8 Volleyball Blocking Drills From Footwork to Live Reads

Teach blocking in this order: start balanced, move to the attack, stop lateral momentum, press over the net, land and reset. Do not begin with uncontrolled hitting against inexperienced blockers.

USA Volleyball recommends a ready position with bent knees and balanced feet, roughly 18–24 inches from the net, adjusted for the player. It also emphasizes pressing over the net rather than merely reaching high. Volleyball Canada’s blocking models finish with a two-foot landing and an immediate reset for the next play (USA Volleyball; Volleyball Canada).

Use these eight volleyball blocking drills as a progression. Advance only when the checkpoint is repeatable.

1. Ready–Jump–Land

Setup: Put players along the net with enough space that no one can contact a teammate. No ball is needed.

Action: From a balanced ready position, the player dips, jumps straight up, reaches both hands above the net, lands on two feet and reloads. Perform sets of five rather than continuous jumps.

Cue: “Up and down in the same space.”

Checkpoint: Four of five repetitions finish balanced, without touching the net, landing on or across the center line, or taking a recovery step.

This isolates the block jump before lateral movement makes the landing harder.

2. Hand Press With a Held Ball

Setup: A coach stands on the floor opposite the blocker and holds a ball above the net. Adjust the net or ball height so the player can reach comfortably. The coach keeps possession of the ball.

Action: The blocker jumps and shapes both hands around the ball: arms extended, fingers spread and palms facing into the opponent’s court. Hold the blocking shape briefly, then land under control.

Cue: “Hands over, not just up.”

The objective is a stable surface across the plane of the net. Slapping at the ball makes the hands less predictable; USA Volleyball advises placing the hands across the net and leaving them there as long as possible (USA Volleyball).

Checkpoint: On four of five jumps, both hands reach across the net without contacting it and remain firm beside the ball.

3. Step-Close Blocking Footwork

Setup: Mark a start point and a target one large step apart along the net. Begin without jumping.

Action: Move toward the target with a lateral step, bring the second foot beside the lead foot, square the hips to the net and stop. Once the stop is clean, add the jump and hand press.

Cue: “Move, close, then jump.”

Volleyball Canada’s outside-blocker description connects the closing foot dynamically to the planted foot before takeoff. It also warns against reaching sideways, which can leave the blocker drifting rather than presenting a stable surface (Volleyball Canada).

Checkpoint: Four of five jumps take off from two feet with shoulders facing the net and land without sideways drift.

4. Crossover to the Pin

Setup: A middle blocker starts near the center of the net. Place a cone or tape target near either pin, leaving room to stop before the antenna and adjacent players.

Action: The coach points left or right. The blocker takes a directional step, crosses over for distance, closes the final foot, turns the hips back to the net and jumps. Practice slowly before adding speed.

Cue: “Fast across, square at takeoff.”

Volleyball Canada’s swing-block model uses an opening step, a large crossover step and a closing step that returns the hips toward the net before the jump (Volleyball Canada).

Checkpoint: The blocker reaches the marked spot and completes four of five square, balanced jumps without contacting the net.

An arm swing may add height and coverage, but it is not automatically the right first technique. In a study of nine Division I women, swing blocking produced greater jump height and blocking area than a traditional technique, while the researchers noted possible timing and deflection tradeoffs (Journal of Human Kinetics). Add the arm swing only after the footwork and landing are controlled.

5. Close the Seam With a Partner

Setup: Put an outside blocker at the pin and a middle blocker one or two steps inside. A coach on the opposite court holds the ball above a target between them.

Action: The outside blocker sets the location with a straight jump. The middle moves and closes beside that player. Both press over without swinging their arms sideways into each other.

Cue: “Close the space; keep your landing lane.”

Checkpoint: On four of five attempts, the pair leaves less than a hand-width between their inside hands while each player lands in their own space.

Do not chase seam closure by reaching sideways. Fix the feet first; the hands should finish over the hitter’s available window.

6. Pass–Setter–Hitter Reading Drill

Setup: Place a passer, setter and two controlled attackers on one side. Put one middle blocker on the other. Begin with tossed passes; the selected attacker catches the set instead of attacking it.

Action: The blocker watches the pass, then the setter, then transfers attention to the selected hitter. The blocker moves to the set and performs a controlled jump. After several successful reads, attackers can tip the ball instead of catching it.

Cue: “Pass, setter, hitter.”

Reading should precede guessing. USA Volleyball identifies the pass as information about the likely options and recommends reading the setter’s hands and body before shifting attention to the hitter (USA Volleyball; USA Volleyball).

Checkpoint: The blocker arrives in front of the correct attacker on eight of 10 sets, regardless of whether the ball is touched.

7. Controlled Block Versus Attack

Setup: Use one setter, one attacker and one blocker. The coach initiates an easy ball. The attacker begins with roll shots at about half speed into a stated lane.

Action: The blocker reads the set, gets square and presses into the lane. Increase attack pace only after both players show control. Rotate frequently rather than assigning one player every jump.

Cue: “Take away a lane.”

Checkpoint: On six of 10 playable sets, the blocker either touches the ball or places both hands across the planned line or angle lane without drifting. A tactically correct block can help the defense even without touching the ball.

Players who need cleaner attacking mechanics before this stage can use the progression in volleyball hitting drills.

8. Block-and-Defense Scoring Game

Setup: Play 4v4 or 6v6. Define the blocking call before each rally—for example, take line or take angle—so back-row defenders know which space remains. Initiate with a free ball to the attacking team.

Action: Play out the rally. Award one point only when the defending side executes the call and then wins the rally. A controlled block touch that leads to a dig or transition attack qualifies; the blocker does not need a stuff block.

Cue: “Block and floor defense share the court.”

Checkpoint: The unit executes its assigned block-defense relationship on six of 10 playable attacks. If blockers repeatedly reach sideways or defenders occupy the blocked lane, return to a slower attack.

For a defined team shape behind the block, connect this drill to rotational defense positions.

A 20-Minute Blocking Segment

• 3 minutes: Ready–Jump–Land
• 3 minutes: Hand Press
• 4 minutes: Step-Close or Crossover Footwork
• 4 minutes: Close the Seam
• 6 minutes: Reading Drill or Block-and-Defense Scoring Game

Choose the version that matches the checkpoint players have already passed. More live swings do not repair unstable feet; when technique breaks down, remove attack speed or movement before adding it again.