USA Volleyball Education

While perseverance sounds like a very serious skill, it can be fun to learn for your young athletes if you make persisting through tough challenges into a playful activity. These activities for every age group will spark conversations around perseverance while encouraging experimentation and play.

Research shows that early specialization is unnecessary and may hurt athletes and their performances. Here are five things to know about sport specialization in younger athletes.

Alkaline water, mineral water, carbonated water, coconut water: There are so many different water options available that it can feel a bit overwhelming at the grocery store. Which one will serve your athlete best, or is plain old tap water the optimal solution?

For young athletes, breakfast is an important meal, but it’s also the most likely to get skipped in order to finish that homework assignment or catch the bus. But there are plenty of easy, healthy options that can be prepped ahead of time and only take a few minutes to whip up.

June 15 is the initial contact date for volleyball college coaches at the NCAA Division I and Division II  levels to reach out to rising juniors. Once this date hits, more direct communication can begin between college coaches and the student-athletes. What does that mean? We’ll go through five things to know about June 15.

Hot weather is coming, and that means your athletes are at a higher risk of becoming dehydrated during practices and games. And even mild dehydration can impact athletic performance, as well as an athlete’s general health.

Every year, student-athletes participate in summer camps, combines, tournaments and showcases to sharpen their skills and gain exposure to college coaches. College coaches value the opportunity to evaluate a player multiple times on video as well as in person. Attending these types of events can be a crucial step in your recruiting process, but they can be costly and time consuming, so make them worth your while.

It can be hard to make meals that are healthy and satisfying for athletes with certain food restrictions. But with a bit of prep and pre-planning, you can easily have snacks and meals on hand that are soy, dairy, and gluten-free.

As an athlete, it’s recommended that you eat every three hours throughout the day, so it’s important to find snacks that travel easily, offer the right nutrients, and actually taste good too. When it comes to nutrition, the goal is to find snacks that fill you up and keep you energized through an optimal blend of mostly carbohydrates, plus some protein and fat to help you feel satisfied for longer.

The college recruiting process is an exciting time for all young athletes, but it can also be confusing. Understanding the deadlines for each division and discipline will give you the tools to make the most of it.

The college recruiting process is an exciting time for all young athletes, but it can also be confusing. Understanding the deadlines for each division and discipline will give you the tools to make the most of it.

January 21 is National Granola Bar Day, so why not take the time to make this healthy snack.

I spent Memorial Day flying back from Amsterdam, 24 hours in en route, leaving a place where the Dutch Underground were battling in World War II three-quarters of a century before me.

Young athletes face tough transitions on a regular basis. Whether it's something big, like a move to a new school, or just the start of a season with a new coach, these transitions can be significant sources of anxiety. But, there are ways to navigate these challenging times.

And it might come as a surprise, but the brain uses around 20 percent of the body's energy, making it the hungriest organ. Fuel it appropriately, and your young athlete will be able to think fast and stay sharp in school and on the field.

Meal prepping doesn't have to mean a ton of extra time in the kitchen. Here are tips for successful, simple meal prepping that will allow your athlete to get a healthy meal.

Southern California has turned into a beach volleyball haven in part due to a climate that allows for year-round practice on deep-sand beaches. Here's what you can expect from the weather when you're hitting the SoCal beaches.

For young athletes, maintaining a positive body image is difficult at the best of times, but when a competitive team atmosphere is added into the mix, that positivity can become even harder.

With the summer sunshine out in full force, it's important to take care of your skin while enjoying the warm weather. Here are tips about sunblock, how to pick the right block for you, and other ways to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays.

Organic food is thought to be healthier than non-organic counterparts. But is that true? Here are things to think about before buying organic.

After a hard practice, athletes need to nourish themselves to ensure proper health and healing. Here are four quick, easy post-practice meals.