Blocking for the little guys?

Question

Hey, I was wondering if anyone has any good tips for a shorter blocker. I'm 5'7 and have a 25 or 26 standing vert, I'm an ok blocker considering my size. I was wondering if you guys have any blocking tips or tricks when going up against those those strong tall hitters. Growing taller is not an option either, I think I've hit my peak!:)

Answer 1

i'm 5'8'' i play on a 7'4'' net & i have a 15 vert. i block. it depends on your net. there is a girl on my team who is 5'3'' & she get's up there. i just suggest getting your timing down right.

Answer 2

Honestly. You're future in the front row is really limited, get better at passing.

While you are currently still playing in the front row, get your vert up to become more effective, and the other thing is a "show and take" block

The block requires a slightly higher vert and consists of this: as you jump reach a little to the side that the hitter is NOT hitting. When he sees you blocking the wrong side you drop your hands to the other side and block the ball.

Another way to do it is to stand to one side and as you jump you drift slightly to take the other angle, it's effective when the hitter has that advantage of size or vert.

While I was in highschool I was a middle, and ironically, the shortest starter on my Varsity team at 6'2. My coach would have me practice this against 6'8 players and it was really my only chance at blocking them. Fortunatly for college they moved me to a RS/S

Answer 3

that's a huge verticle!!!!!!!!! and 5'7 could be tall enough to get you into a division 2 or 3 school (college). especially w/ that verticle.

good luck

Answer 4

Jump higher!

I'm short too, and I couldn't reach the net, so I started to practice the jumps and now I can block as well as my team colleagues!

Good luck, you can do it! :)

kiss

Answer 5

Naw, just give up.  You'll never achieve your dreams.

Answer 6

The case of urs is a bit complicated but till it is not impossible ,all the time tall guys have the advantage... practice for better jumping s

Answer 7

Indoor or Outdoor?

I'm not going to pretend like everyone can be an  olympic or division 1 so I won't even mention that the best get their chest above the net because its really not going to happen for either of us and I'm 6 inches taller than you.

Talking about Indoor, you really just need to work your *** off to increase your vertical by about 10 inches, at the least.  You need to be able to get your elbows over the net to become a great blocker.  The more you can penetrate over the net (to your opponent's side) the greater the amount of court you take away by creating bad angles for the hitter (much like a goalie in soccer coming off his line to cut down the angle)  This is really only achieveable by jumping higher.  Until you get to that point you need to concentrate on your timing.  Make sure you are at your highest point in your jump at the moment the ball passes over the net.  With your vertical you'll be jumping after the hitter does.  Also in Indoor volleyball you are part of a team defense so sometimes you'll be taking away the line or forcing the line (by taking away angle), you should also read hitter's tendencies and surprise them by taking his favorite shot away.  If a hitter hasn't proven he can hit line effectively you will be taking away the angle.  Learn the game well and you can be a good blocker.

Outdoors- If you can get up enough to create a block big enough where if you take line, they CANT hit line without you getting a big piece or a stuff block then you can be an effective blocker no matter what height.  Doubles is a huge blocking game, not the actual block stat, but the funneling of the ball to your partner.  Fortuantely there will be only one hitter so you can focus on blocking him.  You should just make sure you do not float sideways on your block and allow the hitter too much of the court to hit at.