To block or not to block, that is the question...

Karl · 11:45 AM

So I have a question for anyone that knows what I'm reffering to. Do you block if the ball is hit from behind, say the middle half of the attack zone (say 5-6 feet off the net)? How about hits from behind the attack line? I get really frustrated when we're playing 6's and someone hits from a bit behind the net and people don't even try to block them, leaving me a realy tough shot to dig, but other people say that if the hitter is hitting from far enough back they have too many angles for you to have a realistic shot at blocking the ball. So what do you do?

BrianZ · 12-08-2006, 12:10 PM

I feel it depends on your defensive players ability.

If your defense is good, why give the hitter a target to tool a ball away from your defense?

If your defense is poor, you can try to take away a lane. However, most hitters out of the back row give a high arc to their shots which may go over your hands anyway.

Either way, it's very hard to block a ball out of the back row because you have to jump after the ball is hit and unless it's hit towards you, you're only going to tip it away from the defense. I guess it depends on your height and ability to penetrate the net as well.

Some good defensive players don't want a MB (unless they are huge and really close off a lane) to block the back row attack and just want them to let them to do their job.

Air Diney · 12-10-2006, 10:04 PM

I was playing in a Yankee C tournament this weekend- it was a reverse coed tourny, so women's net, where men can hit behind the 10 ft line. I blocked a B- hitter for those who know Yankee terms!

Definately worth blocking him, he was getting alot of balls down, and hard to dig up, so the blocking was worth it!

tbarbera · 12-10-2006, 10:42 PM

It is IMPOSSIBLE to get every ball up that is hit over the net. Back row attacks included. A blocker is a defensive player! 6 people are needed to play defense. When all six play less balls hit the ground. If you are at the net and can get a hand on the ball then do it. ALL THE TIME! The backrow defense builds itself around the front row defense (blockers). If blockers don't do thier job the backrow has a MUCH harder time doing thiers.

In summary...

If you are a blocker then block. If you don't block you are just taking up space on the floor and should be moved to keep the bench warm for those that want to block. (I am not just knocking on non-blockers, if you don't want to play defense than you should take a spot up next to the non-blocker on the bench.)

kvb · 01:05 AM

Well I think it depends....We have a middle who is 6'5" and very fast on Mon. nites w/huge vert. and crazy long arms and he can stuff block the back row attacks, well I guess I really mean the 10's, so I want him to go up....

but in our Thurs. nite league 4's we have a 6'1" - 6'2" middle who's often late or not lined up properly w/the hitter's shoulder and he doesn't penetrate and he gets tooled away on a lot of hits we could dig better...he played middle in college and for club, so he knows what he's doing...just a little slow sometimes anticipating the set and getting to the block plant position....plus his body often screens us diggers even if we start away from the block cuz he's drifting sometimes in mid air...so I feel if he's not there in time he should just stay down and let us/the defense get it up...

mycena · 12-11-2006, 08:44 AM

I'm with you all on this one. Pretty much if you have the capacity to do the job well. Then yes, put the block up everytime. If you're a lower level player and just learning then maybe some selectiveness is warranted. But you will never learn if you don't try either, everyone makes mistakes while on the road to greatness.

Karl · 12-18-2006, 03:46 PM

But isn't it better to make the attempt to block, transitioning off the net is only going to mess your back row.

Just a thought

NewEnglandRT · 12-19-2006, 12:24 AM

You've also got to keep in mind zone blocking vs. read blocking. Blocking isn't always about stuffing the ball (read) sometimes you're taking away part of the court (zone). By not blocking, you're allowing the hitter more options by having more court to hit at. Just the act of the blocker moving and planting can have the hitter cutting down their options mentally.