

The VolleyPod presented by The Art of Coaching Volleyball
Davis Ransom and Tod Mattox
The VolleyPod is all about coaching kids volleyball!
Each episode we cover 3 segments that are each designed to help you become a better volleyball coach.
First, we focus on a specific volleyball skill, talk about how to teach it, and provide drills and video links for further help with that skill.
Then, we present a common coaching scenario and discuss tips for how to (and how not to) handle it.
In the third segment we share a resource that has helped us to become a better coach, with the hopes that it can help you too!
See you on The VolleyPod!
Each episode we cover 3 segments that are each designed to help you become a better volleyball coach.
First, we focus on a specific volleyball skill, talk about how to teach it, and provide drills and video links for further help with that skill.
Then, we present a common coaching scenario and discuss tips for how to (and how not to) handle it.
In the third segment we share a resource that has helped us to become a better coach, with the hopes that it can help you too!
See you on The VolleyPod!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 31, 2025 • 41min
Training in Pairs: Differential Learning Ideas, When Your Team is Losing, and Think Again
In this episode of The Volley Pod, the hosts discuss various aspects of volleyball coaching, focusing on differential learning, effective passing and setting techniques, and strategies for serving.
They also address the challenges coaches face, the importance of building a positive team culture, and provide resources for further development in coaching.
The conversation emphasizes the need for adaptability in training and the significance of mental resilience in competitive environments.
The Art of Coaching Volleyball videos from today's episode:
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/youth-hand-contact-progressions/
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/what-to-do-when-youre-stuck-using-your-toolbox/ Luka Slabe
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/middle-school-volleyball-warm-ups-short-ball-long-ball-drill/ Mike Lingenfelter
Resources
Think Again by Adam Grant
https://adamgrant.net/book/think-again
Tod’s new book, The Volleyball Coach’s Book of Lists, is available now on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/VOLLEYBALL-COACHS-BOOK-LISTS-Inspiration-ebook/dp/B0DP5HSZ5K?ref_=ast_author_mpb
Find The Art of Coaching Volleyball at: www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com
The Art of Coaching Volleyball is a comprehensive resource designed to help coaches of all levels to improve their skills, teaching methods, and enhance their knowledge of volleyball. It offers a mix of instructional support, tools, and resources to support coaches in developing athletes and running effective practices.
Check out Balltime at: www.balltime.com
Balltime is an AI-powered volleyball platform designed to provide professional-level game breakdowns, video analysis, and highlight creation for players, coaches, and clubs. Developed by a team of passionate volleyball players and technology enthusiasts, Balltime aims to make advanced video and analytics accessible to everyone.
Check out The Volley Pod on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/aoc.thevolleypod/

Jan 24, 2025 • 43min
Teaching Blocking To Young Players, Keeping the Big Things Big, and TedTalks
In this episode of The Volley Pod, the hosts discuss various aspects of youth volleyball coaching, focusing on team progress, decision-making, and the importance of teaching blocking to young players.
They explore the psychological impact of blocking, share effective drills and techniques, and emphasize the need to reinforce team values and systems.
The conversation concludes with valuable resources for coaches to enhance their training methods.
The Art of Coaching Volleyball videos from today's episode:
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/volleyball-blocking-fundamentals-positioning-and-posture/
Joe Sagula
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/blocking-hand-position/
Mike Sealy
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/good-blocking-watching-right-things/
Karch Kiraly
Find The Art of Coaching Volleyball at: www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com
The Art of Coaching Volleyball is a comprehensive resource designed to help coaches of all levels to improve their skills, teaching methods, and enhance their knowledge of volleyball. It offers a mix of instructional support, tools, and resources to support coaches in developing athletes and running effective practices.
Check out Balltime at: www.balltime.com
Balltime is an AI-powered volleyball platform designed to provide professional-level game breakdowns, video analysis, and highlight creation for players, coaches, and clubs. Developed by a team of passionate volleyball players and technology enthusiasts, Balltime aims to make advanced video and analytics accessible to everyone.
Check out The Volley Pod on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/aoc.thevolleypod/

Jan 17, 2025 • 37min
In The Lab with Sean Thomas: Analogies for Passing
In this episode of The Volley Pod, Tod and Davis are joined by Sean Thomas to discuss various aspects of youth volleyball coaching, focusing on the importance of teaching philosophies, particularly the use of analogies to enhance understanding.
They share personal coaching experiences, explore passing techniques, and emphasize the significance of balance and movement in volleyball.
The conversation also touches on the role of biomechanics and data in coaching, as well as the need to engage young players with fun and relatable analogies.
The episode concludes with reflections on the challenges of teaching overhead passing and the importance of creating memorable learning experiences for players.
Find The Art of Coaching Volleyball at: www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com
The Art of Coaching Volleyball is a comprehensive resource designed to help coaches of all levels to improve their skills, teaching methods, and enhance their knowledge of volleyball. It offers a mix of instructional support, tools, and resources to support coaches in developing athletes and running effective practices.
Check out Balltime at: www.balltime.com
Balltime is an AI-powered volleyball platform designed to provide professional-level game breakdowns, video analysis, and highlight creation for players, coaches, and clubs. Developed by a team of passionate volleyball players and technology enthusiasts, Balltime aims to make advanced video and analytics accessible to everyone.
Check out The Volley Pod on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/aoc.thevolleypod/

Jan 10, 2025 • 36min
Ace Prevention for Young Teams, Train to Win or Train to Develop? and Mathew Houlihan
In this episode of The Volley Pod, the hosts discuss essential strategies for coaching youth volleyball, focusing on ace prevention, communication, and movement.
They explore the balance between winning and development, emphasizing the importance of teaching foundational skills while also preparing players for competitive scenarios.
The conversation includes practical tips for coaches and highlights valuable resources for further learning.
The Art of Coaching Volleyball Videos of the Week
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/passing-movement-shuffling-instead-of-reaching/ Ron Kordes
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/improve-your-passing-footwork-by-saying-1-2-3/ Tod Mattox
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/overhead-passing-strategies/ Ben Josephson
Resource of the Week
https://www.instagram.com/matthewjhoulihan/?hl=en Matthew Houlihan, "The Internet’s Club Director"
Find The Art of Coaching Volleyball at: www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com
The Art of Coaching Volleyball is a comprehensive resource designed to help coaches of all levels to improve their skills, teaching methods, and enhance their knowledge of volleyball. It offers a mix of instructional support, tools, and resources to support coaches in developing athletes and running effective practices.
Check out Balltime at: www.balltime.com
Balltime is an AI-powered volleyball platform designed to provide professional-level game breakdowns, video analysis, and highlight creation for players, coaches, and clubs. Developed by a team of passionate volleyball players and technology enthusiasts, Balltime aims to make advanced video and analytics accessible to everyone.
Check out The Volley Pod on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/aoc.thevolleypod/

Jan 3, 2025 • 31min
Training Pursuit, Creative Subbing Plans for Bigger Teams, and Tod's New Book
In this episode of The Volley Pod, the hosts discuss various aspects of youth volleyball coaching, focusing on pursuit training, effective coaching strategies, and the importance of creating a positive team culture.
They emphasize the need for training methods that encourage players to pursue the ball without punitive measures, and they share a list of approaches to improve player engagement and performance.
The conversation also touches on the significance of utilizing video tools for player development and strategies for effective subbing to ensure all players contribute to the team.
Finally, they highlight the importance of celebrating bench contributions and maintaining a balanced approach to winning and development.
The Art of Coaching Volleyball videos from today's episode:
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/emergency-moves-for-passing-and-defense/ Jen Flynn Oldenburg
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/individual-defense-capture-space-and-have-more-range/ Kimi Olsonhttps://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/posture-balance-for-range-on-defense/ Ray Bechard
The Resource of the Week is:
Tod's new book, The Volleyball Coach's Book of Lists which can be found here:
https://www.amazon.com/VOLLEYBALL-COACHS-BOOK-LISTS-Inspiration/dp/B0DP5JFQC8
Find The Art of Coaching Volleyball at: www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com
The Art of Coaching Volleyball is a comprehensive resource designed to help coaches of all levels to improve their skills, teaching methods, and enhance their knowledge of volleyball. It offers a mix of instructional support, tools, and resources to support coaches in developing athletes and running effective practices.
Check out Balltime at: www.balltime.com
Balltime is an AI-powered volleyball platform designed to provide professional-level game breakdowns, video analysis, and highlight creation for players, coaches, and clubs. Developed by a team of passionate volleyball players and technology enthusiasts, Balltime aims to make advanced video and analytics accessible to everyone.
Check out The Volley Pod on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/aoc.thevolleypod/

Dec 20, 2024 • 40min
Innovative Techniques from the AVCA Convention
In this episode, the hosts discuss their experiences at the Final Four and the AVCA National Coaching Convention, highlighting innovative coaching techniques, creative drills, and the importance of player development.
They share insights from various sessions, including blocking strategies, setter-middle connections, and the impact of technology in volleyball coaching.
The conversation also touches on Karch Kiraly's coaching philosophy and the significance of winning the middle in team dynamics.
Check out Balltime at www.balltime.com
Balltime is an AI-powered volleyball platform designed to provide professional-level game breakdowns, video analysis, and highlight creation for players, coaches, and clubs. Developed by a team of passionate volleyball players and technology enthusiasts, Balltime aims to make advanced video and analytics accessible to everyone.
Find The Art of Coaching Volleyball at www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com
The Art of Coaching Volleyball is a comprehensive resource designed to help coaches of all levels to improve their skills, teaching methods, and enhance their knowledge of volleyball. It offers a mix of instructional support, tools, and resources to support coaches in developing athletes and running effective practices.
Check out The Volley Pod on our Instagram at: aoc.thevolleypod

Dec 13, 2024 • 48min
Tod's New Book: The Volleyball Coach's Book of Lists
In this conversation, The Volley Pod hosts, Tod and Davis, discuss the release of Tod's new book, The Volleyball Coaches Book of Lists, exploring its inspiration, the collaborative process of gathering insights from various coaches, and the key themes of coaching philosophy, leadership, player development, and effective practice design.
They highlight the importance of mindset, engaging young players, and utilizing resources for coaching improvement.
The discussion also touches on innovative practices and concludes with key takeaways and the book's availability.
You can find the new book on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/VOLLEYBALL-COACHS-BOOK-LISTS-Inspiration/dp/B0DP5JFQC8/ref=sr_1_28?crid=2KJH98WQ39435&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oxg1qQgJwtLqoZGdSEuK4bNHKYYRR4-cAA-9V23RMX-nL-x0EXVHeZsvloPz9dC3i0ivVmMRxTRCiVuqIQX0wJdDCvRlOzNvTkCHt5OPRsFejjaGI84DYqOtMvgeii8-Vjdlzr_ho0p8UKsZTf0TrCB1BTVR-Jbii8lHxy2StdIfdMIjldHHMF9eWFTQMVg8Eki4iJ_W4jUWfaYrTAPPcdyudyCQI7n_XZgnecS2Jdzb1CHwAO9JCszm2Tn6JYE8-Jdih2_HPaxyHbRhH5OQFpmncO6-ptR4TS-x3jtx9lk.hZo8QjPAUkfGwUYhQ14Iyo2kR5SseQsbUbPnmbM9YKI&dib_tag=se&keywords=volleyball+coach&qid=1733809078&sprefix=volleyball+coach%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-28
Also, be sure to check out Balltime at www.Balltime.com
Balltime is the first and best AI video and stats program for volleyball.
It will help you become a better coach!
And, check out our Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/aoc.thevolleypod/

Dec 6, 2024 • 29min
Framing and Reframing, When Your Team Just Isn't Getting It, and Zdenek Hanik
In this episode of The Volley Pod, Tod and Davis discuss the essential elements of coaching, focusing on the importance of framing experiences for players, building a strong team culture, and utilizing technology to enhance coaching effectiveness.
They explore various strategies for improving player development and understanding the challenges young athletes face.
The conversation also highlights valuable resources for coaches looking to enhance their skills and knowledge.
The Art of Coaching Volleyball videos highlighted in today's episode:
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/path-sports-becoming-a-learner/ Karch Kiraly
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/how-to-add-subtle-fun-to-practice/ Deborah Newkirk
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/step-outside-of-your-comfort-zone/ Christa Dietzen
Check out Balltime, the first and best AI video and statistics program for volleyball @ www.Balltime.com
The Resource of the Week is:
Zdenek Hanak's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/zdenekhanik/?hl=en
Also, our Instagram page is:
https://www.instagram.com/aoc.thevolleypod/

Nov 30, 2024 • 25min
Yo-Yo Serving Games, Coaches' Self Evaluation, and The Founders' Book
In this episode of The Volley Pod, Tod and Davis reflect on their recent volleyball seasons, discussing the importance of continuous improvement in coaching and player development.
They delve into innovative serving strategies, including the 'yo-yo' effect and the 'two bouncer' serve, emphasizing the need for variety in serving techniques.
The conversation also highlights engaging games for serving skill development, the use of technology like Balltime for video analysis, and the significance of end-of-season evaluations.
The Art of Coaching Volleyball videos connected to today's podcast are:
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/disrupt-opponent-serve-short/ Mark Rosen
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/serving-strategies/ Kirsten Bernthal Booth
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/10-tips-for-youth-serving/ Ron Kordes
Get Learn From the Legends on The Art of Coaching Volleyball website here:
https://store.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/shop/learn-from-the-legends/
Check out our sponsors!
Balltime is the first ever Volleyball AI Platform, created for parents, coaches, clubs, and players.
Check it out at: www.Balltime.com
With The Art of Coaching Volleyball you can access the largest library of videos, resources, and clinics, designed to help coaches and players perform their best.
Access The Art of Coaching Volleyball here:
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/
Check us out on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/aoc.thevolleypod/

Nov 22, 2024 • 34min
Russ Rose, John Dunning, and Terry Liskevych and Their New Book, Learn From the Legends
In this episode of The Volley Pod, hosts Davis Ransom and Tod Mattox engage with legendary volleyball coaches: Russ Rose, John Dunning, and Terry Liskevych.
They discuss the coaches' new book, Learn From the Legends, which outlines 53 keys to better volleyball coaching.
The conversation covers the origins of the book, the importance of diverse coaching perspectives, effective practice planning, and the significance of player IQ and team culture. The coaches share insights on accountability, curiosity in coaching, and the necessity of lifelong learning for coaches.
Get Learn From the Legends on The Art of Coaching Volleyball website here:
https://store.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/shop/learn-from-the-legends/
Check out our sponsors!
Balltime is the first ever Volleyball AI Platform, created for parents, coaches, clubs, and players.
Check it out at: www.Balltime.com
With The Art of Coaching Volleyball you can access the largest library of videos, resources, and clinics, designed to help coaches and players perform their best.
Access The Art of Coaching Volleyball here:
https://www.theartofcoachingvolleyball.com/
Check us out on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/aoc.thevolleypod/