The Volleyball By Design Podcast

I learnt about this triangle a few years ago and it changed the way I set up my serve receive. This will optimize your reception and help increase your sideout. In this episode, I dive into: What the serve receive triangle is? How to set it up? The different angles that's relevant to serve receive Reception when serve comes from all 3 positions And a few more key concepts Click here to join...

In this episode, I dive into one concept of serve reception and passing that could be the reason your players are struggling with their pass. I see it a lot at the youth level. We talk about: 3 principles of serve receive Giving up too much space Reading Taking the ball on the side 360 degree plane And a few other concepts Click here to join Digital Volleyball Academy -...

In this episode, we talk about what multi-skill drills are, why they accelerate development, and how to implement them into your practices to get more game-like reps and better results. Topics include: 6 skills of volleyball How to implement multi-skill drills Examples of multi skill drills Understanding the power of player development And a few more key concepts Click here to join Digital...

In this episode, I sit down with national championship-winning coach Carolyn O’Dwyer to break down the standards, systems, and training environment behind her team’s title run after falling short the year before.In this episode:How to build practices that are harder than matchesThe standards that drive consistency and performanceDeveloping multiple offensive weaponsThe key stats that actually...

In this episode, I sit down with USPORTS National Champion head coach Adam Schriemer to break down the systems, standards, and mindset behind building a championship team. From practice design to match-day decision making, Adam shares exactly what it takes to consistently win at the highest level.In this episode we dive into:Why championship teams focus on “earning 17 and losing no more than...

In this episode, I sit down with CCAA National Championship coach Aaron Schulha to break down the full blueprintbehind his team’s title run. From building a selfless, high-trust culture to executing detailed game plans under pressure, this conversation goes far beyond talent and into what actually separates championship teams. We dive into:How to help your team play free and confident in...

In this episode, I sit down with 5-time national team coach Austin Dyer, who has led his program to 4 straight national championships. We break down the real reasons behind their success and also take a deep dive into the setter position. Topics in this episode include: Roster Building & Retainment Athlete Development Adapting coaching style based on teamCulture Recruiting Athletes vs...

In this episode, we go back into the vault with Mindset Coach Paige Tonz, who works specifically with female athletes helping them improve their mindset, confidence and so much more. In this episode we discuss:How to prepare mentally for serve receive How to bounce back after committing an error How to not dwell on the mistake you just made How to deal with a player with low confidence How to get...

In this episode, I dive into two important trends shaping the game right now. First, I break down the new rules being introduced by FIVB in 2026 and what they could mean for the future of volleyball.I also share some interesting out-of-system trends I’ve been seeing during the 2026 playoffs. Teams are becoming much more efficient when they’re out of system, and we’re seeing new setting solutions...

Down 0–2 in a best-of-five match is where most teams panic — and where great coaches separate themselves. In this episode, I break down the exact emotional resets, tactical simplifications, and momentum strategies needed to engineer a reverse sweep. If you want to lead with clarity when the pressure is highest, this one’s for you. We dive into:Tactical Changes Preparation during the seasonCoaches...