Technique Tuesday: Q3

The lost art of shuffle-blocking

When I first started attending Gold Medal Squared clinics as a young coach, swing blocking was pretty controversial. I remember watching a video from Art of Coaching where Russ Rose declared that he “likes swing dancing, not swing blocking.” Before he retired from Penn State, they were using swing blocking as part of their system.

Love the finish straight across the net

But like all pendulums, they can swing too far. I’m clearly “a GMS guy” in that I’m a clinician, part of the advisory staff, etc. But Carl always taught a variety of blocking moves. The first GMS clinic I ever attended started with shuffle block moves and progressed into swing blocking. The general message was:

Shuffle blocking is faster, but you can’t go as far or jump as high. Swing blocking takes a little longer to happen but you can go farther and jump higher.

Nothing’s changed about the fundamental geometry and physics of the game, so these statements are still true today. What I think has changed is how familiar most high school girls are with swing blocking. In 2010, there were high school and club volleyball coaches who were actively opposed to teaching swing blocking. It was seen by many as a men’s technique or something too advanced for girls. Nowadays there might be some coaches who feel that way, but they are definitely in the minority. When I do a clinic with a team, it’s likely that they will only be comfortable swing blocking and be uncomfortable and less proficient with shuffle blocking moves.

To go back to the quote above, are there times when you need to get off the ground faster, at the cost of not being able to go as far or jump as high? I think so, and that’s why I think it’s worthwhile to teach players how to block with a shuffle, as well as swing block.

The Quick-3 (Q3) Move

One of the most common uses for blocking with a shuffle is the Quick-3 or Q3 move. I’m sure people call it various things, but that’s what Carl called it, so that’s what I call it. Pin blockers use it sometimes:

But middles use it even more:

So let’s break this down a little more.