# The Middle Blocker · Volleyball Level 7: Upper-Advanced

Volleyball · Level 7: Upper-Advanced · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/volleyball/level-7/the-middle-blocker/)

Closing the block, the quick, the slide, transition, the middle and the libero, the decoy, blocking the quick, hands at the net, the block's calls and training middles.

## Test 1: Closing the block

- From the middle she must reach both antennas in time. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Arriving late leaves a gap beside the outside blocker. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A crossover covers distance fast along the net. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Joining hands closely leaves no seam. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Hands already up save time at the jump. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Drifting sideways in the air can push the block apart. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Reading the setter gives the earliest clue. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Read, see, move and close. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The antenna is the farthest move. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Joining the outside blocker is closing the block. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)

## Test 2: The quick

- The quick hitter is in the air as the setter sets. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Without a good pass, the quick is hard to set. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A quick is hit near the setter, in front of her. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Her run can still hold a blocker in the middle. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The ball arrives so fast that a long swing is too slow. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A sharp cut can beat an early blocker. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The quick works only with very precise timing. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Pass, approach, jump and hit. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The quick is the fastest attack. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A quick hitter jumps before the set because the ball comes so fast. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)

## Test 3: The slide

- The slide is a one-foot take-off, like a basketball lay-up. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The slide curves behind the setter to the right of the net. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Many women's teams use the slide often. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A moving hitter drifts away from the blocker. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The setter pushes a low, quick ball behind her. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The approach and take-off differ from a normal attack. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The blocker has to move with the slide hitter. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Pass, run, one-foot take-off and hit. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Slide, normal attack, then block. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A one-foot attack behind the setter is a slide. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)

## Test 4: Transition for the middle

- A balanced landing lets her push off straight away. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Around three metres gives room for a quick approach. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Blocking every rally leaves little time to get off the net. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Seeing the dig tells her if a quick is possible. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Without a good dig, a quick is unlikely. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The middle repeats this pattern constantly. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Too close in, she cannot make a full quick approach. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Land, back off, watch and approach. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The better the dig, the more likely the quick. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Backing off gives room for her next approach. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)

## Test 5: The middle and the libero

- The libero plays most of their back-row rallies. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The middle serves; after her serve is lost, the libero comes on. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A specialist defender improves the back row. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- She serves until the serve is lost, then the libero replaces her. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Until the libero comes on, she defends in the back row. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The libero leaves before the front row; the middle returns. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A reliable serve makes her short time at the line count. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Front row, serve, off for the libero, then back on. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The libero plays only the back row of one or two middles. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The libero takes over the middle's back-row rotations. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)

## Test 6: The decoy

- Her run keeps a blocker in the middle. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A convincing decoy needs the same effort as a real attack. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- With the middle gone, the outside has fewer hands in front. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Only a convincing run holds the blocker. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- If the middle never gets the ball, blockers stop watching her. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Drawing blockers does not appear as a kill for her. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A hard-working decoy makes the team's attack better. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Pass, decoy run, blocker fooled and the outside set. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Only a full approach holds the blocker. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Her run pulled the opposing middle away from the real set. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)

## Test 7: Blocking the quick

- The middle stands closest to the quick hitter. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Against a quick from a perfect pass, waiting is too slow. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- If she commits and the set goes wide, the outside faces one blocker. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A poor pass makes a quick hard to run. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Hands in the hitter's path block the quick. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A good pass plus an early run signals the quick. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The ball arrives almost at once, close to the net. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Pass, run, jump and press. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The better the pass, the more likely a quick. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- In front of the quick hitter's arm, she blocks the quick. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)

## Test 8: Hands at the net

- Hands over the net cut off the hitter's downward angles. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Penetrating blocks press over the net. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Spread, firm fingers block more of the ball's path. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Watching the hit lets them adjust their hands. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A net touch is a fault. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- An inward hand turns tools back into the court. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A soft block can still slow a ball they cannot stop. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Jump, reach, spread and land. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- From pressing over the net to slowing the ball. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Reaching over closes the gap between hands and net. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)

## Test 9: The block's calls

- From the middle she can watch every hitter. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Naming the threats sets up the block. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A commit call warns team-mates that the outside may be single-blocked. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Calls keep each hitter covered when they cross. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A touch call warns defenders the ball changed. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Long calls cannot be heard or used in time. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The middle's calls help them decide where to stand. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Hitters, plan, switch and touch. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Before the serve, during the pass, after the touch. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The middle sets up the block with her calls. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)

## Test 10: Training middles

- Matches demand moving the moment the set is read. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Many blocks per match need jump endurance. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- A coach on a box hits from a hitter's height. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- The quick needs constant practice together. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Video from behind shows the hands and the seam. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Too many jumps can hurt knees and backs. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Real attacks make the drill game-like. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Each stage adds real play. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Start, read, move and jump. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)
- Moving along the net trains blocking footwork. (Source: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II), general coaching references)

Sources: FIVB Coaches Manual (Levels I-II) and general coaching references; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered FIVB rules belong to the Rules category.

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral