The middle blocker is my favorite position. Okay, maybe that has to do with the fact that this is the position I always played! In any case, the information on this page will help you get the most out of your blockers in the middle.
What makes this position so much fun to play? For me, I really liked the mental aspect of being able to out-think and out-play the other team. Hitting a fast set is such a rush and blocking a ball on a huge point is so energizing. Those kinds of plays can quickly turn the momentum in a match.
Many of those big plays are made by the middle blocker and I loved every minute of it!
So, what are the keys to learning to play this position well?
First of all, you must be able to read the other team’s offense and know where to be for the block. There are many aspects to reading the offense such as:
- Seeing how the setter distributes the ball.
- How well the passers are passing.
- Are the hitters left or right handed?
- If the setter telegraphs where the set is going to go.
- Who is their “go to” person when they need a kill?
- Lining up the block with the hitter’s shoulder.
These are just a few of the skills that we can teach you about playing this position. These abilities are great blockers will possess.
Another skill you must know is proper blocking technique. There is nothing more frustrating than to be at the right place and right time and miss the block because of poor technique. This detailed description will help you know what to look for and how to do it properly.
You must also be able to call out the other team’s offense, setter and hitters. The middle blocker will take control of the front row defense. They will call out who is setting and who is hitting.
When the ball is set to another hitter, you are going to be the person that backs them up in case they are blocked. It is really frustrating for a team and their coach to see a ball hit the floor because the other players were standing around and not backing each other up.
Lastly, this position must be able to hit well and have great timing with the setter. In many cases, you will be running fast, short runs in the middle of the court to keep the defense hopping. In some cases, you are the primary attacker. In other cases (with a well run offense) you are going to be the decoy to draw blockers from the other team.
I love this position and there are so many skills that we can teach you to make you a powerful middle blocker. When you study the skills and practice them, you will be amazed at what you can achieve.
