How to Block 53% Better in Volleyball

Take some blocking concepts to another level here with a few tools to add to your blocking toolbox. If you are struggling with blocking in the game of volleyball let this video be the one to help bring you back to the fundamentals.
I am Mitch Sterkenburg, and Division III Men's Volleyball Assistant Coach for Marymount University. I want to see you get better at volleyball one step at a time! Let me know in the comments what pieces of the game you're looking to improve upon.

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@annikad4805]

Those videos are gold

[@mitchsterkenburg]

thank you!

[@gambore]

every vid is amazing thanks!

[@mitchsterkenburg]

glad you're liking them!

[@corbinator250]

Another banger

[@mitchsterkenburg]

banger by banger

[@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.

[@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

[@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!