Should You REALLY Be Blocking in Beach Volleyball? How to Know If Youre a Blocker & Who NOT to Block

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

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[@MarkMyerson]

I don't know the US tournament grades, but I would say blocking becomes necessary at a far higher level than most people realise. As a 5'10" lower-advanced player, I love when the other team tries to block me. Just means I have more space to find a good poke, and the defender has reduced vision. On my side, I try to hit a couple early to make the other team consider blocking - and then I spend the rest of the game rolling and poking!

[@Excelsiorgaming97]

I have played in BB/A tournaments where my partner and I blocked too much. There was a few players however that were crucial to block.

[@kristinecongram8234]

Omg this is perfect. I'm a former big dumb middle....transition to beach years ago....this makes so much sense!! Thank you will try this. ☺

[@russzacek6233]

1 - Great video. Such helpful advice! Thank you. I think you need to block at Open level. A block is a huge advantage at AA, and I find that AA gives you 3-5 free points per set when you block from over sets, or sets that are too tight for the hitter to have options. So, I feel that blocking is smart at AA, but pulling a lot is an advantage. As a defender, I like to see a block as it helps me to locate my position. The block eliminates options and leaves me with just a few things to worry about. And, I appreciate the court that the block takes away. I find when we drop into serve receive-type positions, I feel flat footed, and don't adjust to the swing well. There are several players I play against that are suicide to block. They are just too accurate and crafty, without much threat of hitting down.

[@jimmylove3090]

Mark, this is very important message and great video overall - cannot express how much this video arrived in absolutely right time for me! Many thanks from Russia, bro!

[@SeanAndVeronica]

so helpful!!!

[@YugoNation]

In Illinois - no blocking for the most part in anything lower than A (unless someone is seriously sandbagging). You will give up a couple of points on overpasses and if there is a tall guy on the other side but agree with you it does not warrant putting up a block for that.

[@treeleupp8504]

Very helpful

[@michaelbross9365]

Great insight! Can’t wait to put it in practice if I ever make it to a beach again 😫

[@kamillamn]

Nice tip ;)

[@jakobnordin]

Summer Ross is the Peeling Queen of Beach Volleyball! She is tall and can block but prefers to use her hands in high defense and she does it good.

[@vojtechandrs5754]

im definitely blocking too much, great advice. thank you

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

You are so welcome

[@thatdad1897]

I think when playing not in tournaments, against players who can hit down hard but maybe not hard or at an acute enough angle, it’s more fun to have either my partner or myself blocking because it makes it feel more like “real” volleyball

[@michaelbross9365]

I agree, doesn’t make sense, but we all want to feel like the big boys😂😂😂

[@thatdad1897]

@@michaelbross9365 Every time I hit a shot to sideout it looks like one of Taylor Crabb’s shots in my head but it really was something that a pro player would have read or chased down easy. It’s just fun to imagine your level of play is far higher than it actually is lol

[@ivespoken8902]

What is the best gameplan for the attackers who are knuckling short in front of the net when you peel, especially those players who are really good at those short ding and cut shot in front of the 10 or 5 foot line. i struggle to defend the shorts.

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

We talk A LOT about that and do a ton of at-home drills for it in the Blocking and Peeling section of Ultimate Defender.. Basically you should be starting in “surfer position” about half way back into the court…. This nuanced defensive position puts you into a position where it is easier to chase forward and back but it might expose you to hard hits so dont use it against bangers… One of our members just this week used some of the tactics we showed here for Late Peels so the blocker can get digs... She ended up scoring a bunch of points using that strategy against a team that normally beats her up.. You can check out these videos for some advice kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWbNepaBrdCfrM0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/h53amJuZmtOir9E kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2WqomZ_l52MkLs If you want to get real coaching so we can watch your movements and really see what’s going on, you could get in our online coaching program and start. You’ll also get access to our 4 month Training Program, Ultimate Defender which has a huge section on blocking and peeling with a few key defensive strategies.. check it out here www.betteratbeach.com let me know if you have any questions

[@LV75]

I play BVB at intermediate level and the blocks are quite often unnecessary. The exception is when the enemy setting is near the net. Peeling is very important and here in Italy it's the very first tactical thing which is taught.

[@Lukas-xm3jk]

Hey Marc! Would you make a video about who to serve? Which of my two opponents should we serve to win? Thanks!

[@Mikkarus]

It depends. You could serve vs bad passer, bad setter (serve to the other), bad attacker. Or vs more tired/poor stamina person. If you get a lot of aces against one opponent - sure, just serve to him. But if passing is more or less ok from both - see who makes mistakes on sets giving you free scores. If passing works - just choose a weaker attacker. If you see a tired person - make a shortened serve to him.

[@vibraniumsteelix2125]

Haha I'm still transitioning from indoor, I definitely block too much! Still not used to reading whether someone's hitting a spike or a shot, so I always jump 😅

[@tjs5233]

would be nice if we were all as tall as Connor tho...

[@jonskramstad3742]

as a coach at a junior college, i would say only our #1's pair generally ever needs to block. Even then, it's situational, and likely only 1 player (the Tall) on the other team. And, even THEN, i'd guess it's only the tight set....maybe 20% of the time. If anything, girls tend to block too much, at least at the JC Level. Those who DO block, rarely GET a block for a point. Maybe another video would be helpful to explain, in the words of The Clash, "should i stay or should i go now" as far as blocking vs. peeling on an off set. Thanks Mark!!

[@marcbrown5081]

Should a block be completely vertical or should you smother the ball or a little of both.

[@patriksorups]

i dont really know how the levels work in america, but in my country certain youth ages have lovered nets, for example our u16 have a net height of 2.35 and at that level we usually start blocking.

[@heyouMusic]

Hi mark! i'm from brazil and your videos help me a lot to develop my volleyball. thank you so much! Where we train we consider that we have an intermediate level. Sometimes we have good hitters who can hit hard and can put short difficult balls. My question is regarding the hand marking: if I put 1 1, 1 2, or 2 2, can I either block or retreat in the direction of the marking? Or whenever I am waiting for the short balls, can I retreat to the position that I scored? Sorry about my English! Hugs!

[@Mikkarus]

Pull back in the direction you're blocking. It makes your defender's life much easier and more predictable. He is covering line or diagonal direction based just on your 1 or 2 sign.

[@kamillamn]

I'm playing a C cup and I perceived that didn't make sense to block, because they basically shoot the ball over you. In the last match, we decided that one of us would always take care of the net because we knew that the players used to cut shots or leave short balls. But not this time girls! ✌😉

[@2Swift4u]

I agree that in general amateur players tend to block too often however in my opinion it's not quite as easy as you make it sound in this video. Even if a player can't bounce a ball he can still get an easy point off a close set with no block. If a team doesn't block your partner you'll simply set the ball 50/50 and he can just tip it down or hit a semi hard ball to the sideline which you most likely won't be able to defend. So let's say in order to avoid that you wait untill you see the set and then pull back. If you are under 6' your opponent can most likely still easily shoot the ball over you. And if you start in the backcourt you won't be able to defend the oversets. So it's really not quite that easy, especially for smaller players.

[@Tannerdroze_vb]

I’m from SC so it really depends, everyone says there are a bunch of sand baggers here and it really depends on the team, and even the player on the team, so there’s no really good answer, open you need to, AA most of the time but maybe not, A depends on the team

[@boaltie10]

I'd definitely stay down on Brandon too. :-)

[@jendabekCZ]

When they can pass right above the net, you need to block as well, otherwise you have almost no chance to defend short balls played from that position.

[@OneTimeForTheOneTime38]

I’m a low BB player and I feel B players block WAY too much! I also think people should start blocking around A to high A.

[@birdo54]

As a defender, I'd rather play a team that we need to block because it means that they probably know what they're doing and I can read their hits and be in the right spot defensively. I also trust my blocker to block the correct area of the court and I'll run down the cut shots and high-lines over the block. I don't like playing a team that we don't need to block because they usually don't really know what they're doing and are kind of sporadic so they'll get lots of lucky points where they try to swing and the ball would be going to the back of the court, or out of bounds deep, but it'll clip the net and fall at the 1-foot line. I'd rather play defense against a good hitter.

[@charlesdicus6451]

I think in A and even double B you'd have a hard time winning without blocking at all. Definitely could be done with good defense. But there will definitely be players who can bounce the ball and who's weaknesses lie elsewhere who need a block in Double . At least in NY.

[@mjp431982]

What about hard deep wafflers?

[@mattdelsanto5108]

Does 4 on 4 change this perspective?

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

not really... if someone isn't worth blocking. dont block them... and if you're not getting high enough at the net, don't block

[@michelemartinelli1025]

I was blocking way too much. Then I watched this. 😂

[@OptimusChillz]

Great advice. Cover the over sets and tight sets. Peel on the others. Got it. 👍🏼

[@fett327]

I'll bite at the comments. I've played against some damn good hitters in the CBVA unrateds. "Need" a blocker? To win the whole thing, I think we'd use one eventually. Definitely at the B tourney level.

[@mengher112]

AA for sure, I can see shorter scrappy A teams winning without a block

[@gunarslodzins]

Certainly blocking too much. Need to learn to peel late

[@ncstudio333]

Slightly disagree. A block can be useful to cover parts of the court even for player who can’t hit hard at all and help the defence by limiting the possible shots. Especially for close sets, don’t sleep on the block even for cutters!

[@FreedomFinanceFun]

Yeah. Blocking to much! Probably any A or BB. Without a blocker, it's going straight to the sand

[@shaunramsey1377]

You can win an A tournament without blocking with two good defenders you have no chance in a AA Cbva tourney

[@ivespoken8902]

i get cramps from blocking too much lol

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

SAME! I recommend drinking pickle juice. It's the only thing that has ever worked for my cramps

[@davidallyn1818]

But, isn't it good to get into the habit of being up at the net with your opposite, and practice the skill for when you do have to use it? Sure we're all little compared to you guys, but having a guy up there making the opposing team think hard about what they're going to do is good, yes? If you're always off the net, then don't you give them 2-3 fee of little knuckles and drops?

[@fraizie6815]

Bro I'm 6'9 I'll block everything

[@TallPaulll]

Me being 6’9 🤦‍♂️🤣

[@ISaNiAI]

Yeah, lost too many points blocking :D

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

Peeling is so much more valuable than blocker up until the Open Level... you have to control your side of the court without giving them space... We talk A LOT about that and do a ton of at-home drills for it in the Blocking and Peeling section of Ultimate Defender.... If you want to dive in for a couple months of guidance, you could get in our coaching program and start.. check it out here www.betteratbeach.com let me know if you have any questions