After the game, won by Forest Lake in four sets, tears flowed and new friendships were forged as the two teams posed for photos and enjoyed each other’s company. Even when the stakes are at their highest, sports are often about far more than what happens between the lines. That was never more evident than […]

Make sure that the administrators, coaches and parents know that youth sports is first and foremost “about the kids.” My son’s club soccer team, defending state champion at age 11-12, had an undefeated season the following year until it lost in the finals. As we were walking over to receive the second-place medals, the father of one […]

The game has obviously evolved a great deal since those days, but certain fundamental principles remain. Keeping a level head when hitting is one of them. Just because your eyes are moving doesn’t mean your head has to be moving, too. Already knew that? Of course you did. But it’s an important point for coaches […]

You can’t expect your players to be well-rounded, multi-faceted individuals if you aren’t leaving time for it yourself. Leading by example is a forgotten art. Coaching is a multi-faceted job. A coach coordinates logistics, trains behaviors, teaches skills, enforces rules and best practices, determines competitive objectives, implements tactics and coordinates with other support staff. Sounds […]

Hunter’s success underscores another important point: there’s always room to learn something new and improve your technique, even if you’re one of the best players in college volleyball. Nebraska’s Kelly Hunter was already a very good setter before her senior year in 2017, but she got even better in her final collegiate season. Part of […]

Why does everyone place their cell phones next to their spoon like it’s an additional piece of silverware? Few players can reign in the urge to use the phone at team meals. Each person on the bus had received the same letter from the head coach. It said: “If you are going to travel as […]

But really, the only tangible advantage of having a taller setter is having a bigger block, and I should point out that a bigger block doesn’t necessarily mean a better block. Many coaches seem to continually be searching for a setter with the “so called” prototypical volleyball body and height. Here’s my question for them: […]

Eating junk food and sugar and drinking soft drinks will not fuel an athlete and could ultimately cause damage because the nutrients are not available when needed during the competition. Training for any sport is a huge factor determining whether or not an athlete will be successful. One of the biggest mistakes an athlete or […]

Scan the body language of each player immediately following an error. This will tell you who is fully engaged and who isn’t. Coaches are frequently consumed with their own self-anointed routines, content to stay within their scripted behavioral paradigms. If you think you might be one of those coaches, here’s a suggestion: Next time your […]

Make sure the pace of the drill is such that players don’t have to stand around in the court waiting to pass a ball for very long after they’ve done their run. Synopsis: This drill forces players to pass under pressure and when fatigued. It has a conditioning element and is good for working on mental […]