The wall is one of the least trained fundamentals of volleyball, but one of the most important. This is the first line of defense against attacks from the opposing team, which narrows the field to cover for other teammates. By following these steps you will be able to become very skilled in the volleyball wall.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Assuming the Right Position
Step 1. Always be ready
Timing is one of the most important components of the wall; a split second can mean the difference between stopping an opponent's attack and missing the ball altogether. Keeping a ready stance will allow you to move more efficiently when attempting a block.
Step 2. Stand straight with your feet shoulder-width apart and parallel to the net
Keeping your feet at the correct distance will help you with footwork, another key component of the wall. With your shoulders and hips parallel to the net you will be able to jump up faster.
Step 3. Keep your knees bent
This is a key part of the preparation position. With your knees bent you will be ready to jump right away instead of having to duck down before doing so. Be careful not to get lazy and not to stand up straight when waiting to brick.
Step 4. Keep your arms up
Keep your elbows at shoulder height. This will reduce the time it takes to raise your arms to the wall. If you start the movement with your arms at your sides, you will have to move them a lot more to block.
Step 5. Keep your palms facing the net
This will give them the correct angle to brick in and it will take you less time to get your hands in place.
Step 6. Position yourself half an arm's length from the net
If you touch the net during a block you will be committing an infraction. Leave enough space between your body and the net to make sure you don't accidentally touch it.
Part 2 of 3: Using the Right Technique
Step 1. Learn the right timing
Watch the ball before it reaches the setter and then watch him. After watching the setter, follow the ball and watch the hitter. Observing the entire sequence will help you better prepare for the wall.
- Watch the setter to notice a few things. If the move to the setter falls in a particular position or at a certain angle, his options may be limited. You can also observe where the setter's shoulders are facing or where he looks as he decides where to lift the ball.
- Watch the ball immediately after the lift to decide how to block. If the ball is far from the net, the hitter will likely not be able to hit it directly downward and will need more time to get into position. You will need to delay your jump slightly and get up as high as possible to block the blow. If the riser is close to the net instead, you should try to invade as much as possible with the wall. If the lift is very low, you will have to jump faster, because the dunk will come sooner.
- Watch the hitter for more clues. Look at his run-up angle to figure out where you should line up your wall. If the hitter's shoulders and upper body rotate, he may be preparing for a diagonal dunk. If the shoulders or elbow drop instead, it could be preparing for a lob.
- Jump at the moment when the hitter is hitting the ball. You may need to adjust the timing of the jump according to the position of the ball and the characteristics of the hitter.
Step 2. Communicate with your mates
Most teams assign a player (usually the center) the responsibility of communicating about the block, as the captain of the block. His task will be to coordinate all the block players to find the best strategy.
- It is important to observe the hitter and the setter, because it is to the movements of these players that the defense must react.
- It is useful for the blocker to call the position of the setter and identify the hitter before serving, to prepare the team for defense.
Step 3. Use the right footwork
It is important to move the feet quickly to bring the body in front of the shoulder used by the hitter to strike and block him. You can use two types of foot movements to quickly get into the correct position: the side step and the cross step.
- The side step is used when the hitter is 1-1.5m away from you. Step with the foot closest to the hitter and then follow the movement with the other foot, to bring them back to shoulder distance. Keep your hips and shoulders parallel to the net as you move your feet. If it takes more than two steps to reach the hitter, you should use the cross step instead.
- The cross step is used when you need to cover more ground, for example if the hitter is more than 1.5m away from you. Step with the leg closest to the hitter first, then cross the other leg in front of the body. Even though the hips will be facing the hitter during the cross step, the shoulders should remain parallel to the net. Take another step with the foot closest to the hitter to bring your feet back to shoulder distance and hips parallel to the net.
Step 4. Jump straight up
Stand directly in front of the hitter's shoulder and jump straight up to attempt a block. Make sure you have the right balance before you jump and do it when the hitter hits the ball.
Step 5. Orient your hands inward as if you were grabbing the ball
You should keep your hands very close together (no more than 10-15cm between them) and tilt them inwards when you wall. This will direct the block towards the opponent's court and reduce the chances of deflecting the ball away from your teammates in defense. Keeping your hands together prevents the ball from going through.
- You won't have to keep your hands flat, as the ball could bounce in any direction beyond it.
- If you are close to the sideline, turn your outer arm and hand inward so you don't deflect the ball out of bounds.
- If you are not very tall and cannot invade the opponent's field above the net, keep your hands tilted back. This way you will try to slow the ball to help your teammates in defense instead of blocking.
Step 6. Keep your fingers spread and relaxed, but straight
Keeping your fingers wide allows you to cover more surface area and makes your fingers softer, thus avoiding extreme deviations. If you deflect the ball too much it would be difficult for your fellow defenders to get it back.
Keeping your fingers stiff, straight and bent will prevent you from directing the ball. Often the ball would bounce off the court after the block. You should keep your fingers straight and strong without them being too stiff
Step 7. Keep your wrists tight
You will need to keep your wrists stiff to respond to a powerful dunk. Watch out for your wrists, as they can hurt or injure you if you don't keep them rigid.
Step 8. Put your angled arms over the net
You should keep your arms straight and get over the net as much as possible. This will allow you to get closer to the ball. Although the height of the jump is slightly reduced by this technique, it is more important to invade the other side of the field than to get higher. In this way the deflection will send the ball into the opponent's court and not in another direction.
- Make sure you don't bring your hips forward during this movement. The upper body should be tilted forward with the abs contracted.
- If you are not very tall, you should keep your arms straight and bend your fingers back slightly. Use this technique even if you are late and cannot invade the other camp.
Part 3 of 3: Workouts for the Wall
Step 1. Work on your jumping ability
Height, arm length and jumping ability are key characteristics for effectively blocking in volleyball. You can't get taller, but you can train your jumping ability, for example by doing squats, calf raises or strength training.
Step 2. Practice footwork
The quickness of the legs is essential for those who block. Actions take place very quickly and can include feints designed to distract you. Practice the side step and the cross step.
- You will use the side step when the hitter is close to you. Step with the foot closest to the hitter and then follow the movement with the other foot, to bring them back to shoulder distance. Keep your hips and shoulders parallel to the net as you move your feet. Practice this movement in both directions along the net, moving your feet at maximum speed and lightly.
- The cross step is used when you need to cover more distance. Step with the leg closest to the hitter first, then cross the other leg in front of the body. Even though the hips will be facing the hitter during the cross step, the shoulders should remain parallel to the net. Take another step with the foot closest to the hitter to bring your feet back to shoulder distance and hips parallel to the net. Practice this movement in both directions along the net, moving your feet at maximum speed and lightly.
Step 3. Do exercises for the position of the arms and hands
Have an assistant hold the ball on the other side of the net. Jump and catch the ball, bringing it to your side. You should bend your hands and arms over the net without touching it. This will help you adopt the right hand and arm position for the wall.
- Keep the ball as far away from the net as possible to improve your skills.
- You should never keep your arms straight up when blocking, but rather bend them slightly over the net. This exercise mimics the correct wall technique.
- You should keep your hands in contact when catching the ball, to mimic the movement of the wall.
- For a more advanced practice, ask the assistant to move the ball left and right to help you block the different types of dunks.
Advice
- Always keep your hands stiff and wide, and train to build your jumping muscles.
- Always try to block with your hand inside the field.
- While physical skills are useful for blockers, the most important aspect is the mental one. Being able to observe the attack and take the right time to jump is critical to successful blocking.
- Regardless of how good you are at the block, there will always be spikers that you won't be able to block well. Don't be discouraged and keep practicing and improving your skills.
Warnings
- Always jump with both feet and land on both to avoid injury and to move sideways in the air.
- Be careful not to touch the net when blocking. If the referee saw you, he would be forced to award the point to the opposing team.
