Penn State’s Big Step Drill
Economy of movement is key for middle blockers if they are going to make an efficient and swift move outside and set up a strong block with the outside blocker.
In this 3-part drill run by Penn State, the focus is on taking a big second step and covering a lot of ground quickly.
In the first phase, players go in the direction the coach points. In the second phase, they go in the direction of a set ball. Phase 3 requires them to take a quick jump to front the middle before moving outside in the direction of the set.
As Nittany Lions coach Russ Rose tells us here, it’s common for middle blockers to take smaller steps as they break to the outside, but that wastes valuable time.
