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

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

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