get the pancake: a podcast for volleyball coaches by Whitney Bartiuk

Tryout time is here! Are you ready? Listen in as I walk you through some "best practices" for running volleyball tryouts and share my honest opinions on what makes a successful tryout.

The technique in question: Should players be engaging their legs to pass the ball? Listen in as I break down when players should (and shouldn’t!) use their legs while passing. 

Peer pressure is a great substitute for game-like pressure! This week I discuss a few ways to incorporate one of my favorite teaching tools in practice to help my teams succeed when game day rolls around!

Identify what might be holding your team back from communicating... and learn what you can do about it!

Practice can be productive AND fun... but first you need to discover what "fun" means to you! Listen in as the case is made that by figuring out what makes you smile can lead to a more productive (and of course, fun) volleyball season.

Learn how to promote yourself in person to find clients for private volleyball lessons.

This episode is packed with actions that volleyball coaches can take to step up their game. I learned so much in this episode and think you will, too!

Power volleyball is great... but finesse can be a secret weapon when used appropriately! Watch and listen to this podcast for volleyball coaches to learn more about how to improve your offense, get in the heads of your opponents, and increase the number of situations your players are prepared for. 

Why cue words + hand signals are important while coaching volleyball: 

I love aggressive volleyball! And I bet you do, too! Teach your team to be more aggressive and competitive with this quick but fun volleyball drill that teaches players as young as 5th grade to hit downballs and back row attacks.

Aim for the "Goldilocks Zone" with your volleyball drills in practice! We're going for drills that aren't too difficult, aren't too easy, but are just right.

Club coaches and Directors, I can guarantee you will finish this podcast feeling inspired and motivated! Listen in as a family out of Corpus Christi shares how they’ve come together to build a volleyball program that is elevating the level of play in South Texas.

Alright Coaches, let's practice a little self-care this week! You spend so much time giving to others, it's important to take make some time for yourself, too! This week, I want to introduce you briefly to a "personality test" known as the Enneagram. This tool will help volleyball coaches better understand what motivates them (both positively and negatively) and can help you relate better with your fellow coaches and administrators. Learning about yourself is a great way to recharge so you can tackle another week!

*As a head’s up, some parents may be uncomfortable listening to this episode with their children at first since we cover some sensitive topics. To respect every parent’s decision on how they address these topics with their kids, I encourage you to listen to this podcast first before listening with your child or talking to them about the topics in today’s episode.

Have you been put in charge of the social media accounts for your volleyball program? Are you hoping to grow your volleyball club or reach new fans for your high school and college programs? Listen in this week as Amy Jo Opsal from Sports Marketing Coach shares a TON of tips for coaches and administrators looking to grow their Facebook and Instagram accounts for their programs.

Contrary to popular belief, coaching volleyball is about more than just running good drills. In fact, a lot of your success as a coach is based on what happens OFF the court. Team bonding activities, being organized, and communicating well with parents… these are the things that truly make a difference. And this podcast is all about advice for volleyball coaches, sharing new ideas, and bringing on guests who offer new perspectives.

We often think that athletes have the perfect life. They’re looked up to and seem to have it all together. But as you’ll learn in this episode, that’s not the case!

Man, are we going through some stressful times or what!? Since about mid-April after things started shutting down, I've been feeling a lot of stress and anxiety related to the future of our sport. And I know I’m not alone!

We all know that developing the athletes in our volleyball programs is important... but when it comes to deciding HOW to do that best, we can be left scratching our heads. That's why I am SO excited to share this week's episode of the podcast with you! 

What’s the best way to get your child to listen to your feedback when it comes to her mindset? What should you say to your athlete on the ride home from a tough match? Listen in as Paige Tonz, Girls Athlete Mindset Mentor walks us through the best way to handle these situations and more!

I can't believe it! Today marks 50 episodes for the Get The Pancake podcast! In order to celebrate, today will cover our top 5 episodes (plus a key takeaway from each) AND we're doing a giveaway! For more information about the giveaway and the links mentioned in this episode, head to www.getthepancake.com/volleyball-podcast-episodes/50-top-takeaways. 

Looking for a little guidance on how to structure your volleyball practices? This week I share how I spend the first 10 minutes of practice with every team I coach... no exceptions!

Are you coaching your own child this season? You can have a HUGE impact on the lessons they learn through sport based on how you approach your coaching role. Listen in as I chat with my own father who coached me when I was younger. I'm positive you'll finish the episode with a few epiphanies that spark some great discussions with your kids.

What warm-ups are best for volleyball? Should you stretch before practice? Is there a best workout for volleyball players? You don't have to wonder anymore! David Hardy, volleyball trainer, makes these complex topics easy to understand for even beginner coaches!

Do you only become successful after hard work and growth? Or does success lead to growth? Listen to this quick episode that breaks down how to strategically use "success" in order to help your athletes gain confidence on the court and get better in their sport.

Win more volleyball games using these simple (but not always obvious) strategies! 

Have you ever been accused of "having favorites" as a volleyball coach? If the answer is "no," it's probably just a matter of time! 

On this week’s episode of the Get The Pancake Podcast, I speak with a good friend of mine, Lynette Ray. Lynette has a wide range of experiences in the volleyball world… from officiating to being the director of a club program, this former college athlete and current volleyball coach has a ton of experiences to share… and she’s only 28!

I'm just going to be honest with you... when it comes to skill development and comfort on the court, open gyms are better for most players than camps or clinics! You can improve the quality of volleyball in your area by simply offering a 1-2 hour open gym every week, provided you create a great learning environment for your players! Follow my tips to see a jump in overall skill and awareness on the court with players in your area.

Anytime we're separated from our athletes (vacation, breaks, or mandated lockdowns), we're not able to coach them, right? ...WRONG! With just a few free apps, you're able to work with athletes anywhere, anytime. Listen to today's episode to get the full details on how I remotely work with players to provide them with helpful feedback digitally, while also boosting my coaching income (totally optional) in the process.

Thinking about coaching volleyball this season? Have you really thought about whether it will fit into your schedule or not? Coaching can be a huge time commitment, especially when you compare "scheduled" coaching hours to the time you actually spend!

Have you ever coached a team where it felt like everyone was dragging their feet? Or have you had a match where everything felt frantic and out of control?

Don't let little issues turn into disasters! Schedule mid-seasons evaluations with your volleyball team for a "progress report" now to save yourself headaches later on!

This week on the Get The Pancake Podcast, I'm going to read you an article I shared recently on www.getthepancake.com. The way you handle mistakes after a bad tournament has a huge impact on your performance moving forward, so be sure to follow these 4 simple steps before your next practice.

If you’re a new volleyball coach, you’re probably worried about… well, everything.

Frustrated parents = headaches for volleyball coaches. But based on feedback from parents who follow GTP on Instagram, a lot of these headaches are avoidable. Listen in as I outline top complaints from parents and breakdown how YOU can improve these important relationships. Happy parents means less drama and a better experience for everyone!

Have you sat down and determined your playing time philosophy for your volleyball team? Or, are you just making adjustments as you go? Listen to this week's volleyball coaching podcast episode as I discuss the pros and cons of equal playing time, playing time based strictly on performance, and my own personal playing time philosophy which I have developed over the years.

Too many coaches teach skills in a controlled environment, and then wonder why their team can't pass, hit, etc. in a match. It's because you haven't practiced in "chaos!"

I get asked this question ALL. THE. TIME. And I'm not surprised! Being on a volleyball team means facing challenges day after day with individuals you may or may not get along with. This is tough for most adults I know, let alone teen and preteen athletes. In this episode, I'll walk you three types of "interventions" you can use when your volleyball team doesn't get along. This moves from easiest to implement to the more challenging ways to deal with conflict. At the end of this episode, you should have one or two new tactics to help your volleyball team get along at your next practice.

If you are coaching beginners in volleyball, this is episode is a *MUST* listen! 

Are you a new volleyball coach who is trying to understand the positions on a volleyball team? Are you trying to place players in positions but don't know where to start when looking at your roster?

It's that time of year again! Let me share three tips that I believe will make a HUGE difference in how you coach volleyball this year. Highly recommended for all coaches, but new volleyball coaches will especially benefit from the information in this podcast.

Lindsey Napela Berg is a former Olympic and professional volleyball athlete, born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Lindsey played volleyball for the University of Minnesota and in three Olympic Games for the US national team, winning two Olympic silver medals. She is currently building a platform, THE CUORE PROJECT,  to share, educate and inspire.  She is focusing on female volleyball athletes, to provide a positive resource for those coming up in the sport.

In this week's volleyball podcast episode, you get TWO articles from getthepancake.com read to you, PLUS audio from the Get The Pancake YouTube channel is included.

I thought this week I'd go more "motivational" and share a very small portion of one of the most influential books on my own personal coaching career.  John Wooden was an astonishing basketball coach who achieved much during his long career, and I've always found his style, values, and teachings to be motivational, no matter what situation I was in. Let me share two building blocks of his infamous "Pyramid of Success" with you in this week's episode.

What motivates players more, a "good job" or a high five? Find out in this week's episode of the Get The Pancake Podcast, a podcast for volleyball coaches!

Questions addressed in today’s episode:

This week I answer questions my followers submitted through Instagram stories (follow @getthepancake so you don't miss out) and WOW did you guys send in some great questions! This episode covers how to handle bad calls so your team doesn't lose momentum, what to do when you have a player who "doesn't care," and more!

On todays episode, I read you the article "Coaching Anxious Players: 5 Steps To Confident Athletes" from www.getthepancake.com.

In today's episode, I share a NEW team bonding activity for volleyball coaches to use with their team!

Are you ACTUALLY going to get another year of experience this year? Or will you just be repeating what you did last year? This episode is meant to motivate you to earn a new season of experience!

*SPECIAL EDITION EPISODE*

In today's episode, you get the opportunity to listen in on one of the modules from my online video course: "Make Money Coaching Volleyball."

In this week's episode I discuss the importance of running TRULY game-like practices (AKA, practicing less-than-ideal scenarios) in order to have a more successful start to your volleyball season. This advice  applies to ALL ages, but teams at the 7th grade through sophomore levels will benefit most from this advice.

Come into your first season confidently! Listen to these five tips for getting your season off to a good start. Great for new volleyball coaches or club coaches who are new to the school scene.

Today I answer two more questions from Instagram!

Hey volleyball coaches! Whether you are wondering how to coach beginner volleyball or you've been coaching for a while and just want to ask another coach some questions, you'll enjoy this episode of my podcast for volleyball coaches!

If you're looking for actionable advice, you will not be disappointed with this episode! This week is a special treat. I read you chapter 4 from my book, "Coaching Volleyball: A Survival Guide For Your First Season." 

INTERACTIVE EPISODE! Get a few tips on how to prepare for an interview to coach volleyball, PLUS hear almost 20 sample interview questions. Take your preparations up a notch and pause the episode to practice answering each question!

My first year of coaching volleyball had its fair share of ups and downs, and despite my years of playing both club and high school volleyball, coaching my first team required an entirely different thought process.

If a player knows you will support them through the learning process and their failures, they will reward your trust by exceeding expectations. All volleyball coaches should listen to this! It will help you develop your coaching philosophy.

Picking an assistant deserves a LOT of attention. Head coaches get the glory, but assistants are the ones who keep the show running. Skipping over this critical step could mean a tough season even for experienced coaches. Let me share four important factors I've found in picking the ideal assistant coach for you.

Let’s face it…. Playing poorly all day, whether it’s an important match or a big tournament weekend, takes its toll on even the most confident coaches and players.

When you are training a group of players to be elite athletes it can seem like spending time playing games at practice is a waste of time. What we sometimes forget as coaches is that fun is a major component of the learning process.

Before your first tournament of the season, you’ll need to identify leaders on your team.

No matter what our team’s normal skill level is, sometimes there are just games (or even full days!) where our athletes are just…. off.

How many times have you heard these instructions at a volleyball match or tournament… “Talk!” “Call the ball!” “Communicate!”