othassari1995]

@@rowestrength I usually start my first step right on the 3rd meter line, so you're suggesting to start before it in order to increase our margin of error (my setter and I) ? Thanks for the answer btw !

[@rowestrength]

@@othassari1995 Correct. Just a behind the 3m line.

[@thorbenkrueger1056]

Where should we look the second we hit the ball? Eyes on the ball or on the block?

[@rowestrength]

Great question. For developing players I would suggest the ball to ensure good contact, and use peripheral vision to see the block. As consistency develops, eyes can be used to peripherally see the ball and the block, as well as expanding to where the diggers are (or are not).

[@denniskim2024]

as a Middle block why do we need to focus on the setter after we track the ball hitting its apex?

[@rowestrength]

Knowing where your setter is just helps with spacing along the net and off the net. As your eyes shift down, you will also be able to see the opponent blockers, which can help you make a decision as to what angle to hit.

[@denniskim2024]

@@rowestrength do you have any other videos for Middle blockers?

[@rowestrength]

@@denniskim2024 Currently, no. Just this one, and one for the leftside.

[@taylorclark9042]

Did he say 15 U my coach showed us this at 13 U

[@manyodude]

What makes it hard tho is if your setter is short and can’t jump lol..u gotta wait on him if he can’t keep up with your height ..in which you’ll just get block lol

[@rowestrength]

Yes, both of your "peaks" should be reached at the same time. If he's stand setting, his peak is where he receives the ball, and your jump peak has to match that. The time between peaks is miniscule.

[@mikolajwojnicki2169]

​@@rowestrengthThat means a short setter needs to set the ball fast, right? And I have to hit it as it's going up? I like to wait for the ball to reach it's peak height which makes it easier to see the block and spike next to it.

[@Bonrowe]

Yes, that's correct. The greater the distance between the setter's hands and your contact point means the ball must move faster. Ideally you and the setter have a good enough connection that they don't fire that ball too far past you, but get it right in the zone and you can make the final decision as to where to hit. @@mikolajwojnicki2169

[@thearcticlord3920]

Too slow. This example is what you get it you only aim for quick ball. Instead aim for fast ball. Aim for Jump, Hit, Set. Tracking is good, but get in the air, hit an imaginary ball. Have the setter bounce the ball off your hand. You should almost hit the ball whilst the setter has it in hand. That is a fast.

[@Andrew.webster1]

You're watching too much anime

[@thearcticlord3920]

@@Andrew.webster1 Aim for the mediocre and if you are lucky, you may just achieve it. Aim for perfection and once, just once, you might deliver; but the less good times are going to be impressive too.

[@joshuaculp9417]

@@Andrew.webster1 No he isn't. I do it a lot when playing and it's actually more effective than what this video is showing. There is still enough time for a middle blocker to read and get to a wing in the video. It can be hit just as it leaves the setters hands and it does force a middle blocker to always be jumping. There is no way to possibly read that in time, to get to a wing.

[@AleksPlayz]

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