Descriptive drill names are the best, right? This is Blind Blocking. And, that’s just what it is. Simple. Effective. Watch, you’ll see.
Here’s what you need for this volleyball drill:
A tosser
A blocker
A hitter
Set the players up in their respective positions. The tosser should stand at the 10-ft line directly behind the blocker. So she can’t see where/when the toss is coming, thus becoming fixated on the ball.
- Tosser will toss a “Merry Christmas” ball to the hitter. That is, a ball that would simulate an overpass.
- The hitter approaches and swings at the ball. (Trying, of course, to hit around the block)
- The blocker has to watch the hitter. Watch her direction, move with her, watch her arm and adjust the block accordingly. Then stuff! (well, that’s the idea, anyway)
In a typical situation, when a setter is involved, the blocker eyes go from: the ball to the setter, back to the ball, then to the hitter. It’s that last part where most blockers get caught still watching the ball. I can see why, it’s moving around… it’s distracting.
The basic point of this volleyball drill is to get her to focus on watching the hitter’s arm at crunch time. And, in this situation, that’s all she can see … being blind and all.
