Fundamental Skills - Blocking helping you reach your maximum potential   Blocking is an important skill.  A properly executed block scores a point, just the same as a killer spike.  And it demoralizes the opponent, putting more pressure on the hitters and setter.  If you think about it - in how many other sports do you to score a point by "stopping a goal"?     Blocking Technique Net Position While at the net your hips and shoulders are squared up and facing the net. Place your FEET shoulder width apart, parallel to each other, and with both feet perpendicular to the net. KNEES are in a slight squat in a ready position that allows you to quickly side-step along the net either to the right or left.  You should be about HALF your arm's length away from the net. Your starting position for your HANDS are bent elbows with palms facing the net just above shoulder level.  Your hands always need to be ready at the net, and it is easier/faster to bring them down than it is to bring them up.  So ALWAYS keep them up in anticipation.  Your hands stay just above your shoulders and not below your waist or below the net... so that when you jump your hands and arms are in a ready position to block the ball and you don't waste precious time bringing them from a low position.   Tracking the Hitter and Setting the Block Tracking your hitter is very important - to determine where they are going to hit, and to time your block jump.  This way you can see and ANTICIPATE where the hitter is going to hit. As soon as the ball is set and you realize that the ball is coming to an attacker that you are responsible for, your first step should be to the area that you are responsible for covering - in order to move to the correct area to block, take your eyes completely off of the ball (this is very difficult to get yourself to do) and watch the attacker's approach.  This will help you to line up perfectly with the attacker.  If you see that your hitter's spike approach is coming toward you at an angle - then more than likely they are going to hit cross court, so you should line up in front of them to block their cross court.  Line up to block the extension of their arm. If your hitter's approach is in a straight line then they will likely hit down the line and you need to make sure that your body is squared up in front of them ready to block the extension of their arm. Setting a good block communicates to the middle blocker where he/she has to close to.  If you are going to move at the last second to your area the middle blocker will either crash into you or leave a huge seam in the block (more likely) and your block will be very unstable, leaving your defense for target practice.  Setting the block also communicates to your back row where they need to move to as the play develops.  They need to cover the portion of the court that is outside the shadow of the block.   Block Jump Once you've determined where your hitter is going to hit and you've adjusted your body position by side stepping left or right in order to set up in front of your hitter - concentrating on where their arm will extend to when they hit - wait until JUST as the hitter contacts the ball to spike - then you block jump.   The Block As you jump, extend your hands, arms and shoulders over the net or as high as possible in order to grab the ball.  You are literally trying to intercept and catch the ball as it passes over the net. Your hands are spread and fingers are wide apart in order to create a wider surface to block the ball. Once you contact or BLOCK the ball your widespread fingers (with solid, rigid wrists) should just deflect the ball back into your opponents court.  Some say you are presenting a wall with your hands and arms that will deflect the ball back into your opponents court. The hitter will try to power through the block, or use it to their advantage and deflect off of it so that you hit the ball out of bounds.  When blocking outside you need to turn your outside hand slightly inwards so that the ball is deflected back into the court.   FIVB Rules of the Game re: Blocking Only front-row players are permitted to complete a block.  (Only front-row are permitted to contact the ball above the net, when in front of the attack line, whether blocking, hitting, tipping, etc.)   In blocking, the player may place his/her hands and arms beyond the net provided that this action does not interfere with the opponents’ play. Thus, it is not permitted to touch the ball beyond the net until an opponent has executed an attack hit (unless there isn't a player attempting an attack hit).   A block contact is not counted as a team hit. Consequently, after a block contact, a team is entitled to three hits to return the ball.   Two or three players may touch the ball at the same moment.  When two (three) team-mates touch the ball simultaneously, it is counted as two (three) hits, with the exception of blocking which counts as one hit.   The first hit after the block may be executed by any player, including one who has touched the ball during the block.   When two opponents touch the ball simultaneously over the net and the ball remains in play, the team receiving the ball is entitled to another three hits. If such a ball goes out, it is the fault of the team on the opposite side.