We are stealing from one of my former students, Will Robbins. Will provides you his credentials at the start of the video. Will's sister played for me in middle school and went on to play college volleyball. His mom coached out at Pioneer before his uncle, the current Pioneer coach took over. Will is doing a great job with Empowered Volleyball in Ft. Wayne. We are going to use this video clip as he is teaching much of what we use in blocking, transitioning, and hitting out of the middle. Detail after the 'Read More" break.
As usual, I recommend two screens. Your phone to follow along with these time marks and a larger computer screen to watch the actual video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQDcF2DGA1A
0:00-2:47 is a discussion of swing blocking. We do everything that Coach has his middle hitter doing. We DO NOT use the two step swing block for the opposite or left-side hitter for the same reason we try to use a 4 step approach as opposed to a three step approach - power. We generate more energy blocking with a three step swing block compared to the two step swing block just as we generate more energy with a four step approach compared to a three step approach. Also notice, that the middle blocker IS NOT over rotating on the block. We will be teaching that leg whip and have asked you to start working on it.
3:13 starts a short discussion of hand position in blocking. Key in at 3:20. He is talking about thumbs up. Exactly what we teach.
4:08 is a discussion of pressing the block. This is the 3rd or 4th time I have heard or read about every inch of press taking away 20 sq. ft. of space behind the block or some such number. Maryn Worl, after you see this time mark and the video, you are to text me.
4:37-4:39 When she blocks to her right, the middle hitter uses the spin step on her 3rd/4th step of transition off the net to complete her transition and set her right foot forward in preparation to attack the ball . Again, this spin step is what we teach. This spin step can also be utilized by a right handed opposite.
4:42 she is blocking to her left. She does rotate a bit getting her drop step up-court. Nice job. She then takes a false step on her 1st step at 4:43. Oops. Gave away the advantage of the over rotation. Cross step on two. At 4:44, she jumps into her three/four. We DO NOT teach jumping onto three/four. We do not teach the jump, but I do not want to be critical of the jump. We are splitting hairs. There is a time & place it could be handy. The reason we teach our full transition - R foot drop step, L foot cross, R step, and L foot step is speed. If we are super pressed for speed, that 3rd transition step can become the 1st step of the four step approach. We have no time for a full transition. Use two (R foot drop, L foot cross and go! Go! Go! If we are pressed for speed, and want our three step approach, the 4th step in transition onto our right foot allows us to roll directly into the L-R/L three step attack pattern. If things are slow, the four step transition morphs into 5 step (R drop step, left foot cross, R step, L step, and the added small R step) with a tiny right step gaining a little more space off the net and being right foot forward. Given a chance, we want a full four step approach to gain speed and momentum, which converts to energy resulting in a better jump compared to the three step or two step approaches.
4:53-4:54 Spin step again.
5:14 she is blocking right, uses the spin step, and quickly transitions into her three step approach. Recall that we teach this without even putting weight on the left foot if pressed for time. Bring the left foot to your right calf, and go!
6:18 She uses a one foot slide attack on our "A". We use the slide footwork when we run Cathedral from the pin block. Incoming freshmen, if you have a question regarding Cathedral, please ask.
Finished at 7:07 You are welcome to watch the rest, but it involves hitting the ball. I am focused on things you can do at home without another person.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQDcF2DGA1A
0:00-2:47 is a discussion of swing blocking. We do everything that Coach has his middle hitter doing. We DO NOT use the two step swing block for the opposite or left-side hitter for the same reason we try to use a 4 step approach as opposed to a three step approach - power. We generate more energy blocking with a three step swing block compared to the two step swing block just as we generate more energy with a four step approach compared to a three step approach. Also notice, that the middle blocker IS NOT over rotating on the block. We will be teaching that leg whip and have asked you to start working on it.
3:13 starts a short discussion of hand position in blocking. Key in at 3:20. He is talking about thumbs up. Exactly what we teach.
4:08 is a discussion of pressing the block. This is the 3rd or 4th time I have heard or read about every inch of press taking away 20 sq. ft. of space behind the block or some such number. Maryn Worl, after you see this time mark and the video, you are to text me.
4:37-4:39 When she blocks to her right, the middle hitter uses the spin step on her 3rd/4th step of transition off the net to complete her transition and set her right foot forward in preparation to attack the ball . Again, this spin step is what we teach. This spin step can also be utilized by a right handed opposite.
4:42 she is blocking to her left. She does rotate a bit getting her drop step up-court. Nice job. She then takes a false step on her 1st step at 4:43. Oops. Gave away the advantage of the over rotation. Cross step on two. At 4:44, she jumps into her three/four. We DO NOT teach jumping onto three/four. We do not teach the jump, but I do not want to be critical of the jump. We are splitting hairs. There is a time & place it could be handy. The reason we teach our full transition - R foot drop step, L foot cross, R step, and L foot step is speed. If we are super pressed for speed, that 3rd transition step can become the 1st step of the four step approach. We have no time for a full transition. Use two (R foot drop, L foot cross and go! Go! Go! If we are pressed for speed, and want our three step approach, the 4th step in transition onto our right foot allows us to roll directly into the L-R/L three step attack pattern. If things are slow, the four step transition morphs into 5 step (R drop step, left foot cross, R step, L step, and the added small R step) with a tiny right step gaining a little more space off the net and being right foot forward. Given a chance, we want a full four step approach to gain speed and momentum, which converts to energy resulting in a better jump compared to the three step or two step approaches.
4:53-4:54 Spin step again.
5:14 she is blocking right, uses the spin step, and quickly transitions into her three step approach. Recall that we teach this without even putting weight on the left foot if pressed for time. Bring the left foot to your right calf, and go!
6:18 She uses a one foot slide attack on our "A". We use the slide footwork when we run Cathedral from the pin block. Incoming freshmen, if you have a question regarding Cathedral, please ask.
Finished at 7:07 You are welcome to watch the rest, but it involves hitting the ball. I am focused on things you can do at home without another person.
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