Coach - Technical and Relentless Learning
I received a call from an old friend the other day. We have coached against each other for years, and through that competition, I developed a deep respect for her. Her teams were always well-prepared and challenged me to work harder to become a better coach. Great coaches are always preparing their teams to perform when it matters most.
She called me to discuss a technical element in our Fusion coaching manual regarding serving. This manual was written during the COVID pandemic—a time when, like many of us, I finally had the opportunity to work on things I had always wanted to but never had the time for. One of my goals was to compile everything I had learned from various sources and define what Fusion Volleyball should look and feel like. Excellence comes from consistency, and consistency is difficult to achieve, especially in an environment focused on growth and learning. A manual serves as the foundation for fundamentals, ensuring that what we teach is clear and repeatable.
There is an unspoken “rite of passage” among coaches—those late-night discussions that happen spontaneously after practices and tournaments, in parking lots and cheap diners. Sure, there’s socializing, but for me, those were some of my most valuable classrooms. I can’t even count how many late-night dinners I’ve shared with coaches across the country. Some of my favorite memories were formed in those conversations, and I wanted to document that knowledge—like a collection of my grandmother’s old recipes.
A few weeks ago, during one of these conversations, a small debate over the order of two words sparked an incredible exchange of ideas. In our manual, we teach serving using three key words: Place, Step, Swing.
Place the ball in line with where it needs to be.
Step forward with the same foot as the tossing arm.
Swing through the ball in line with where you want it to go.
There are additional details on how to serve deep or short, and each type of serve has its own nuances. But these three words form the core of our approach. Only a master coach would pick apart these details, and that’s exactly who she is and what happened.
She asked why I chose to have players place the ball before they initiated their step forward. I explained that I wanted the ball placed first so athletes could channel all their momentum into the ball. She argued that momentum should already be in motion before contact in order to generate a more powerful serve.
I don’t mind changing my beliefs, but I need to be shown a different way first—and then my brain needs to process it logically before I even consider shifting my methods. Her argument made sense, and I could see its benefits. My concern was whether players would overstep the ball if they initiated movement first. Then, it hit me—our ultimate goal is for players to develop a jump float serve, where movement does come first. And since one of Newton’s laws states that an object in motion stays in motion, the ball will travel in sync with the player as long as it is tossed while the player is already moving.
I share this to give insight into the thought process of a coach constantly refining their approach. All coaches should be willing to challenge their own ideas, engage in these discussions, and help each other grow for the betterment of our athletes. I will never claim to have all the answers. And since I’ve stepped away from coaching this year, I find myself missing these discussions more than ever. I miss the continual refinement of my craft—something that always served to benefit both our athletes and our club.
So, moving forward, we’ve adjusted our teaching approach: shift and place at the same time to encourage natural movement into the serve. Learning requires the humility to recognize when something needs to evolve, and I believe that’s a strength, not a weakness. In today’s world, admitting we were wrong isn’t always welcomed, but I hope our coaches and players understand that failure and adaptation are key to mastery. I’ve been wrong many times, and that’s exactly why I have confidence in what I do know—because every mistake has shaped my understanding. A mentor of mine once said, "We must change to grow, but not all change is progress." As coaches, our job is to recognize the difference and ensure that every adjustment we make moves us forward.
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