The VolleyNerd Podcast

Physical and mental toughness are often elusive. In this episode we go into what toughness looks like on the volleyball court and how we can start to develop it within our athletes. Luis Cuatok thinks deeply about this topic and shares a bunch of super interesting information about why toughness matters and why us coaches can do more to help our athletes become strong-willed in the best way possible.

Loren Anderson from Rise Volleyball Academy takes a different approach to club volleyball. In this episode we explore why volleyball should be viewed as a lifetime game, why adults sometimes need to allow children to learn lessons through experience (even when they know better), and why modeling and influence may be the best teachers for creating lifelong learners.

Loren Anderson from Rise Volleyball Academy takes a different approach to club volleyball. In this episode we explore why volleyball should be viewed as a lifetime game, why adults sometimes need to allow children to learn lessons through experience (even when they know better), and why modeling and influence may be the best teachers for creating lifelong learners.

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An important discussion challenging the status quo in youth volleyball. The owner of Rise Volleyball Academy discusses why we are often off-base with how we, as coaches, are handling numerous situations. This episode also had tons of awesome ideas for how to illicit and encourage athletes’ love for the game. One idea: stay out of their way and let them learn. So much more...

Loren Anderson is the Owner of Rise Volleyball Academy in Idaho and they do things differently out there! They pride themselves on evoking Joy through volleyball! This enlightening discussion makes me think about why we do things the way we do. Loren discusses the rationale and practical aspects of how Rise Volleyball Academy is so extremely successful in their unique way.

This episode focuses on UCLA Men’s Volleyball Assistant Coach John Hawks and how he helps his teams consistently compete at an extremely high level. Coach Hawks has had an amazing coaching career and on this episode of The VolleyNerd Podcast we talk about how he evaluates talent, how he has tremendous respect and rapport with the athletes he works with, how he seeks out highly motivated (often multi-sport) athletes, and so much more. A great conversation with a super-knowledgeable coach!

Dynamic, up and coming beach athlete Skylar del Sol talks with The VolleyNerd Podcast about “The Grind” of working your way up the ladder into the elite ranks of beach doubles volleyball. He drops some really cool Inside information about the challenges and joys of being a pro beach volleyball player while still “adulting”. He also shares some really great ideas for players who are trying to make their way to the top rung of beach volleyball, including how to use video, take care of your body, and how to make the best of the conditions and a lot more. Skylar shares how The Grind is tough, but it is also tremendously memorable and rewarding.

Kara Hill is a leader in the juniors volleyball recruiting space. By connecting with coaches about what they wanted she crafted a business model that is a win-win for athletes AND coaches. This talk has AWESOME info for both coaches and players about what makes a difference in the recruiting process! Kara Hill knows the ins and outs of the business and expands on how running a campaign, considering yourself a brand, and opening up options for recruits is the way to go! She shares so much wisdom and so many practical applications!

Many coaches simply hope that their team’s culture will be championship level. Other coaches are more intentional about creating the culture that is necessary for their team’s goals. In this talk with one of the countries top youth club coaches, Luis Cuatok, we take a look at how to create a really powerful, high-level culture! Based on insights from Jeff Janssen, with actionable steps, this pod is a must for anyone who is interested in team building and the complex nature of group dynamics!

The ultimate underdog, 5’5” setter Faith Smith from Gonzaga University, has such an incredible mindset that has helped her to be so successful in her sports career. We talk about how relationships, confidence, and intentional training has affected her and allowed her to maintain such a positive, person-centered, leader. This talk is so fun and you can sense her enthusiasm through the mic! Plus, we reminisce about how we won a championship together!