Blocking Footwork Drill

The blocking footwork drill teaches front-row players to move along the net quickly from a starting spot (usually zone 3) to the hitter's spot (zones 2 and 4) and jump straight up in front of the hitter, without drifting or touching the net. Players use a shuffle step for short moves and a crossover step (a 2-step or a 3-step version) for longer moves, finish square to the net, then press both hands over. Practice it without a ball until the feet are fast and the jumps are clean.

Focus

Footwork, jumping straight up, hand press

Level

Beginner–intermediate

Players

1–9; one blocker per net works at a time (2 at a time in the pairs progression)

Equipment

A net; a ball is optional for later stages; optional floor tape at the starting spots

Space

The front court along one net; use a second net for more players

Time

10–15 min: 3–4 sets of 4–6 jumps with full rest

Print this drill

Setup

Blockers start at the net in zone 3 (front middle), about an arm's length from the net, hands up at shoulder height, palms toward the net. Mark the end spots: zone 4 (front left), about 1 m in from the left antenna, and zone 2 (front right), about 1 m in from the right antenna.

With a group, use one line per net behind the attack line (10-foot line) in zone 3. The next player steps in only after the previous blocker has landed and recovered to zone 3.

Shuffle 2-step crossover 3-step crossover

Shuffle

2-step crossover

3-step crossover

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• Hands over

  ✓ Correct

  Reach above the net, then press both hands over it to meet the ball: thumbs up, fingers spread, arms firm. Don’t touch the net.

• Two-foot landing

  ✓ Correct

  Pull the hands back without touching the net and land on two feet, knees bent.

How to run it

1. Ready. Stand square to the net, knees slightly bent, hands up and in front of the shoulders.
2. Short move: shuffle. Step sideways with the foot nearest the target (the lead foot), then bring the other foot next to it. Do not cross the feet. Stop square, jump, press, land.
3. Medium move: 2-step crossover. Turn the hips toward the target and cross the trail foot (the one farther from the target) in front first. Then bring the lead foot around so both feet plant square to the net. Jump.
4. Long move: 3-step crossover (step-crossover-step). A short open step with the lead foot, a crossover with the trail foot, then a quick closing step with the lead foot to square up. Use this for the longest moves, like zone 3 to the antenna.
5. Hands. At the top of the jump, press both hands over the net toward the far court, thumbs up, fingers spread, arms firm.
6. Land. Pull the hands back without touching the net, land on two feet, knees bent.
7. Recover. Step back to zone 3 and repeat to the other side.
8. Do sets of 4–6 jumps (alternating left and right), then rest.

Rule required by the named rulebook. Team agreement a choice this team makes; other teams may choose differently. Practice cue a simplified instruction for practice.

Rule: Touching the net between the antennas during the action of playing the ball is a fault, and that action includes the take-off and the landing. That is why every rep ends with the hands pulled back and a two-foot landing clear of the net. (FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025–2028, rule 11.3.1)

Scoring

This is a technique drill, so score against a standard, not an opponent. A rep counts when the blocker plants square, jumps without drifting, presses both hands over without touching the net, and lands on two feet.

Safety

Warm up first and keep jump totals sensible. Keep the area under the net clear of balls, and do not let a teammate stand under the net on the other side, so no one lands on a foot. Leave space between blockers during group work. Some players wear ankle braces. See also common injuries and warm-up.

Health note: General information, not medical advice. Young athletes should train under a qualified coach, and anyone with pain or an injury should see a doctor or physical therapist.

Watch: blocking basics for beginners

Blocking for Beginners in Volleyball

What to watch for: Blocking for beginners: footwork, hand position and timing, with a focus on positioning so you can block well even without a big jump.

Video: Volleyball Tools on YouTube. Learn Volley is not affiliated with this channel.

Coaching this drill

What success looks like

The blocker picks the footwork that fits the distance, plants square to the net, jumps straight up without drifting, presses both hands over without touching the net, lands on two feet and recovers to zone 3.

One cue

“Square up before you jump.” Finish with hips and shoulders square to the net: a square block sends the ball back into the other court, not out of bounds.

One common error

Drifting: the blocker jumps while still moving sideways and lands away from the take-off spot, sometimes into the net. Adjustment: cue “plant and go up”.

Make it easier

Take out the jump: do the steps and finish with a standing hand press.

Make it harder

Add a reaction: a coach points left or right after the blocker is ready, and the blocker reacts and moves.

When to progress

Practice suggestion: when a blocker makes about 5 clean reps in a row to each side (see Scoring) with one footwork pattern, add the next pattern or the coach’s point. Fewer is fine for younger players; end the set when jumps or landings get sloppy.

More cues and common mistakes

• “Eyes on the hitter, feet to the hitter.” Watch the hitter and move to where they will attack.
• “Jump up, not sideways.” Drifting carries you into the net or into a teammate. Net contact often comes from jumping forward. Fix: start a little farther from the net and jump straight up.
• “Hands over, thumbs up.” Firm hands pressed over the net stop the ball on their side. Swinging the arms like a hitter pushes the hands into the net. Fix: bring the hands straight up, then over.
• “Soft hands back, two feet down.” Pull the hands back clear of the net and land balanced.
• “Shuffle and 3-step: lead foot first. 2-step: trail foot first.” In the shuffle and the 3-step crossover, the first step is with the foot closest to where you are going. In the 2-step crossover, the trail foot crosses first.
• Hands drop before the jump. The blocker loses time getting them back up. Fix: keep the hands at shoulder height through the whole move.

More ways to make it easier or harder

• Easier (young players): shuffle only, with the net lowered or a line on a wall as the “net”, and finish with a standing hand press.
• Harder: pairs. The middle blocker moves from zone 3 to join the outside blocker in zone 4 or zone 2 (close the seam, hands touching).
• Harder: a coach on a sturdy box across the net holds a ball over the net; blockers press it back.
• Harder: live hitter from a toss. Blockers watch the hitter and time the jump.

Deep dive: shuffle or crossover?

A shuffle keeps the body square, so it is fast for short moves of one or two steps. A crossover covers more ground because the hips open and the legs stride, so it is used for longer moves, like a middle blocker going from zone 3 to the antenna. The 2-step crossover (trail foot crosses, then the lead foot plants) suits medium moves; the 3-step crossover (open, cross, close) is for the longest ones. Many coaches teach the shuffle first because it is simpler, then add the crossover once players can stop square.

Frequently asked questions