VOLLEYBALLOGY UNcensored

To brace or not to brace - that is the question!  The debate has raged on for YEARS in volleyball circles and among coaches and trainers alike.  Well, as usual, the Volleyballogists are going to use logic, reason, philosophy, and EVIDENCE to settle this age-old volleyball debate once and for all.  Listen in as the guys go over all the arguments for and against ankle braces and come up with the def...

What do all coaches and parents, who think beach volleyball teaches bad habits, have in common?  That’s right - they’ve almost certainly never played the game!  For those who have played both, it’s a ‘no-brainer.’  Beach volleyball gives indoor players a real edge when they come back in the gyms and off the sand.  The mental and physical benefits of the game are quite obvious, and - aside from mak...

We finally did it!  The volleyballogists have put together the ultimate 10 ingredients that each volleyball club needs to set themselves apart from any and all competitors.  Parents, players, club directors, and coaches all have opinions regarding what constitutes the perfect or ideal club volleyball program, so Zuby & Erik have organized & condensed all of these into a convenient & di...

It’s fascinating how universal it is that the highest achievers - in ANY walk of life - tend to successfully straddle the very fine line between confidence and arrogance.  How do they do it and what’s the key difference?  Well - it’s humility, but it, too, has to be tempered or balanced with a genuine belief in oneself.  Humility is the secret and elusive ingredient for so many in our culture toda...

In this episode, the guys sit down to chat about the difficulties in determining if it’s you or your kid’s coach that is, in fact, a bit crazy (because no one thinks that THEY might be the problem).  So, after defining what constitutes a ‘crazy coach,’ the topic shifts towards logical steps players and parents can take on their own and in conjunction with others  - because organization and documen...

The dreaded ‘i’ word is a player’s worst nightmare - and isn’t much fun or easy on parents & coaches, either.  In this episode, Zuby & Erik chat about the physical and mental struggles caused by injury along with some vital early steps that can help speed up recovery and make coming back that much easier, both physically and mentally.  The topic of injury prevention also comes up along wit...

There are a lot of good coaches out there and they often find themselves feeling ‘attacked’ when parents, players, and even other coaches talk about all the ‘bad apples’ out there.  But do good coaches know exactly how bad the coaching has gotten on a wider scale over the past 10 to 15 years?  If we live within our own lanes, silos, and stories, we might not be aware of what’s happening...

Quitting is usually considered to be a negative in our culture, but are there times when quitting (or leaving a team/club) is actually the harder and more useful option?  While there’s value in struggle, and facing adversity can teach us important lessons, parents also need to be mindful of the benefits gained from staying or leaving and - more importantly - of the messages our children are r...

Most of us have seen it.  The coach is talking & ‘selling’ but the team isn’t listening & ‘buying.’  This is a coach who has ‘lost’ their team and it’s virtually impossible to get the players back.  So, why does it happen?  Well - there’s the easy answers, like the coach is a ‘screamer’ or doesn’t really offer constructive or helpful criticism, but there are also less o...

Erik is finally back from vacation and sits-down with Zuby to chat about the often controversial (and hot-button) topic of how parents should cheer.  As usual, they offer up a few unique insights and take-aways and come at the issue from a variety of perspectives.  It’s true that sometimes parents forget that these are, in fact, children on the courts…but if kids are shielded from tough...

Join Zuby for another ‘Player Pep Talk’ where he discusses the shortcut to standing out, playing with no fear, and becoming a better player RIGHT AWAY.  In volleyball - and in life - there are passengers and there are drivers, and the goal is to take the wheel and become a bold player, too busy to be worried about messing up or what your coach or parents are saying when you try to be more agg...

Join Zuby for another ‘Player Pep Talk’ where he discusses the shortcut to standing out, playing with no fear, and becoming a better player RIGHT AWAY.  In volleyball - and in life - there are passengers and there are drivers, and the goal is to take the wheel and become a bold player, too busy to be worried about messing up or what your coach or parents are saying when you try to be more agg...

Join Zuby & Erik as they discuss the secret to a better season - and a better LIFE.  It’s the art of being GRATEFUL, of course, learning to not take the little things for granted - and even seeing the ‘bad’ things as positives in the long run.  Sometimes, we forget that we’re lucky to have the problems we have and that, in actuality, our outrage or misery over a given situation is, i...

Some people think it’s the greatest problem in all of youth sports.  While there are definitely toxic players and coaches, something that all players, coaches and parents themselves can agree on is that there are a lot of toxic PARENTS out there, today.  Whether it’s demanding more playing time when it’s not warranted for their child, feeling threatened or triggered every time their son...

Listen in as Zuby & Erik discuss the growing problem of toxic teammates in volleyball.  As usual, the guys don’t take the superficial approach, but instead examine the - often overlooked - root causes behind these behaviors so players, parents, & coaches can FIRST understand the source (vital) before attempting to address the issue in a meaningful, practical, and thoughtful way. &nbsp...

Zuby & Erik welcome former OCAA College ‘Coach of the Year’ (and current club volleyball parent), Shane Christopher, to discuss the sometimes overwhelming and daunting chore of getting recruited.  Parents, players, and coaches will want to listen in as the guys ask Coach Christopher… What’s the best way to start the recruitment process? What do college & university coaches look for? W...

Get to know Zuby & Erik a bit better as they answer 20 QUESTIONS about their own experiences in the game, since childhood and all the way through their varsity & pro careers.  You’ll laugh, cry, and even learn a lot through this edition of 'Volleyballogy UNcensored,' which many critics say is the ‘feel good episode of the YEAR!’  Okay - we’ve oversold it a bit, but you WILL enjoy...

Zuby is back with another ‘Player Pep Talk’ (technically for players, parents, and coaches - and for anyone wanting to succeed at ANYTHING really).  This week, Zuby dives deep into why comparing ourselves to others is a futile and illogical exercise and why truly excellent individuals, instead, prefer to work on and measure the only aspect within their control - themselves and their own actio...

It’s here!  They’ve talked about the coaches and spoken at length regarding the parents - and now it’s time for Zuby, Erik, & Meach to unveil the ultimate season for the actual volleyball PLAYERS!  Listen in or watch as the guys cover the key points of what it takes to be a winning and successful player in a time where coaches and teammates (and even some parents) are often more chal...

This week Zuby, Erik, & Meach discuss best practices and ideas for parents as they navigate the ups & downs of volleyball life with their kids.  Being a parent is never easy, but it can be particularly tricky knowing when to speak up or what to say when things go a bit sideways (as they inevitably do).  This funny, entertaining, and insightful episode will provide the ultimate bl...

This is it!  Listen in as the former pro players/coaches at VOLLEYBALLOGY break down the key aspects and best practices employed by the top echelon of coaches to bring out the best in themselves, their players - and even the parents in a given season.  Starting with tryouts, Zuby, Erik, & Meach provide a step by step blueprint or checklist for coaches who are interested in promoting...

Zuby, Erik, and Meach are back together and helping parents and players deal with the reality of not playing enough - or even being benched.  Specifically, they identify different key reasons young athletes may find themselves ‘glued’ to the bench (rightly or wrongly) and how they - and their parents - can come to grips with the situation and cultivate powerful methods to cope, and even THRIV...

In this unique instalment of VOLLEYBALOGY UNcensored, Zuby (former player, coach, and Philosophy/Psychology teacher) sits down alone on camera in our first ever ‘Player Pep Talk.’  Parents and coaches will want to listen in as Zuby works to define what true confidence looks and feels like for young athletes, as well as useful and PRACTICAL tips to help develop this vital ingredient for succes...

While Meach decided to spend time with his OTHER family for reasons discussed, Zuby & Erik are left alone to answer another great batch of parents’ questions coming in from info@volleyballogy.org , as well as the VOLLEYBALLOGY Facebook Page & our YouTube comments section (please keep those coming by the way!). In this second instalment of ‘Parents Q&A,’ the guys discuss the following i...

Parents - it’s your time to shine!  This week Zuby, Erik, & Meach field questions from inquiring volleyball moms & dads, who wrote in via Facebook, YouTube, and www.volleyballogy.org .  In this FIRST installment of ‘Volleyball Parents: Q&A’, the former pro players and coaches at VOLLEYBALOGY discuss: Is it necessary to play club AND highschool to get recruited? What to do if...