Another skill that often makes or brakes a team is how well they execute spike defense. Blocking a spike is often the most effective way to do this. A successful block is accomplished when either the ball rebounds of the hands of the blocker and directly back into the opponent's court or deflects of the hands in such a way that the blocker's team may play the ball. Blocking comes in two forms, single and multiple. This week we will discuss single blocking. A single block, where one person blocks the spike, is often not effective enough to stop a good spiker. The idea is to take away as much as the court possible from the spiker. Thus, leaving less of the court the blocker's team has to cover. Ergo, by adding another player, double block, even less of the court is available to the hitter. Usually, time dictates whether your team will employ a double or single block. However, if time allows you should always put up a double block. Another advantage to blocking is that by blocking the ball immediately back to the opponent's court this forces them to put up another attack. The longer that a team has the ball the more likely it is that they will make an unforced error.
Single blocking is relatively easy. The most important factor is where you set up your block. Usually you want to be no more than one foot of the net and of course facing the opponent's. Keep you hands up at shoulder level and palms facing forward. Once the ball is set keep your eyes on the attacker. Position yourself on the attackers hitting arm, aligning half a body length to the side of the hitter's hitting arm.
Timing is key and you want to time your jump so that you jump immediately after the attacker jumps. Reach your hands over the top of the net penetrating into the opponent's side of the net and positioned on both side of the attacker's hitting arm. You want to angle your hands slightly so that the ball will rebound off your hands and toward the middle of the opponent's court. Whether or not you make contact with the ball, bring your hands back and land on two feet bending your knees to cushion the landing. Immediately turn away from the net and look for the ball.
Normally net contact errors are made on blocking because the blocker penetrates too much, resulting in hitting the net on the way up, or fails to withdraw his hands on the way down. Inexperienced blockers will also set up too far from the net and actually jump forward to block the ball subsequently jumping into the net. Also, if you find that when blocking the ball the ball contacts your hands falls between you and the net, then you need to square your shoulders to the net more.
spike with your weight shifted forward and ready to move. Be careful not to start off to early and keep an eye on the setter until the ball is set. After the set maintain eye contact on the ball and start your approach when the ball is half the distance from yourself and the setter. As you approach you last two steps should step to jump with both of your arms swinging back to at least waist height. Plant your heels to stop your forward movement and swing your arms forward and up transferring your weight to the balls of your feet and jump.
At this point you can decide how you will hit the ball. If you want to dink the ball, contact the ball when your arm is fully extended and in front of your hitting shoulder. Contact the ball on the lower back half of the ball with your fingers. Make sure you keep your eye's on the ball even after you contact the ball. Follow through with your hand in the direction of the dink careful not to make contact with the net.
An off-speed spike differs in that you make contact the ball on the center back of the ball with the heel of your open hand. As you make contact with the ball roll your fingers over the top of the ball snapping your wrist. To make a hard-driven spike merely increase the intensity of your swing paying particular attention to increasing the force of your wrist snap.
Players will often make two major errors when attempting to attack the ball. Anticipation drives the hitter to approach too soon and contact the ball behind the hitting shoulder. You know you are leaving to early when you have to stop your motion and wait for the ball. Hitting the ball behind your shoulder almost always results in the ball traveling behind the back line and out-of-bounds. If you find that your shots are doing the opposite and traveling into the net then you are hitting the ball too far in front of your hitting shoulder.
Like the serve, approaching the attack the same way every time will leave your opponents guessing your next shot.
How to Perform a Float Serve
The floater serve is a basic overhand serve that is easy to execute but somewhat difficult to master.
Stand facing the net with your feet staggered. Your foot opposite of your hitting arm should be forward and pointed towards the opposite court.
Keeping your weight on your back foot, hold the ball with your non-hitting hand underneath and hitting hand on the top.
Extend your arms in front of you, parallel to the ground, move your hitting hand to your ear with your elbow high and toss the ball about two feet above your head and in front of your shoulder
While transferring your weight to your foward foot, contact the ball with an extended arm and in front of you
Hit the ball with a slap on the backside of the ball, do not snap your wrist and do not follow through
Tips:
Hit the ball as if you were going to hit something very hot
Try to make the ball fly straight with very little trajectory
To get more power, use your abdominal numbers
How to Jump Serve
These are step by step instructions for a right handed player to perform a jump serve. Left handed players need only to reverse their footsteps in these instructions.
Position yourself 3 long strides from the end line
Take one long step forward with your left leg
During your second step toss the ball high and in front of you. You should toss the ball high enough so that you can hit the ball after your third step
Take your third step and then plant your right foot behind your left and jump
Make contact with the ball on its decent and hit the top-center of the ball
Allow yourself to land on or over the end line with your momentum moving you straight towards the net
Tips:
Focus on balance. If you find yourself falling on your landing or landing off the right then you are overthrowing the ball
If you are landing short of the line you are under tossing the ball. The most important thing in this serve is timing
Try tossing the ball with backspin to get the desired top spin at contact
The best way to learn is try a one step approach, then two and finally three steps. This will help you focus on your toss
Set up with your feet staggered and dominate foot forward
Move to the ball
Your shoulders should be square to your target, arms and legs bent with your weight on your toes
Hands are placed above your forehead with the palms up
Your hand should form a window with the thumbs forward and index fingers close to each other
Contact the ball on the lower back side with fingers and thumbs and push up with your arms and legs
Fully extend your arms and point your hands toward the target
Transfer your weight towards the target and move in the direction of the set
Tips:
Keep the ball in front of you
Step forward and contact the ball slightly behind your head for a back set
Relaxed hands make for smoother sets
How to Perform a Topspin Serve
A floater is nice but when you want to put the heat on, a topspin serve is fast and deadly accurate. Follow these instructions for a standing topspin serve.
Difficulty Level: Average Time Required: 3 Seconds
Stand well behind the end line. Get set with your feet in a stride position with the foot opposite of your hitting arm forward and pointed towards the net post.
Set your shoulders so that they are turned slightly toward the sideline
Visualizing where you want the ball, toss the ball slightly behind your hitting shoulder
Arch your back and swing your arm back, raising your elbow high and hitting hand next to your ear
Contact the ball with a fully extended arm, snapping your wrist on contact and rolling your hand over the top of the ball
As you contact the ball, crunch your stomach and transfer your weight to the forward foot
After contacting the ball, bring your arm quickly down to your waist and move onto the court
Tips:
The more you snap your wrist the quicker the ball will spin, consequently dropping faster and sooner
If the ball does not cross the net, you are probably not tossing the ball behind your head.
