Épisodes

  • Ep 21: Parent Advice from a Parent - with Natalie McIlhenny
    Feb 5 2025

    In Episode 21, Chuck and Brian travel to Baltimore, MD for the JVA Charm City Classic to talk to Team Mom, Parent, and Former D1 athlete, Natalie McIlhenny.

    This episode talks about what to expect as a new parent venturing into the world of club Volleyball and is a MUST LISTEN for all parents. Natalie does an amazing job of putting things into perspective and gives her tips, tricks, and lessons learned from 4 years of Club Volleyball.

    In Segment 1, we discuss the benefits of playing club volleyball, and all of the ways that parents can enhance the experience for the team. Natalie walks us through her first year where expectations are unknown through Year 4 where life lessons and lifelong friendships have become just as important as volleyball!

    In Segment 2, we discuss the challenges that families face when commiting their time and money to play club volleyball. We talk about various levels of competiton, travellling to far away places to play volleyball, and how to manage everything with younger siblings.

    In Segment 3 we talk about Tournament Survival for families and players. Natalie share her tips on how the Team Parent can help the team, while maintaining important boundries with the coaches. She explains the value of being a positive voice on the slidelines, and staying out of the drama that seems to follow club volleyball and teenage girls.

    We reach into the bag of Volleyball Moms questions and Natalie shares tips on team bonding, the role of the team parent, finding the best hotel deals, what to pack for a tournament, and chimes in on the "Great Seat Debate" that drives Volleyball Moms crazy!

    Segment 1

    1:25 - Introduction of our guest, Team Mom Extraordinaire Natalie McIlhenny

    2:23 - Getting started with club

    4:27 - First impressions of the club experience

    5:40 - Biggest benefits of club so far

    8:11 - Balancing the competitive nature of club and having fun

    10:18 - The "end game" with regard to club

    12:21 - Personal growth resulting from the club experience for players

    14:45 - Social benefits for parents, including the interaction with other parents and club staff

    Segment 2

    18:15 - Discussion of the financial commitment required by club from both the club and family perspectives

    24:00 - Handling the time commitment as a family, especially with multiple children, and parents of players working together as their own team during the season

    29:00 - Avoiding being "that parent" to maximize the experience

    31:38 - The potential positive impact of club with regard to the life experience it offers

    33:18 - The importance of having the designated "team parent" for each team

    34:31 - Having the right motivation for being a "team parent"

    36:25 - Advice for parents who are contemplating going "all-in" with a volleyball club

    Segment 3

    39:31 - Strategies for arranging hotels in advance of multi-day tournaments

    43:39 - Tips for parents to prepare for single-day tournaments

    44:17 - Player equipment discussion from Volleyball Moms

    46:36 - Necessities for parents to manage different tournament venue requirements

    48:45 - Natalie's perspective on "The Great Seat Debate" from Volleyball Moms

    50:42 - Tournament merchandise discussion from Volleyball Moms

    52:25 - Final thoughts regarding pertinent advice for club volleyball parents

    53:53 - "You Are Doing Great" - a motivational post from Volleyball Moms

    55:50 - Wrap-up

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    57 min
  • Ep 20: Welcome to The Armory!
    Jan 26 2025

    The first episode of 2025 finds Chuck and Brian at TNT's just-opened new facility, the Armory!

    In Segment 1, we talk about the benefits of the new facility now that it's open - and how it came to fruition.

    Segment 2 answers some important questions about the start of the club volleyball tournament season as posted by our Facebook friends at Volleyball Moms. Wanna hear out take on teams yelling "Balls Up", Sandbagging and what to do if you are feeling duped by your club? Join us in a fun conversation about important issues facing the club volleyball world.

    Segment 1: The Opening of The Armory

    1:00 How The Armory came to be?

    7:56 What does the new facility offer as compared to the bunker?

    11:37 What are some of the plans for each facility moving forward?

    15:36 Will all of the teams get to practice at the new facility?

    Segment 2: Catching Up With Some Questions From Volleyball Moms

    20:30 Is it too late for a player at age 13 to get started with volleyball?

    22:59 Thoughts on court etiquette and yelling "Balls Up!" on an opponent serve?

    25:22 What about playing time at tournaments?

    30:14 How about choosing a captain?

    34:00 What level should a club's #1 team be playing in at tournaments?

    37:50 The addition of multiple players to a team --- and what it means to be a starter?

    43:00 12U and being asked to change positions?

    45:31 Role of (and need for) parent coaches?

    47:39 A clever way to perhaps avoid having to buy hoodies, etc. at multiple tourneys?

    49:22 Wrap-up

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    52 min
  • Ep 19: 13U Expectations and Advice with JK3
    Dec 16 2024

    In episode 19, Chuck and Brian ventured to the new TNT Armory facility scheduled to open in January to meet up with 13U Coach John Kutsuzawa, a.k.a. JK3.

    John will be coaching the National TNT 13 Roadrunner team this season and has played volleyball for over 30 years. JK3 has coached CYO, high school, adults, and beach players. He has previous club stops at East Coast Power and GPS Crush prior to coming to TNT.

    Ever wonder what to expect from 13 year old players and how much you can challenge them? JK3 shares shares his thoughts on what to focus on in practice, and what to expect as a player develops in the critical 13U year of volleyball.

    Timeline:

    1:22 Meet Coach JK3

    2:52 Highlighting Some of JK3's Experiences in Volleyball (and in life) Prior to TNT

    5:30 Coaching Philosophy

    8:00 JK's Other Interests

    9:53 Why 13U is His Preferred Age Group

    10:59 Favorite Memories at TNT

    14:26 JK3's Leadership Role at TNT: Coordinating Required Coaching Certifications

    16:50 History of 13U at TNT, Why Participation Doubles at 13U Compared to 12U, and TNT Philosophy on Getting Younger Players Involved

    20:30 Variance in Players at 13U and What Coaches Want From Younger Players

    24:08 Reasonable Expectations / What Not to Focus on at 13U

    32:14 What About Those Who Want to Play at Higher Levels?

    36:10 What Coaches Look for Specifically During Open Gyms and Tryouts

    39:19 JK3's Thoughts on "You Can't Teach Height" When Forming a Team

    41:23 The Growth that Occurs in Younger Players from Year-to-Year

    43:56 13U Transitioning to High School

    45:02 Playing Time, Balancing Teaching and Learning vs. Winning at 13U

    50:24 Volleyball Moms Questions for Chuck and JK3

    60:00 Bonus Question from Coaching Volleyball Group

    63:00 Current Happenings and Holiday Season Programming at TNT

    65:50 Wrap-Up

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    1 h et 8 min
  • Ep 18 Volleyball in Europe With Randy Syracuse
    Nov 27 2024

    In episode 18, Chuck and Brian caught up with TNT Coach Randy Syracuse. Randy recently joined TNT to continue his volleyball journey with our club, and we couldn't be happier that he's now with us.

    Randy's journey includes expereince as both a professional player and a NCAA Division 1 coach. He also has a long track record of recruiting and training talented academic and athletic students. Randy has achieved multiple championships and medals as a player in various countries along the way, and he has quite a bit of experience in club volleyball, too.

    On this episode, Randy talks about his life in volleyball, sharing knowledge gained from some of those experiences. He talks about ways in which he plans to help TNT to move forward as a club, from coaching his 17 Platinum team this coming season as well as helping girls get recruited.

    Timeline:

    0:51 Meet Coach Randy

    2:25 How Randy Got His Start in Volleyball

    9:22 When He Knew He'd Be Able to Compete as a Player at a High Level

    13:07 Randy's Overseas Playing Experiences

    19:19 Comparing Volleyball in Europe to the United States

    24:37 When/How He Decided to Get Into Coaching

    26:29 Favorite Coaching Memories Over the Years

    34:51 The Value of Club for Players Wanting to Maximize Their Potential

    40:58 How Coach Randy Came to TNT and the Appeal of TNT

    48:30 Randy's Goals for the 2024-2025 17 Platinum Team and Coaching with Former Players

    53:07 How Randy Envisions His Role at TNT

    55:06 Randy's Advice to Players Who Want to Play at the Next Level

    57:48 Volleyball Moms' Question for Randy About Playing Club Overseas

    64:44 Volleyball Mom's Question #2 for Randy About Development of Younger Players

    66:30 Wrap-Up

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    1 h et 9 min
  • Ep 17 How Teams Are Made - Dealing With the Stress of Tryouts
    Nov 18 2024

    In Episode 17, Chuck and Brian got together a few days after the recent tryouts for the remaining 15-18U teams to discuss TNT's approach to the tryout process. Tryouts are stressful for Players, Parents and Coaches alike. This episode takes listeners behind the scenes of the process that takes place from the time the tryout is completed until the teams are fomed.

    In segment one, Chuck and Brian talk about the steps that are taken by the club before, during and after a tryout. We learn how TNT schedules and conducts their tryouts, and how no positions are offered before the tryout. How are players rated? How do coaches evaluate players? How are team rosters built? What if players want to compare offers? Can players 'Move Up'? Why does it take so long? All of these questions are discussed during Segment 2. The segment ends with discussion on the dilemma of not having enough spots for all who wish to play, and ways TNT tries to find homes for as many players as possible.

    Segment two answers specific questions sent by TNT parents and players immediately after tryouts were conducted. What does loyalty mean to a club? Why do players get moved to lower teams? Chuck and Brian go though some data that explains why some positions (OH, DSL) become more competitive as players get older. We answer the common question about why a player didn't make a team and where she "fell short". A recommendation made for those looking for in-depth feedback about a player's performance and what they need to improve in order to make a team. The segment concludes with advice for families about what to do if an offer is not received. As always, we finish by answering some great Volleyball Moms questions about tryouts.

    Timeline:

    2:11 TNT's approach to the process to conducting the tryout itself

    9:11 The decision on how many teams to fill prior to TNT conducting a callback session

    10:30 The process of extending offers

    12:00 Challenges the club faces in extending offers, having to wait for responses, and having to start the process all over again for each offer that's not accepted

    14:56 Clubs who do not allow for wait time, extend offers right after tryouts expecting immediate response, and how some even fill teams before tryouts

    18:09 The current reality of more players trying out than we can extend offers to at TNT

    20:24 How the club determines the number of teams to offer at each age group

    24:21 The importance of loyalty to the club and the role it plays in the process of filling teams at TNT

    26:27 Addressing concerns brought up about players who are no longer on the same level of team as in past years --- or recevied no offer at all

    28:42 How the game changes as the players get older and its impact on tryouts with some postiions that become even more competitive as a result

    32:20 Discussion about why the evaluation of a player at tryouts is not one that will give the in-depth feedback about a player's performance that some parents desire if an offer is not received

    34:16 Explaining why private lessons are the route to go for in-depth feedback about player performance if tryouts don't go a players' way

    36:10 What families should and should not do after tryouts if an offer is not received

    38:45 Reasons for the decision to forego the 15-18U callbacks at TNT after tryouts were held

    40:32 The unpredicable nature of the older age groups (17 and 18U) when it comes to tryouts from year to year

    45:08 Volleyball Moms question #1 - a parent venting about a player who didn't receive an offer

    48:11 Volleyball Mom's question #2 - is an in-house league just a money grab?

    50:00 Wrap-up

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    52 min
  • Ep 16 Advice from a Legend with Russ Rose
    Nov 5 2024

    In Episode 16, TNT is pleased and honored to be able to present a volleyball dicussion with legendary Penn State Coach Russ Rose from a recent chat with TNT Director of Operations Leon Kasperski. The chat occurred in advance of Coach Rose's 11/10/24 visit to TNT to conduct both coach and player clinics.

    This special episode features numerous clips taken from that chat, each one followed by a discussion between Chuck and Brian about the topics just mentioned.

    In segment one, Russ shares his thoughts about club philosophy, skill acquisition at the younger age groups, and overall player development. Leon and Russ also talk about putting teams together for success as well as Russ's approach to communicating with the players and parents.

    Segment two includes additional talk about club culture along with player expectations, selection, and development. Russ shares his thoughts on roster formation for winning teams. The discussion then focuses on reasons for TNT's growth and the club's approach to the coming season. Leon and Russ talk about TNT's goal of trying to develop players, while also providing a great experience. Finally, the group discusses the value of learning life lessons while participing in youth sports.

    In segment three, Russ gives his thoughts on volleyball statistics that corellate to winning. Russ gives advice on the approach that clubs such as TNT should be taking to continue to build and be successful against some of the nation's premier programs. The segment ends with the Russ' thoughts on the importance of having players that are willing to work in order to be successful. The episode ends with a brief update on upcoming events at TNT.

    Timeline:

    2:43 Clip 1 (Club Philosophy, Skill Acquisition, and Overall Player Development)

    16:23 Clip 2 (How to Put Successful Teams Together, Russ's Approach to Communicating with Players and Parents)

    25:47 Clip 3 (More on Successful Club Culture, Player Expectations, Selection, and Development along with Roster Formation for Winning Teams)

    45:35 Clip 4 (Reasons for TNT's growth, our approach to the coming season while trying to balance player development with the best experience, and the life lessons that experiences in sports can provide)

    61:27 Clip 5 (Problems Clubs Can Experience, Stats that Corellate Most to Winning, How to Be Most Successful Against Top Competition, Players Working Hard vs. Players Hardly Working)

    78:14 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events at TNT

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    1 h et 33 min
  • Ep 15 Beginning a Coaching Career with Rob Reifsteck and LJ Brothers
    Oct 29 2024

    In Episode 15, Chuck invites Brian and TNT 15U Platinum Head Coach Rob Reifsteck and 15U National Head Coach LJ Brothers to his home to discuss volleyball from their perspectives as younger male coaches. They discuss their beginnings in volleyball, how they got started coaching teenage girls. We hear their thoughts about the upcoming club season and goals for their 15U teams. They discuss the differences in coaching boys vs. girls, and how they go about translating knowledge they gained as players to the next generation of players now that they are coaches themselves. We also discuss the challenges that young coaches face from social media to interacting with parents that may have children older than the coaches themselves.

    In segment one, we are introduced to Rob and LJ, hear about their careers as school teachers and their family influence that led them to coaching. They tell us about their background in the sport, and talk about some of their coaching experiences with various age groups. We finish the segment discussing their friendly rivalry as they evaluate players to form their club teams.

    For segment two, Rob and LJ give their thoughts on differences in the boys' vs. girls' game with regard to technique. The talk about challenges they have faced as younger coaches, and how more experienced coaches have helped them along their coaching journey. This segment also includes discussion among the group about guidelines for appropriate communication from a club perspective, especially younger male coaches. We hear about how Rob and LJ interact with their players and parents, and how they, as younger coaches, go about translating knowledge they gained as players to those they now coach.

    Segment three features some questions from our friends at Volleyball Moms for the group to respond to and ends with an updated on current TNT happenings, inlcuiding the ongoing tryout process, status of Bunker 2.0, and other programs TNT has planned including the upcoming Russ Rose clinic in November for players and coaches.

    Timeline:

    0:30 Meet Rob and LJ

    6:43 How Rob, LJ and Brian found their way to TNT

    15:24 How to coah 15U players versus High School players

    27:15 Difference between coaching boys and girls techniques

    30:44 Challenges of being a young coach when dealing with parents and players

    37:37 Biggest need from club to support young coaches

    41:30 Safeguards when communicating with players and social media pitfalls to avoid

    51:00 Volleyball Moms questions of the episode

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    1 h et 5 min
  • Ep 14 Volleyball Statistics for Dummies - with Sam Moyerman
    Oct 18 2024

    In Episode 14, Chuck and Brian met up with TNT 14U National Coach Sam Moyerman to discuss the value of statistics in volleyball and suggestions for proper use of them within the concept of a team.

    Given that there are many different opinions about stats, Sam presents a lot of valuable information about which are most important and how they should be valued by coaches, players, and parents. The need to balance the coach's “eye-test” with what statistics say was an interesting aspect of the discussion, too.

    In segment one, we meet Sam, hear some about his coaching background, and he shares his thoughts about the benefits of stats as part of his coaching, those which relate most to each position, and team stats he feels are most important.

    For segment two, the guys continue the discussion of the importance of using stats to help make decisions, plan practices, instruct players, and the value of them for parents, too.

    Segment three features discussion about the stats that are correlated to winning vs. losing, including some potential surprises, tools available for recording and analyzing stats, and the episode ends with some stat-related questions from our friends at volleyball moms before a brief wrap-up.

    Timeline:

    1:17 Meet Coach Sam

    4:00 Sam’s coaching philosophy, reflections on some past coaching experiences, and discussion of goals for 14 National for the coming season

    10:00 Benefits of using stats … what to focus on stats-wise as a coach, using the stats as well as the eye-test to make informed judgements, and those most important to a team and for each individual position

    18:30 The role of stats in determining a team’s approach to serving

    22:22 Using statistical data to help plan more effective practices

    26:13 Sharing stats with players and how to use them to help explain coaching decisions and set goals for player and team improvement

    30:25 Benefits for parents being aware of the objective nature of statistics and understanding them so that they can support their player off the court and engage in positive discussions about player performance vs. negative ones

    35:48 Stats that are the most important in terms of college recruiting

    39:38 Thoughts on coaches who are reluctant to use statistics as part of their process, relying solely on the eye-test instead and the dangers of doing so

    43:20 How the importance of some stats changes at various age levels

    47:30 How stats are perhaps underutilized in certain situations

    50:00 Significant numbers and thresholds that correlate to winning in relation to certain stats

    53:35 Stats that surprisingly do not have as much correlation to winning as one might think

    61:00 Tools that are available for those interested in collecting and using stats

    67:00 Stat-related questions from Volleyball Moms

    75:47 Wrap-Up

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    1 h et 18 min