Team Blocking - Part 3

Articles In This Section:

· The Block

· Rules Pertaining to the Block

· Importance of the Block

· Purpose of the Block

· Individual Blocking

· Team Blocking - Part 1

· Team Blocking - Part 2

· Team Blocking - Part 3

· Summary

Another variation in shifting a player to the front line is for the best blocker on the back line to come up and block. This is a stronger method, provided the best blocker is in shape to stand the grind of continual blocking. When a weak blocker rotates to the center back position, either the right back or left back should shift to the front line. Actually, it makes little difference as to which side of the center front these back-line players go. For example, the left back can move up much easier to the left of the center front. The important aspects are for all team mates to know which player is coming up and to which side of the center front he is going.

Still another variation in shifting a player to the front line is to use a substitute either before or after the service. The substitute is used as the blocker from all three back-line positions, with other back-line players adjusting their positions accordingly. This system conserves the strength of the person replaced as well as the other back-line players. Its use is limited somewhat by the rule allowing only three entries per game.

Some teams prefer to put up a four-man block on both the right and left sides as well as in the center. A back-line player moves to the front line and then the four front-line players shift along the net to the point of attack. The two remaining back-line players have to cover the mid-court area for spikes coming through or off the block. Such a block is easy to form in front of a high set to the center forward, but it is very difficult to form in front of sets to the left and right forwards. In spikes from the right forward, the defensive right forward has to move very quickly to his left in order to get in position with the other three blockers. Likewise, the defensive left forward has a tough job in moving to his right fast enough when spikes are coming from the left forward. Low sets and sets near the side lines by the offense will diminish the effectiveness of a four-man blocking system.

Two difficult plays to block are first-pass sets and low sets. In the first-pass set the blockers do not know whether the spiker will spike the ball or set it to another spiker. The low set also has the surprise element. A team must have alert, fast-moving blockers to stop these plays.

How do the blockers rearrange for offense? In a sense they do not. If a ball is blocked and remains on the blockers' side of the net, that team should strive to execute a set with the second hit. Of course, the success of this play is dependent upon several factors, such as the speed and position of the ball as it comes off the block.

If the ball misses the block completely and is dug up from the back line, it is usually returned toward the front line at a fast pace. The blockers are in the process of recovering their offensive positions after coming down from the attempted block. In this situation it is much better for the front-line player closest to the ball to set it, since there is not much time for the play. It may be the normal setter if he happens to be near the ball, but it could be any of the other three players near the net. With this system three players are left to spike.¹⁰

Building an efficient blocking team depends on the principle underlying good team play. All players must co-operate, allowing each player to assume his full responsibility and taking over from another only when it will be to the team's advantage. Players must know the habits of the men on the court, and knowing these habits (within limits outlined by the coach), build the offense and defense.