VOLLEYBALLOGY UNcensored

It’s all rather exhausting and has evolved into a bit of a crazy ‘game’ over the past decade; and one that parents, players, and even coaches seemingly HAVE to play in order to get their young athletes into post-secondary college and university programs.  But, is it the best way for coaches to find the REAL talent among the high school and club volleyball ranks, or are they only seeing the videos...

We tend to coach the way we were coached or accept it when we see coaches instructing the way we’ve seen them on tv or while we were growing up, but is coaching today different than it was ‘back in the day’ - or should it involve yelling at all?  More to the point, is there a difference between coaching & yelling & can great coaches be ‘yellers?’  Listen in as the guys share a few laughs a...

We’ve all likely experienced some form of physical punishment (running laps, touching lines, push-ups, etc.) at a practice - as a parent spectator, an athlete, or even as a coach who’s organizing the team consequence.  Much like parenting, the debate has raged in sport over whether or not these kinds of punishments are actually effective in having young people learn lessons or perform better…or ar...

Episode 57 - The Decline of High School Volleyball What in the world is happening to high school volleyball?  Of course, most high schools will struggle to court a team as good as one of the local club squads, but it seems that high school volleyball TODAY has really dropped off even when compared to high school programs from 10-20 years ago.  So, what are the reasons why school volleyball is so f...

Episode 56 - Afraid To Talk To/About Your Volleyball Coach? Fear of retribution.  That’s why so many parents & players are afraid to - even politely - voice concerns with coaches who hold all the power.  While a lot of coaches would say that kids should learn to advocate for themselves (and this is absolutely true) - it’s also true that there is an imbalance of power and so many coaches use th...

The problem with complaints is that we instantly get our ‘backs up’ when we hear them - but what if the complainers have a valid point that we’re simply not seeing?  Or - what if they have a superficial understanding of the game and ‘don’t know what they don’t know?’  In other words, how do we know when complaints are valid and coming from qualified sources or if they’re frivolous and rooted in in...

We’ve all been there as parents, players, and even coaches:  the whistle blows and everyone stands in a cloud of confusion and partial outrage…looking from the ref, to the players, to other coaches, and back to the ref again.  What the heck was THAT and why did the whistle blow?  Of course, a number of courtside voices offer answers and explanations - bolstered by an air of confidence and assertiv...

We all want it but it seems so gosh darn elusive!  But what if cultivating positive team culture is actually much easier than we think and what if it's something that all parents, coaches, and players can actually build together, using an almost formulaic or step by step approach?  No matter what your role in the volleyball world, you’ll want to listen in as the guys celebrate their ONE YEAR A...

In gyms around the world, parents - and even coaches - often struggle to watch their children & athletes play the game.  We get it…it’s tough to see your kids in pressure situations and tougher to see them struggle, or even fail in key moments.  Some parents have resorted to leaving the sidelines or deciding not to attend their kids’ games or tourneys.  But what message are we sending our kids...

It’s that time of year; when gyms are filling up and battles are being (or have been) fought for the precious few spots on school & club volleyball teams around the country - and around the world.  Inevitably, 12-18 players will be celebrating and selected while countless other athletes (and their families) will be told that they simply didn’t make the cut.  It’s one of the hardest things in s...

Whether it’s youth volleyball or even at the highest levels of the game, players have always had to deal with ‘politics’ in one form or another and there’s no denying the reality that it absolutely sucks. But what are the obvious & not so obvious forms that politics can take on & what can parents, players, & coaches to do better cope or frame this inevitability?  Can politics ever be a...

A lot of what we talk about on this show can be boiled down to one key problem:  too many parents & coaches are simply confusing youth sports with the pro sports they watch on tv.  The deterioration of youth sports has actually coincided with the growth of our pro sports culture because the more we watch and idolize the coaches and athletes who play sports for a LIVING, the more we apply those...

Over the past few years now, parents, players, and even coaches have been growing more & more frustrated by the governing bodies of volleyball, as well as the politics in their club, or the lack of fairness on their team.  The bottom line is that - while we have more players in youth programs than ever before - the rate of athletes quitting the sport at a young age is also through the roof.  T...

Young players are always being told to COMPETE more, to be more aggressive on the court, and - well - to just stop tolerating losing or having the ball hit the floor so often.  But can a coach, parent, or even the player themselves actually work to raise the level of ‘COMPETE’ or drive a player will feel?  IS it something hardwired into the athlete (i.e. genetic) or is it something that can be lea...

Tryouts can be a stressful time for players, parents, and even coaches - but the irony about stress is that it often impedes everyone’s ability to perform well at the very thing they’re trying to conquer.  In this extremely practical episode, the guys draw on their own experiences at the club, post-secondary, and pro levels to help young players, parents, and coaches navigate hectic tryout windows...

Parents, players, and coaches have all heard it and maybe even believe it.  “BE LOUDER if you want to win.”  “You’re too quiet!”  Or, even, “If you don’t make more noise out there, you won’t be starting - or playing.”  But is playing LOUDER really what makes an athlete better or are we simply using the wrong word when trying to encourage more ‘AGGRESSIVE’ or ‘CONFIDENT’ play from our young athlete...

When stepping back and looking at the game, there’s some very noticeable differences between how we coach - & even parent - boys & girls.  While there may be justifiable & pedagogically rational reasons for some of these differences, there are also some glaring & less understandable dissimilarities which can only be rooted in one thing: sexism.  In this episode, the guys tackle thi...

Pick up your copy of Hugh McCutcheon’s Championship Behaviors: A Model for Competitive Excellence RIGHT HERE - it really is a must read for every player, coach, & parent! In this episode we are pleased and proud to have Olympic gold & silver medalist, Hugh McCutcheon join us for an important discussion about the state of youth coaching & youth volleyball, in general.   Hugh is among th...

If you haven’t seen or joined the ‘Volleyball Moms’ group on Facebook, it’s quickly becoming THE place for volleyball parents (including dads) to find answers to basic questions and seek advice on more complicated issues from parents & coaches who may have experienced something similar.  In this special episode of Volleyballogy UNcensored, Zuby answers some recent questions posted to the group...

We hear them everywhere; the questions about our future and our goals.  ‘What’s your life plan?’ - or - ‘where do you see yourself in 5 years?’  While it’s true that BIG goals are always good to keep tucked away in the back of our minds, has there been a shift in how we view these goals and ourselves in relation to them since the advent of social media?  Listen in as the guys discuss the merits of...

As more and more athletes, parents, and coaches pursue the elusive dream of ‘making it’ (whatever that means to them), there has been a proportionate rise in the number of mental training guides and programs for sale online.  IS mental training something that can be LEARNED or improved upon from a book/program, or does it matter what the genetic make-up of the reader or watcher is?  Listen in or w...

As more and more coaches and players - and their parents - flock to the beaches and sand courts across the world (often to escape the restrictions, limitations, and politics of the indoor game), we thought it might be wise to help those who are new to the sand understand the key differences between the two versions of the sport and to help alleviate those ‘fears of the unknown.’  So, whether you’r...

Parents are often placed in an awkward spot and may not know how to respond when their child starts speaking about teammates or a coach in a negative manner.  Is it ever okay for parents to engage in such discussions with their children or is it best to avoid these topics so as to not magnify or intensify the problem?  Is there a difference between gossip and genuine or valid concerns and - if so...

More than ever, club teams and players/parents are seeking to ‘lock each other up’ earlier and earlier each season - and often before tryouts have even started.  Why do clubs offer players early re-signings in youth volleyball?  Why do parents/players agree to sign so quickly? And are these early re-signings causing more problems than they’re solving?  Listen in as Zuby & Erik chat in-depth ab...

We see it in gymnasiums and on sand courts across North America and even the rest of the world.  Parents, players, and coaches are working, traveling, training, and practicing more than ever before, and all in an attempt to make it to the next level - or even to the highest level.  But as our world has changed, so too have our motives and goals for youth sports participation.  While there’s nothin...