Ball State University Head Men's Volleyball Coach; 2x MIVA Coach of the Year;
Joel Walton of Ball State University takes on the frustrating skill of blocking by breaking down both the mechanics and strategies of the skill. He covers a series of drills that help work on blocking footwork and being able to read and react where to set the block. He also goes into great detail about blocking strategies and schemes that are used to take away the most dangerous attack options from your opponents.
Philosophy and Scouting
Starting with his philosophies on blocking, Coach Walton covers the main purpose of blocking and how to coach blockers so they understand their job and how to do it the most efficient way possible. He explains how to scout an opponent so that coaches can prepare their blockers to be in the best position possible to be successful for the team. He touches upon footwork, hand positioning, and the strategies of swing blocking during this segment.
Blocking Drills
Coach Walton uses players to demonstrate a warm-up drill that helps blockers learn to move together and read where the setter is going to put the ball. In this drill, middle blockers need to remain neutral in order to be ready to move either direction. A big first step is emphasized for middles to be able to cover a lot of distance. He progresses through a series of drills that work on reading, footwork, hand positioning and timing. These drills start with walk through type drills and lead up to drills that involve more game-like situations. Featured drills include:
- Blocking Group vs Hitters on Boxes - Blockers get practice reading hitters' shoulders and they get immediate feedback on where their hands are facing in this drill.
- Attacks vs Blocks - This drill provides an opportunity for you to see if your players are setting the block correctly, if they are stopping or flying through the block, and if they are taking away the correct shot, or reading correctly.
Coach Walton does a great job explaining the purpose of the drill, what will be worked on and how to make the drill safe so none of the players get hurt.
Q&A Session
The video includes a question and answer session where Coach Walton takes questions from the audience. These questions do a great job of picking the coaches brain and really giving some great insight on blocking in practice, strategies and how to implement the different blocking schemes. He discusses how often, and in what manner, blocking should be practiced. Walton explains how the use of videotaping is a great way to reinforce what coaches are trying to tell their players. Video can be used during practice time to show players exactly what they do when they are blocking. Walton answers a great question about blocking schemes and which ones are most commonly used and how the players and coaches communicate the schemes.
Any coach that just has not completely understood blocking and how to teach it or the strategies involved will find this video to be a very useful resource. Coach Walton's instruction will give any coach a great foundation to their team's blocking.
Produced at the 2014 AVCA Spring Clinic in Chicago, IL.
53 minutes. 2015.