How To "Mess With" a Blockers Head in Beach Volleyball

We received a question about strategies to get the blocker to move or not allow them to get properly set up...you may not like our answer!

The short and probably best answer for all of us is: become a better passer and hitter, forget about the blocker!

If you pass the ball up to the net and almost straight in front of you consistently you will get a more consistent set.

If you have a strong, balanced explosive plant jump, jump straight up (and not forward) and attack the ball as high above your head as you can, you are definitely moving in the right direction!

If you listen to your partners shot call, approach and jump as you do when spiking AND contact the ball as high as you can reach, this also messes with a blockers head.

If you don’t ‘freak out’ if the set is too tight or too far off the net, and don’t give away points by swinging down into the blocker or into the net, once again, the blocker is going to feel a little lonely and useless!

If you keep your ego OFF the beach and DON’T try to spike the ball ‘straight down’ but instead hit the ball very hard at the back lines from as high as you can reach – you will frustrate the heck out of the blocker and they will not like you at all!

The more you focus on the blocker and digger the less effective you become BUT…

The more you focus on your passing, your approach and focus on attacking the ball the more effective you will be.

I have never been a fan of “gimmick” type plays (back sets, shoot sets, etc) – once you get to a certain level of competition, the gimmick plays fall apart, so I greatly prefer perfecting your own physical and mental skills of attacking the ball.

(Lower quicker sets when the blocker is out of position / late during a transition play is really the only ‘extra’ that is needed)

Gimmick / gadget plays can work against lesser competition – 2 things about that:
- If you are better than the other team, why do you need a gimmick play?
- Learn to play against better competition, stop worrying about winning or loosing and focus on becoming the very best you can be!

A good hitter almost always has the advantage over a good blocker.

And, a great blocker almost always has the advantage over a good hitter, (gimmicks plays or not, a great blocker will figure out the hitter and setter) - so become a great hitter!

Trying to consistently hit down and around big blockers is way too risky for most unless you truly have a lightening quick arm swing, and not just think you do…

Running gimmick / gadget plays only works occasionally; it can sometimes help you get out of a ‘funk’ during a tournament. But if you rely on gadget plays and you are not playing in a competitive tournament, all it means is that you have very poor beach etiquette and aren't putting in any time into quality training, So Stop It and get better!

The moment I see a team running gadget plays in a tournament, I know they are in some kind of physical or mental trouble, they know they can’t win ‘straight up’ and hope to rely more on luck than skill to win.

I highly recommend that you focus on YOUR OWN skills and abilities - learn to consistently attack the ball’ high and hard’ - use the blocker to your advantage – when in doubt, a high hard hit off the blockers hands should keep you in business for a long, long time!

All the VERY BEST to YOU!

Dan

Be Your VERY Best!
University of Beach Volleyball