Spike, tip and block basics
Ready when: Net games: 1 v 1 to 2 v 2 (b4) done.
What you are learning
Attacking and blocking: the spike (hitting arm high, swinging down over the ball and striking with the heel of the hand), the run-up of three steps into a two-foot jump, the soft tip over the block, and the block itself (jumping with the hands close together and reaching over without touching the net).
Words on this card Set, High set, Spike, Approach, Tip, Block, Rotate, Line
- Set
- Pushing the ball up with the fingers, the thumbs and first fingers making a triangle above the forehead.
- High set
- A high, slow set for the hitter; a fast, low set.
- Spike
- Jumping and hitting the ball hard down over the net.
- Approach
- The run-up steps before a spike, and jumping off both feet.
- Tip
- A soft push of the ball over the block.
- Block
- Jumping at the net with the hands up to stop a spike.
- Rotate
- Moving round one position when your team wins back the serve.
- Line
- Attacking straight down the side, diagonally, or at a steep angle.
Set up
A net; a mat or a bucket target for spikes.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Standing, raise the hitting arm high, elbow back, and swing down over a tossed ball, hitting it with the heel of the hand.
- Three steps (for a right-hander: right, left, then both feet together) into a two-foot jump, then the swing.
- Tip: a soft push of the ball over with the fingers. Block: jump with the hands close together and reach over the net.
Your part while they practise
Feed and watch the landing.
Step by step
- The arm: hitting arm high, swing down over the ball, strike with the heel of the hand.
- The three-step approach with a two-foot take-off from a high set.
- The dink: a soft push over the hands.
- The block: jump with the hands close together, elbows extending, reach over without touching the net.
How much: 10 of each 15 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Spiker and blocker
One player spikes a tossed ball; the other blocks.
Who plays: 3 players: a tosser, a spiker and a blocker, rotating.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The tosser sets a high ball near the net
- The spiker attacks it; the blocker jumps to block
- 10 tries, then rotate
- Fair play
- A grown-up blocks with one hand only.
- Points
- The spiker scores 1 point for a spike that lands in court; the blocker scores 1 point for a block that sends it back.
- Fouls
- The other player gets the point
- Touching the net
- Landing over the centre line
- Catching or throwing the ball
- Winning
- The most points after everyone has been spiker and blocker.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 7 points for 2 stars
- 10 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A low net.
A full net.
What you will see, and what to say
- the swing is arm only
Elbow back, hit with the body
Whole body. - the block drops the hands
Reach over the net
Hands high and over.
Self-check
6 of 10 spikes land in the court from a toss.
Stop and get a coach when
Shoulder pain.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains spike, tip, block.
awiseathlete.com/sports/volleyball/volleyball-i1