Triple Block Heads

Send us Fan Mail In this Triple Block Heads episode, Makani, Frank, and Marc discuss how youth sports—and especially club volleyball—have shifted from many small “mom-and-pop” organizations to consolidation by large ownership groups and private equity. They define private equity broadly as investors adding liquidity to rapidly expand clubs and facilities, often seeking returns by building real-est...

Send us Fan Mail The Triple Block Heads hosts joke about Frank shaving his head, then discuss how club volleyball athletes should navigate June’s overlapping options: club college showcases, on-campus prospect camps, and preparing for nationals. Prompted by a message from Dennis Rios, they argue that on-campus camps provide the most information for athletes facing June 15 recruiting decisions, whi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Triple Block Heads volleyball podcast, Makani, Marc, and Frank discuss the USA Volleyball High Performance Tournament (later the All-Star Tournament) and how it evolved, emphasizing its unique features: regional pride, USA development camp ties, international teams, a combined boys/girls event, and international rules with limited subs and best-of-five forma...

Send us Fan Mail In this Triple Block Heads volleyball podcast episode, the hosts discuss how to enter coaching, emphasizing that many start in club volleyball and should research local clubs, meet and “interview” club directors, and seek organizations with year-round opportunities (teams, camps, clinics, lessons, tournaments) to build coaching and administrative experience. They stress humility,...

Send us Fan Mail In this Triple Block Heads volleyball podcast episode, Frank, Marc, and Makani discuss the two-libero system: its origins from the late-1990s libero rule, adoption in men’s NCAA (2012), later adoption in women’s NCAA, and newer rule changes allowing more flexibility between sets. They outline club and higher-level strategy uses, including splitting duties between serve-receive and...

Send us Fan Mail Makani, Marc, and Frank discuss how volleyball clubs can prevent injuries and support athletes through rehab, emphasizing that overuse injuries are rising due to longer seasons, more reps, and hard playing surfaces. They argue clubs should prioritize athlete wellbeing through practical prevention systems: consistent, progressive warmups that end with athletes sweating, and standar...

Send us Fan Mail In this Triple Block Heads volleyball podcast episode, Makani, Frank, and Marc begin a role-specific series focused on training middle blockers offensively and defensively from youth through elite levels. They identify four foundational motor skills for young middles—reaction, balance, timing/rhythm, and motor/work ethic—emphasizing early development for taller athletes and injury...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Triple Block Heads Podcast, hosts Makani, Frank, and Marc delve into the complexities of the NCAA transfer portal and its impact on collegiate volleyball. They discuss the portal's emergence and its role in empowering student-athletes to take control of their careers. Key points include the operational windows for entering the portal, the potential for...

Send us Fan Mail This episode of the 'Block Triple Blockheads' podcast dives into preparing for National Qualifiers. The hosts, Makani, Frank, and Marc, discuss various aspects such as the definition of qualifiers, the challenges teams, players, and parents face, and how to set expectations and prepare effectively. Key points include understanding national qualifiers, dealing with the fi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Triple Block Heads podcast, hosts Makani, Frank, and Marc delve into offensive strategies in volleyball, contrasting it with previously discussed defensive techniques. The discussion emphasizes the importance of creativity in offense, tailoring strategies to a team's specific strengths and weaknesses. Key topics include selecting appropriate offensive s...

Send us Fan Mail In this New Year's episode, the hosts of the Triple Block Heads podcast reflect on their journey over the past year in producing content about volleyball. They discuss the challenges and successes they've experienced in starting and maintaining the podcast, particularly in improving their public speaking and engaging with the volleyball community. They share their person...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Triple Block Heads podcast, hosts Makani, Marc, and Frank discuss various aspects of changing positions in volleyball. They delve into the reasons and timing for position changes, exploring scenarios ranging from club team adjustments to collegiate level transitions. The hosts emphasize the importance of transparency, setting goals, and maintaining open comm...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the 'Triple Block Head' podcast, hosts Makani, Frank, and Marc discuss the upcoming collegiate volleyball convention at the end of the fall season. They cover the logistics of attending the event, including accommodation tips and session planning. Frank shares his excitement about presenting on small rosters and their positive impact on his club. Marc...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Triple Block Heads, Makani, Frank, and Marc discuss their excitement and challenges for the upcoming volleyball club season. Frank, a club director, shares his enthusiasm for creating opportunities for young players to engage in more games and practices, as well as his new experience coaching a 12s team. Mark, with a collegiate perspective, appreciates the devel...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Triple Block Heads podcast, hosts Makani, Frank, and Marc discuss the nuances of timeout management in volleyball coaching. They emphasize the strategic use of timeouts to break the opponent's momentum, adjust strategies, and address team morale. Key points include the importance of recognizing the right moments to call a timeout, the differences betwee...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Triple Block Heads', hosts Makani, Marc, and Frank discuss their 'less is more' approach to volleyball skills training. They emphasize using concise, three-word cues that are easy for athletes, parents, and coaches to remember. The hosts cover key skills such as serving, setting, passing, blocking, and attacking, providing specific word cues...

Send us Fan Mail The hosts of the 'Triple Block Heads' podcast dive deep into the integration and importance of back row attacks in volleyball, with a particular focus on the differences between the men's and women's games. They discuss the evolution of the back row attack, its prevalent use in men's volleyball, and its growing adoption in the women's game. Frank shar...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Triple Block Heads, Makani, Frank, and Marc discuss the importance of defense in volleyball, emphasizing how solid defensive strategies contribute to winning games and championships. They delve into various defensive systems, notably perimeter and rotational defenses, explaining when and why coaches might choose one over the other. They highlight the impact of b...

Send us Fan Mail This podcast episode of Triple Block Heads focuses on the importance and strategies of watching film for volleyball players. It provides detailed tips on how athletes can use film sessions to improve their technical skills, decision-making, and overall game performance. The hosts discuss key elements for individual positions like attackers, blockers, setters, and defenders, emphas...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Triple Blockhead podcast, hosts Frank, Marc, and Makani discuss various ways volleyball players can improve their skills at home. The episode highlights the importance of being creative and intentional when training without a traditional court or equipment. The hosts share personal stories and practical tips, such as using household items, involving parents...

Send us Fan Mail This episode of the Triple Block Heads podcast, hosted by Marc, Frank, and Makani, delves into the intricacies of blocking in volleyball. The hosts discuss the training progression for blocking, starting from the basics taught to younger age groups to more advanced techniques for older players. They cover essential blocking concepts, including positioning, footwork, and hand place...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Triple Block Heads podcast, hosts Frank and Makani and Marc dive deep into the art of volleyball attacking. They address skill progression, focusing particularly on young athletes aiming to spike the ball. The discussion includes fundamentals of attacking, such as timing, feet to the ball, and the importance of a rhythmic approach. They also cover age-specif...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Triple Blockheads, Makani, Frank, and Marc discuss the complexities of sports specialization versus being a multi-sport athlete, with a focus on volleyball. They delve into how the debate often begins in the club space, the importance of supporting multi-sport athletes in smaller communities, and how recruiting processes can be influenced by a player's mult...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the 'Triple Blockheads' podcast, hosts Marc, Frank, and Makani discuss the structure of the volleyball club season, starting from practices in December to national tournaments in July. They explore the pros and cons of such an extended season, emphasizing the impact on players' physical health, particularly in terms of overuse injuries. The discus...

Send us Fan Mail The podcast episode discusses the importance of volleyball training camps for young athletes, detailing the benefits and differences between camps and clinics. It covers personal experiences with various types of camps and highlights the evolving structure of modern volleyball camps. The conversation delves into the essential elements of running successful camps from both club and...