Is the off blocker coming off the net and playing defense and the line defender taking the tips or vice versa so that each player knows their role. Its so important for the blockers to be sealed, low and tight, over the net and stay there even if the attacker is tipping.

Too often, even more at my level since the middle blockers are so big and physical, the middles try to swipe at the tip and throw it back to the other side of the net for a point.

The more discipline the middle blockers, the better that they leave this ball for the tip defender so then the middle can transition off the net and be available to attack.

There are a couple reasons why the middle should never try to play this ball;

1) 9 out of 10 times the middle gives the ball back to the attacking team for a second chance.

2) The middles deflect the ball the opposite way of where the ball was originally going and it drops for a point for the other team.

3) Your team doesn’t get a good swing out of this ball because the tip defender is thrown off and plays it low and off the net.

More times than not, nothing good comes out of a blocker trying to get the tip. its important for the blockers to trust there tip defenders and that trust comes from the defender digging this ball over and over again.

Talk about it before it happens and over communicate taking the ball while the tip is coming over the net.