The Middle Blocker Volleyball Position Offensive and Defensive Responsibilities

The middle blocker volleyball position blocking and hitting responsibilities, strategies and tips. 

The middle blocker volleyball position is the first line of defense when the opposing team attacks.

The middle blocker volleyball position creates the first line of defense against an opposing team's attack attempt to score a point or sideout while in offense.

Here's what you need to know. 

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What the middle blocker decides to block, will depend on what your coach has told you and your teammates in your pre-game strategy meeting or during the scouting session.

Middle Blocker Volleyball Position Offensive and Defensive Responsibilities: The Texas middle blocker blocks the cross court and the outside blocker takes the seam. (Ralph Arvesen)

You follow whatever offensive plays and defensive blocking strategies the coach has established for stopping a particular hitter at the net or for neutralizing a particular team's attack in your back row.

Let's say your coach hasn't established any specific blocking strategies in the game plan, then the area of the court that you decide to take away from a particular hitter is determined by the indications you " read" or "see" and what you have noticed about that opposing hitter's tendencies.

Middle Blocker Volleyball Position Middles Need To Read and Remember Hitter Tendencies (Horizon League)

The middle blocker is the volleyball position 
that needs to remember the most, what an opposing player has done effectively when attacking during the match.

If you're a middle blocker you want to keep that information in your mental toolbox and pull that information out to use when you go up to stop an attack hit at the net. 

Stanford double blockers try to stop Penn State middle hitter Tori Gorrell. The middle blocker needs to remember what an opposing player has done when attacking during the match. (Ralph Arvesen)

You might be thinking ..."Okay here she comes again, what did this chick do last time she hit that type of set? 

Oh, that's right she tried to hit cross court on me. The last time she did that  I could tell because she really opened up her hips during her spike approach towards my cross court. 

Iowa State Cyclones double blockers stop Texas hitter cross court. (Ralph Arvesen)

If she does that again I know she's probably going to hit cross court again. I'll be ready for her this time!"  

Middle Blocker Volleyball Position Things To Remember (CharlieJ)

Things to consider.  Ask yourself...

• Has she beat you cross court? if so then I'll drop my arms and penetrate further over the net to take more of her cross court away
• Does she tip all the time on a bad set or does she try and take a swing at it. If she tips I probably don't need to go up and block that or do I, let me ask Coach
• Does she have a quick arm swing, if so I need to block jump faster and get my arms over the net quicker
• Does a particular hitter drop her elbow before she hits a down ball? If so that means her ball is going to go high over the net let me ask Coach if I need to block the down ball

You need to remember how and where a hitter has been able to score points against your team during a match, so you can help form a plan which stops the hitter from being so effective. 

Once you've decided which area of the court to take away from the hitter, stick with your plan!

You don't want to block an area then go chase the ball in mid air with your arms flailing above your head in an attempt to try and cover another area.

You can't block everything at the net.

You have to stay focused and disciplined and follow through with what you said you were going to do or what the Coach told the team to do. 

Middle Blocker Volleyball Position Offensive and Defensive Duties: Texas Longhorns middle blocker and outside hitter blocks cross court together against the attack (Ralph Arvesen)

If you are going to block a certain hitter cross court then you need to do that even if in the middle of her hit she shows you something else. 

Your attempt to take away everything, really means that you haven't decided on any specific part of the court to take away from the hitter with your block, so in the end you will be taking away nothing. 

You will just give the hitter a target to hit at with your hands.

The Middle Blocker Volleyball Position - As a blocker in volleyball remember that you just can't cover everything at the net because the front row defensive players are working together with the back row defensive players.

As a blocker in volleyball remember that you just can't cover everything at the net because the front row defensive players are working together with the back row defensive players.

If the front row is taking one area of the court away, then the back row is  depending on them to follow the game plan and to do that in each rally until the coach decides to change the game plan. 

Block Volleyball Tips: Don't Fly (White and Blue Review)

Basically, you can take away three things from an oncoming opposing hitter.

• You can take away their line hit,
• you can take away their cross court hit or
• you can take the ball.

Texas A&M blockers take cross court against the Texas Longhorn outside hitter (Ralph Arvesen)

When you set up early and take only one area, whether cross court or line, then your back row players on defense will be able to understand easier and faster what other areas of the court to cover behind your block.

If you are a blocker in volleyball at the net trying to take everything away, then your back row teammates don't know where they need to position themselves in defense behind you. 

Florida Gators middle blocker volleyball position in action (Ralph Arvesen)

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I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list. 

Where do you need to go now? Here are three options: 

1. Learn more about the Middle Blocker and Blocking in the Related Links Below. 
2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. Or visit the Volleyball Position pages in the section in the drop down menu at the top of the page. 

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