USA Volleyball Education

While there is nothing wrong with an athlete embracing their identity as a player on the volleyball court, the inevitability of sport is that their competitive career may have “intermissions” (i.e., injury, illness) and will eventually end. How can you, as a guardian to your young athlete, help them ease this transition? You can start NOW, in their youth playing career, by encouraging the development of a multidimensional identity.

College recruiting preparation can be a daunting task, but don’t fret! Here are five college recruiting tips that can help both boys and girls volleyball athletes.

Busy lives for caregivers and volleyball athletes can make healthy meal prep seem impossible. But it's possible to add more whole foods to breakfast, lunch and dinner—and skip the fast-food stops after practice—with a bit of meal prep and some simple changes to avoid a fridge full of rotted veggies every week.

As a busy volleyball coach, making time for self-care can seem impossible. But there are small moments throughout the day and week where you can carve out this time to take care of yourself—and teach your athletes to do the same.

Shoulder injuries are unfortunately common for athletes of all types, whether due to acute or overuse injuries sustained during sport. Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution to building strong, mobile, injury-free shoulders, there are some general principles that can help regardless of sport choice.

As USA Volleyball coaches, ensuring athlete safety is our top priority. With 70% of sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occurring in athletes under 18, concussion awareness is crucial, even in a less contact-intensive sport like volleyball. 

If your athlete has a bad competition, game or practice, it can lead to a tense car ride home. Often, caregivers are well-meaning in their efforts to soothe grumpy athletes with advice and reassurances. Unfortunately, we often end up creating a more stressful, angst-filled situation in our attempts to help our athletes.

In youth sports, parents and caregivers are often tasked with providing team snacks for everyone at least once during the season. Deciding what to bring can be stressful—and it can be expensive, depending on what you choose!

If you often find yourself having arguments with your athlete about things like getting to practice on time, an unfair coach or referee, or what your athlete could have done better after a bad game, there are some simple ways to improve your style when it comes to dealing with conflict.

Coaches are often faced with implementing strategic decisions and making tough calls. And just as often, the athletes on your team may resist those decisions or the changes that you’re trying to make. Getting buy-in from athletes isn’t always easy, but it is often critical to the team’s success and your relationship with players.

Motivating athletes on your team is an important part of coaching. And providing motivation while protecting mental wellness can be challenging. You can make simple shifts to your coaching style and language to provide motivation without compromising mental wellness.

As a volleyball coach, you have the power to inspire a love for the game that can last a lifetime. And with the Project Play 63 by 30 initiative, a significant movement aiming to increase youth sports participation to 63% by 2030, your role has never been more important.  

Honor, privilege and persistence – first words crossing my mind when sharing my experience attending the FIVB International Beach Volleyball Course as well as being an official at the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championship at Roi Et, Thailand.

Appetite can be a tricky thing: Sometimes, after the hardest efforts or longest practices, your athlete may simply not feel hungry. This is normal—but if it becomes a regular occurrence, it can be a cause for concern. While hunger cues are generally important and should be respected, in situations like these, it’s important to help your athlete find a way to replenish their body after a hard volleyball practice or competition.

Dealing with a resistant athlete can be frustrating for any caregiver. But often, the reason for an athlete’s resistance may be more nuanced or valid than we realize.

TrueSport Expert Kristen Ziesmer, a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, shares a few simple ways to drop your grocery budget this week without sacrificing nutrition for you volleyball athletes.

As a volleyball coach, you play a large role in your athletes’ lives, and helping them set realistic, meaningful goals as a team and as individuals is one of the most important parts of a successful season.

Social media usage amongst young athletes is all but guaranteed, and as a coach, you have the difficult task of ensuring that your athletes are using it to enhance team culture rather than spread negativity. It’s tempting to ignore how athletes approach social media, but because it’s a primary method of communication for many of them, it needs to be part of the team culture conversation.

Concussion research is a rapidly evolving field, and over the past several years, there have been a lot of changes in recommendations regarding concussions and their treatment. Newer research shows that some prior recommendations, including prolonged periods of rest, were not helpful for recovery.

TrueSport Expert Kristen Ziesmer, a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, shares a few surprising tips and tricks to speed up meal time by meal prepping and making smart menus that provide variety and flavor without hours in the oven.

TrueSport Expert and licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Melissa Streno shares some of the most common ‘red’ and ‘yellow’ flag behaviors when it comes to young athletes and body image. Keep in mind that yellow flag behaviors should be taken as seriously as red flag ones.