Game version
Mirror block: a partner moves along the net and you slide and match them with your hands up, with nothing hit over the net. Swap often.
Soft Block Hands
For shorter blockers: tilt your hands back to slow the ball up for your teammates.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Stand at the net with hands up and tilted slightly back.
Core: Jogs. Beat your own run of matched slides.
- Ages
- 11 and up
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Volleyball, net, partner
- Level · skill
- Developing · Blocking
The steps
How it works
- Stand at the net with hands up and tilted slightly back.
- A partner on the other side hits a soft ball at your hands.
- Let it bounce up and back into your court.
- Do 15 reps, then 5 with a small jump.
Coaching point
Tilt back, slow it up.
Safety: Land softly on two feet with bent knees on a non-slip surface. Stop if your knees or ankles hurt. At a net, jump and land on your own side, under yourself, and never cross the centerline.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (partner walks), Core (jogs), More (changes direction). Beat your own run of matched slides.
Story
You are a wall that moves with the wind.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own run of matched slides. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
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