Blocking Footwork Drill

The blocking footwork drill teaches front-row players to move along the net quickly and jump straight up in front of the hitter. Players use a shuffle step for short moves and a crossover step 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 and up

Players

1–9

Time

10–15 minutes

Equipment

Net (ball optional)

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Purpose

Teach blockers to get from a starting spot (usually zone 3) to the hitter's spot (zones 2 and 4), stop square to the net, and jump straight up with hands pressing over, without drifting or touching the net.

Players and equipment

• Works with 1 player. In groups, up to 3 per net at a time (zones 4, 3 and 2).
• A net. A ball is optional for later stages.
• Optional: floor tape at the starting spots.

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 groups, place lines behind the attack line in zone 3. Only one blocker per lane moves at a time, with a clear gap between lanes.

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, then bring the other foot next to it. Do not cross the feet. Stop square, jump, press, land.
3. Long move: crossover (2-step pattern). Step toward the target with the near foot, opening the hips slightly. Cross the far foot in front, then plant both feet square to the net. Jump.
4. Long move: crossover (3-step pattern). Near foot, crossover step, then a closing step to square up. Use this when the distance is longer.
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.

Watch it

Blocking for Beginners in Volleyball

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

Coaching cues

• "Eyes on the hitter, feet to the hitter."
• "Square up before you jump."
• "Jump up, not sideways."
• "Hands over, thumbs up."
• "Soft hands back, two feet down."
• "Lead foot first." On the crossover, the first step is with the foot closest to where you are going.

Common mistakes

• Drifting: the blocker jumps while still moving sideways. Cue "plant and go up."
• Hands drop before the jump: the blocker loses time. Keep hands up at shoulder height through the move.
• Swinging the arms like a hitter: this pushes the hands into the net. Hands come straight up, then over.
• Net contact: often from jumping forward. Start a little farther from the net and jump up.
• Not squaring up: the block is angled and the ball goes off the hands out of bounds. Finish with hips and shoulders square to the net.

Make it easier or harder

• Regression: no jump. Do the steps and finish with a hand press standing.
• Regression for young players: shuffle only, and block a ball held up by a coach on a box on the other side.
• Progression 1: a coach points left or right after the blocker is ready. Blocker reacts and moves.
• Progression 2: pairs. Middle blocker moves from zone 3 to join the outside blocker in zone 4 or zone 2 (close the seam, hands touching).
• Progression 3: a coach on a sturdy box across the net holds a ball over the net; blockers press it back.
• Progression 4: live hitter from a toss. Blockers watch the hitter and time the jump.

Time

10–15 minutes. 3–4 sets of 4–6 jumps with full rest.

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.

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. Many coaches teach the shuffle first because it is simpler, then add the crossover once players can stop square.

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Frequently asked questions