Find drills for your next practice, fun games for volleyball camp, and articles covering topics like visualization and playing time philosophy!
Volleyball is an exciting and dynamic sport that requires a mix of strategy and skill. One of the most effective ways to elevate your team's game is by implementing plays. But when is the right time to use them during a match? Let’s dive in!
Read MoreAre they actually not trying? Or is something deeper going on?
Read MoreWhat ages will you have come to your camp? And when will camp be? Are the courts even available? How will you check players in? Read through this extensive list of questions to help you plan the best summer volleyball camp!
Read MoreIs your athletic department creating an inclusive environment? Prospective student-athletes are paying attention to institutional reform, diversity on campus, and responses to human rights issues. Learn what recruits are looking for in 2020. By Taylor Treacy, creator of The Virago Project.
Read MoreIf you are a new volleyball coach and want to learn the basics of how to coach volleyball, you’re in the right place! Although there is a lot that goes into coaching, you can feel much more confident on the court by understanding these fundamentals.
Read MoreLast week I asked Get The Pancake’s Instagram followers the following question:
“Coaches: What’s one thing you wish you knew in your first season?”
And boy, did you guys deliver!
It’s important to be aware that no matter how much you prepare or how experienced you are as a player, there are going to be some lessons learned the hard way. However, this list certainly gives you a few areas to focus on!
Read MoreWhat will your team do if your setter goes down with a rolled ankle mid-match? What if your libero gets sick the night before regionals? Prepare for these scenarios before they happen so that your team remains calm during an emergency!
Read MoreLeaving the gym after a less-than-stellar performance is one of the worst feelings for a coach. But don't get hung up on what went wrong! Give yourself a day for your pity party, then it's back to work! These 4 steps will have your team back on the right track in no time!
Read MorePreparing for your first volleyball tournament (even as a coach) can be scary! Practically all coaches feel uneasy, nervous, anxious, underprepared, overwhelmed, stressed… you get the point!
But there’s hope!
You can calm your nerves (and help your players and their families feel better, too)! All you need to do is use these 8 easy tips to help you calm your nerves before your first volleyball tournament.
Read MoreNew Year’s resolutions are a fantastic way for volleyball coaches to review what worked for them, identify where they struggled, and create a plan to get better! But New Year’s resolutions don’t have to all be about self-improvement where you’re hunched over a notebook. There are plenty of activities where you can get up and out of the house, while still bettering yourself as a coach!
Read MoreDo you need a crash course on the basic rules of volleyball, what skills young volleyball players need to know, and what concepts you need to teach them? Let me walk you through how to coach beginner volleyball step-by-step!
Read MoreYoung players, parents new to the sport, and new volleyball coaches often wonder about the different roles players fill on a team. Learning what the positions on a volleyball team are can be challenging, but with these brief descriptions, I hope to make it a little easier for you!
Have you ever wondered why one player touches every other ball? Or why your daughter subs out but another girl doesn’t? And why is that girl showing up to games in a different colored jersey!? We’ll discuss that all here!
Read MoreY’all know by now that I promote communicating with your players in a positive manner whenever possible.
Well… now I’ve got (more) evidence to back up my thinking!
While hunting down research I sited in Episode 23 of the Get The Pancake Podcast, I came across another study that seemed worth reading! Of course after I read the paper, I realized this information NEEDED to be shared!
Read MoreThe phrases for offensive systems used in volleyball aren’t exactly beginner friendly. If you’re here because you’ve been wondering, “what the heck is a “5-1” and what does that even mean…?” you’re in the right place!
While volleyball terms can be tough to grasp for new coaches, some of the most difficult to handle are when someone asks you if you’re going to run a “5-1”, a “6-2”, or a “4-2”. Once you understand the basics of what these numbers mean, you’ll feel confident in talking shop with other coaches in your program.
One of the most popular systems is a 5-1. This system, along with a 6-2, are the most commonly used systems in intermediate to advanced middle school teams, most high school teams, and most club programs.
Read MoreIf you’re a new coach, you’ve probably heard the terms “6-2”, “5-1”, “6-3”, etc… And if you’re like most new coaches (and most new volleyball players), you probably thought to yourself, “ummmm…. what??”
These are all terms for offensive systems, which sounds intimidating at first but is rather simple… AFTER you understand what the terms mean.
Today I’m going to break down a 6-2 offensive system for you, which is basically a fancy way of saying what your players do when they’re standing in different spots on the court.
Read MoreCoaches have a lot to say when it comes volleyball parents, but we’re not always able to share those feelings. And I’m sorry to disappoint you, but we’re not as heartless as you think!
Here’s a list of nearly 50 responses from volleyball coaches on what they wish volleyball parents knew…
Read MoreAfter coaching for so many years, I’ve found my “style.”
I would describe it as supportive, patient, joking, laid back, cooperative, and open-minded.
Those are all positives, in my mind.
Of course we always want to believe that we’re the epitome of what a “good” coach should be, and it can be hard to assess flaws in our style.
As coaches, we’re used to getting our way. We run the show!
But what about when you become the instructee?
Read MoreSummer is almost here, and this is ALWAYS the time of year when I am asked what players should do to prepare for school volleyball tryouts.
There are plenty of options out there….
Summer camps
Private lessons
Skill clinics
Open gyms
While all of these will likely improve a player’s skill level, physical fitness, coordination, and mental understanding of the game, there’s one big opportunity that many families tend to overlook: beach volleyball.
Read MoreRecently, I posted a question on the Instagram Story for my account for volleyball coaches, @getthepancake. I asked:
“Players: What’s something you wish your coaches or parents knew?”
The range of answers highlights just how unique our athletes are, and I think the players provide some great insight.
When reading this article, please keep in mind the following: “Perception is more important than reality. If someone perceives something to be true, it is more important than if it is in fact true.”
Read MoreThe hesitation. The apprehension. The questions. The tears.
These are all fairly NEW to me as a coach, despite beginning my coaching career over a decade ago.
Nearly all players can handle being told how to correct their form without bursting into tears and making you feel like a horrible person.
But there’s a shift happening. I’m not entirely sure of the reason WHY (though I have some guesses), but once I started making adjustments to my coaching style, I was able to see players settle into the comfort of learning and actually contribute to their team.
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