Please Know What Marfan Syndrome Is…

If you come to visit us at USA Volleyball’s offices in Colorado Springs (please do!), and I am in town I will take you on a tour. One of the first stops, after the “Gold Room” where all staff meetings are held surrounded by pictures of all the US Olympic gold medal teams to date, beach and indoor, is this corner by CEO Doug Beal’s office. It is one of several statues commissioned in honor of 1984 Olympic silver medalist Flo Hyman.

Serving the Ideal Diet for Training, Competition and Recovery

Evaluating your diet based on your current performance stage

The case for carbs

Originally published in VolleyballUSA, Winter 2010-11 issue. I can’t tell you how often I hear athletes say they’re going to cut carbs in their diet because they want to drop a few pounds. The strategy goes something like this: Scrambled eggs for breakfast without toast, water during practice, grilled chicked and veggies for dinner –…

Stats for Players and Parents

Skill performance will ebb and flow, with 50 percent of the time being spent in below average performance for each player. Practice is for RAISING each player’s personal average.

I Love to Watch You Play

As my last child winds her way through that last year of high school, somehow juggling five AP classes, two varsity sports with captains practices and road trips, peer counseling, friendships that have endured 3/4th her life on this remarkable planet….I keep thinking on how much I am going to miss watching her play. That has always been my line to the kids after their competitions. I love to watch you play, for it is true, and because it stops the coach in me from coaching, and gives them the chance to talk about what they might want to discuss about that contest, and even practice, if anything.

Stats for Parents and Players

I oft speak of the impact a Discover magazine article long ago had on me, on how we are fooled by randomness, in helping me be a better parent and coach.

The 7 Speeds of Volleyball

The concept of 7-speeds is based on the work of soccer researcher and author Jurgen Weineck.

Kessel’s Best Movies for Team Viewing

A personal list of movies, in no particular order, that might be great for team bonding and inspiration.

May We Please Leave a Court Up?

Over 20 years ago I was working with the University of Colorado program, working with several club teams to merge them into a single varsity program.

Tryouts and Our Deepest Fear

Tryouts can bring out our deep fears, as the talent pyramid begins its inexorable narrowing. From six elementary schools teams, to a couple or so junior high 7th grade teams.