Middle blockers are front row blocking specialists. They are generally, but not always, the tallest players on the court. They are the anchor for the front row defense. They hit and block in zone 3. Most teams have the middle blocker play back row defense in zone 5, but they usually are replaced by the libero as soon as they lose serve.
When the middle blocker's team is serving, the middle's responsibility is to call out information about the opposing team's offense. First, the middle calls out whether the setter is on the front row or back row, and therefore whether the setter is an eligible hitter. Second, the middle calls out who the front row hitters are and where they are, split (on both sides of the court in serve receive), or stacked (all on the same side of the court in serve receive).
In serve receive, the middle blocker's primary responsibility is to get into position to hit. Middles rarely pass in serve receive. Most of the time the middle will only pass on short serves, or serves that hit the tape. Middles usually hit quick attacks. With a perfect pass, and the full offensive system available, the middle is chronologically the first option. A middle who is not set can still play a big role in the offense by making the opposing middle commit to block, opening up the pin hitters to only a solo block.
While middles are typically the tallest players on the court, middles should be chosen because of skill set. Because of their importance in front row defense, middles need to be able to read and understand the opposing offense as it develops. Ball Setter Ball Hitter is an important skill. The middle needs to quickly determine if the middle is going to be set and move to block where the ball is set. They need the ability to make a decisive move to block at the pins and be able to close the distance from the middle of the net to the wing blocker. Middles also need to be able to hit quick hits across the middle third (or more) of the net. Excellent middles can also make their approach to hit deceptive, making the first steps of the approach toward the front of the setter and the final steps to hit behind the setter for example.
See also:
When the middle blocker's team is serving, the middle's responsibility is to call out information about the opposing team's offense. First, the middle calls out whether the setter is on the front row or back row, and therefore whether the setter is an eligible hitter. Second, the middle calls out who the front row hitters are and where they are, split (on both sides of the court in serve receive), or stacked (all on the same side of the court in serve receive).
In serve receive, the middle blocker's primary responsibility is to get into position to hit. Middles rarely pass in serve receive. Most of the time the middle will only pass on short serves, or serves that hit the tape. Middles usually hit quick attacks. With a perfect pass, and the full offensive system available, the middle is chronologically the first option. A middle who is not set can still play a big role in the offense by making the opposing middle commit to block, opening up the pin hitters to only a solo block.
While middles are typically the tallest players on the court, middles should be chosen because of skill set. Because of their importance in front row defense, middles need to be able to read and understand the opposing offense as it develops. Ball Setter Ball Hitter is an important skill. The middle needs to quickly determine if the middle is going to be set and move to block where the ball is set. They need the ability to make a decisive move to block at the pins and be able to close the distance from the middle of the net to the wing blocker. Middles also need to be able to hit quick hits across the middle third (or more) of the net. Excellent middles can also make their approach to hit deceptive, making the first steps of the approach toward the front of the setter and the final steps to hit behind the setter for example.
See also:
Volleyball Basics are intended to present some of the fundamental volleyball knowledge that everyone serious about the sport should know.
No comments:
Post a Comment