The Volleyball By Design Podcast

I recently joined another volleyball podcast called the Win By Two podcast for one of my favorite coaching conversations I've had in a long time. We dive into building championship culture, developing players, creating standards of excellence, why mentorship matters, and the biggest mistakes youth coaches make. If you're serious about becoming a better coach, this episode is for you.  We dive into...

On this episode, we have former Ukrainian National Team libero Pylyp Harmash joins the podcast to break down what separates great passers and defenders from everyone else. In this conversation, we dive into the modern techniques being taught at the highest levels of volleyball, why passing should be coached differently than serving, and how movement—not platform—is often the missing piece for most...

In this episode, US Men's National Team libero Erik Shoji did a presentation for our coaches where he shares the 8 key characteristics of successful volleyball programs from a player's perspective. We dive into:  Practice  Match Prep  Communication  Standards  Relationships  Competition  Passing Fundamentals  Reading  Culture  And a few more key concepts  Click here to join Digital Volleyball Acad...

In this episode, I share my experience attending a professional team practice and the coaching lessons that stood out most. From maximizing athlete reps and minimizing downtime to creative drill design and skill development, you'll get an inside look at how elite teams structure training for efficiency and impact. Whether you're coaching youth, club, high school, or college volleyball, you'll come...

In this episode, I sit down with former Canadian National Team setter and Olympian Brett Walsh ( @Brettjwalsh ) to break down the key skills that separate good setters from great ones. We dive into setter footwork, hand positioning, jump setting, and the importance of transferring energy efficiently through the body. Brett also shares his thoughts on developing decision-making, reading the game, c...

As coaches, we often focus on what athletes should be doing in the gym during the offseason. In this episode, we discuss practical ways athletes can continue developing their skills without touching the court.   In this episode we dive into:  Break  Film  Shadow Volley Strength Training  Mental  Other sports  Click here to join Digital Volleyball Academy - www.digitalvolleyballacademy.com Click he...

In this episode, I walk coaches through how to plan their season from a macro perspective using the phases of the game and system design to guide your roadmap. You'll see how some of the best coaches map out their plan. We dive into:  Side out  Systems  Rotations  Block-Defense  Transition  Organization & Mechanics  And a few more key concepts  Click here to join Digital Volleyball Academy - w...

In this episode, I break down a blueprint for building a successful volleyball program for young athletes ages 3–10. We cover: How to introduce volleyball in a fun, engaging, and developmentally appropriate way Teaching key motor patterns, depth perception, movement skills, and ball control through games and play. Practice structure ideas and progressions for skill development  Creating a communit...

I learnt about this triangle a few years ago and it changed the way I set up my serve receive. This will optimize your reception and help increase your sideout. In this episode, I dive into:  What the serve receive triangle is?  How to set it up?  The different angles that's relevant to serve receive  Reception when serve comes from all 3 positions  And a few more key concepts  Click here to join...

In this episode, I dive into one concept of serve reception and passing that could be the reason your players are struggling with their pass. I see it a lot at the youth level. We talk about:  3 principles of serve receive  Giving up too much space  Reading  Taking the ball on the side  360 degree plane  And a few other concepts  Click here to join Digital Volleyball Academy - www.digitalvolleybal...

In this episode, we talk about what multi-skill drills are, why they accelerate development, and how to implement them into your practices to get more game-like reps and better results. Topics include:  6 skills of volleyball  How to implement multi-skill drills  Examples of multi skill drills  Understanding the power of player development  And a few more key concepts  Click here to join Digital V...

In this episode, I sit down with national championship-winning coach Carolyn O’Dwyer to break down the standards, systems, and training environment behind her team’s title run after falling short the year before. In this episode: How to build practices that are harder than matches The standards that drive consistency and performance Developing multiple offensive weapons The key stats that actually...

In this episode, I sit down with USPORTS National Champion head coach Adam Schriemer to break down the systems, standards, and mindset behind building a championship team. From practice design to match-day decision making, Adam shares exactly what it takes to consistently win at the highest level. In this episode we dive into: Why championship teams focus on “earning 17 and losing no more than 8”...

In this episode, I sit down with CCAA National Championship coach Aaron Schulha to break down the full blueprintbehind his team’s title run. From building a selfless, high-trust culture to executing detailed game plans under pressure, this conversation goes far beyond talent and into what actually separates championship teams. We dive into: How to help your team play free and confident in high-pre...

In this episode, I sit down with 5-time national team coach Austin Dyer, who has led his program to 4 straight national championships. We break down the real reasons behind their success and also take a deep dive into the setter position. Topics in this episode include:  Roster Building & Retainment  Athlete Development  Adapting coaching style based on team Culture  Recruiting Athletes vs Vol...

In this episode, we go back into the vault with Mindset Coach Paige Tonz, who works specifically with female athletes helping them improve their mindset, confidence and so much more. In this episode we discuss: How to prepare mentally for serve receive  How to bounce back after committing an error  How to not dwell on the mistake you just made  How to deal with a player with low confidence  How to...

In this episode, I dive into two important trends shaping the game right now. First, I break down the new rules being introduced by FIVB in 2026 and what they could mean for the future of volleyball. I also share some interesting out-of-system trends I’ve been seeing during the 2026 playoffs. Teams are becoming much more efficient when they’re out of system, and we’re seeing new setting solutions...

Down 0–2 in a best-of-five match is where most teams panic — and where great coaches separate themselves. In this episode, I break down the exact emotional resets, tactical simplifications, and momentum strategies needed to engineer a reverse sweep. If you want to lead with clarity when the pressure is highest, this one’s for you. We dive into: Tactical Changes  Preparation during the season Coach...

In this episode, we head back into the vault and listen to an episode I did with 6x national champion coach Jessy Satti where he not only shares some insight into wining all those championships but he breaks down concepts and strategies that all coaches can get a ton of value from. In this episode, we dive into: 5 phases of blocking Trap Blocking 2 vs 3 step blocking Fire up blocking  60/40 Offens...

In this episode, I dive into strategies you can use in your gym leading up to the playoffs. This is an important time to make sure you're doing the right things to maximize your opportunity to win in the playoffs. We talk about:  Film  Team Chemistry  Refinement vs Acquisition  Check ins  Mental Skills  Team Building Activities  Tactical Strategies  And a few more key concepts  Click here to join...

This is a topic that is hard to articulate, you can't learn it anywhere on the web but it's extremely important and every high level coach has this in their gym. And that is creating a system and standard of excellence and maintaining that during practices and over the course of a season. In this episode, we dive into: What does it look like to create a high standard of excellence  What I see in t...

In this episode, we go back into the fault with an interview I did with the Head Coach of the University of Alberta, Brock Davidiuk, as he is an expert setting coach. In this episode, he shares so much technical aspects of setting and provides amazing insights to the position. He talks about: The technical principles - Feet, Hands, Body & Eyes  Principle of a live environment  Stages of settin...

This episode dives into the intangibles of volleyball — the non-skill, non-system factors that directly impact game play, lineup decisions, and winning. We break down the habits, awareness, and behaviours that coaches need to be aware of but don’t always explicitly coach, and why they matter so much on match day. Some things we cover are:  Being surprised on the court  Coming down from the block ...

In this episode, I break down the exact technology I use in my volleyball program — including apps, software, and equipment that help with practice planning, film, communication, and player development. If you’re looking to save time and coach more efficiently, this episode is for you. The Tech I mention are:  IstatVball 3 CoachBoard  Solo Stats Touch  OVR Jump Tester  Bam Video Delay  Bushnell Ra...

Great seasons don’t just happen on the court — they’re shaped by the conversations you have with your players. In this episode, I share how I approach preseason and postseason interviews, what questions truly matter, and how these conversations can transform player development, accountability, and team culture. We dive into:  Why preseason and postseason interviews matter more than most coaches re...