Triple Block Heads

Triple Block Heads
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Welcome to Triple Block Heads; the podcast for all things volleyball. Each episode, the trio of Block Heads will discuss topics that will hit home for a variety of volleyball enthusiasts, from beginners to collegiate athletes and volley nerds in between. The Block Heads bring a combined 50 years of coaching experience ranging from club to the highest levels of Division 1. 

  1. 23 lug

    TBH Episode 41: Summer Club Tryouts

    Send us Fan Mail In this Triple Block Heads volleyball podcast episode, the hosts discuss how club volleyball tryouts shifted over the last decade from fall to summer, driven by competition, national trends, and “peer pressure” as early-offering clubs forced others to adapt. They explain Iowa’s USA Volleyball regional rules, including offer-holding deadlines and a two-wave summer system (mid-July and early August) that helps athletes compare options and clubs build rosters, contrasted with looser JVA or other regions’ practices (e.g., same-day decisions or Texas pre-nationals team-setting). From a club perspective, summer tryouts aid planning for tournament registration, scheduling, and jerseys, while raising concerns about athlete burnout. From an athlete/parent lens, common issues include conflicting tryouts, college camps, uncertainty about open spots, position-based timing (middles earlier, liberos later), and the need to know and protect the process from rule manipulation. Instagram - @tripleblockheads X - @tripleblockhead Threads - tripleblockheads Facebook - Triple Block Heads Youtube - @TripleBlockHeads

  2. 9 lug

    TBH Episode 40: The Volley Venture: The Business of Private Equity in Volleyball

    Send us Fan Mail In this Triple Block Heads episode, Makani, Frank, and Marc discuss how youth sports—and especially club volleyball—have shifted from many small “mom-and-pop” organizations to consolidation by large ownership groups and private equity. They define private equity broadly as investors adding liquidity to rapidly expand clubs and facilities, often seeking returns by building real-estate assets and monetizing the entire “volleyball experience” through tournaments, software, merchandise, and other micro-transactions. They cite youth sports as a $40B market and note key buyers like LOVB and 3Step Sports, including distinctions between nonprofit vs LLC club structures and implications for selling. The group weighs potential benefits (resources, facilities, coach education, recruiting support) against concerns (loss of autonomy, schedule control, monopolization, impacts on USAV/JVA/AAU, tournament consolidation, “stay and play” costs), and predicts more change over the next decade with possible legislative scrutiny. Instagram - @tripleblockheads X - @tripleblockhead Threads - tripleblockheads Facebook - Triple Block Heads Youtube - @TripleBlockHeads

  3. 25 giu

    TBH Episode 39: Navigating June: Athlete's Dilemma and Decisions

    Send us Fan Mail The Triple Block Heads hosts joke about Frank shaving his head, then discuss how club volleyball athletes should navigate June’s overlapping options: club college showcases, on-campus prospect camps, and preparing for nationals. Prompted by a message from Dennis Rios, they argue that on-campus camps provide the most information for athletes facing June 15 recruiting decisions, while club showcases function like “trailers” best used earlier in the process to sample coaches’ styles. They advise choosing showcases based on location and which schools attend, being intentional, reflecting afterward, tracking preferences, and following up with emails. From a club perspective, they emphasize educating athletes, maintaining backup plans, adapting practice schedules, and supporting camp attendance rather than prioritizing practice over recruiting. They also note the physical toll of multiple camps and the need for rest, and say social media camp posts mainly provide neutral information. Instagram - @tripleblockheads X - @tripleblockhead Threads - tripleblockheads Facebook - Triple Block Heads Youtube - @TripleBlockHeads

  4. 23 apr

    TBH Episode 38: Volleyball Unplugged: High Performance Memories and Evolution

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Triple Block Heads volleyball podcast, Makani, Marc, and Frank discuss the USA Volleyball High Performance Tournament (later the All-Star Tournament) and how it evolved, emphasizing its unique features: regional pride, USA development camp ties, international teams, a combined boys/girls event, and international rules with limited subs and best-of-five formats. They describe how the event challenges coaches to rapidly evaluate players, build cohesive teams, and install systems in just a few practices, while offering major networking and learning through open information-sharing among coaches. From a player perspective, they highlight independence from dorm living, exposure to college coaches, distinct atmosphere, and lasting relationships. They compare the old USA-team format to the current regional-only model, note recruiting and timing conflicts, share memorable stories (Tucson, Tulsa, Fort Lauderdale water outage, Des Moines hosting), and close by crediting Iowa director Kurt Trout’s leadership. Instagram - @tripleblockheads X - @tripleblockhead Threads - tripleblockheads Facebook - Triple Block Heads Youtube - @TripleBlockHeads

  5. 9 apr

    TBH Episode 37: From Passion to Profession: Breaking into Coaching

    Send us Fan Mail In this Triple Block Heads volleyball podcast episode, the hosts discuss how to enter coaching, emphasizing that many start in club volleyball and should research local clubs, meet and “interview” club directors, and seek organizations with year-round opportunities (teams, camps, clinics, lessons, tournaments) to build coaching and administrative experience. They stress humility, learning through mentorship, observing different coaching styles, and the importance of relationships in shaping a coach’s trajectory, including for those without playing backgrounds who must earn trust through hard work. The conversation covers volunteering, working camps, officiating, clinics, and advocating for yourself to reach college coaching, noting Division I involves extensive non-volleyball responsibilities. They also highlight alternative volleyball careers (analytics, operations) and advise treating club coaching like a job interview by communicating goals, providing references, and asking questions—ultimately encouraging listeners to “shoot your shot.” Instagram - @tripleblockheads X - @tripleblockhead Threads - tripleblockheads Facebook - Triple Block Heads Youtube - @TripleBlockHeads

  6. 26 mar

    TBH Episode 36: Two Libero System: Strategy, Recruitment, and Challenges

    Send us Fan Mail In this Triple Block Heads volleyball podcast episode, Frank, Marc, and Makani discuss the two-libero system: its origins from the late-1990s libero rule, adoption in men’s NCAA (2012), later adoption in women’s NCAA, and newer rule changes allowing more flexibility between sets. They outline club and higher-level strategy uses, including splitting duties between serve-receive and defense specialists, using a libero jersey for a high-impact server to save substitutions, and using two liberos to give DS players reps while letting pins play six rotations. They note potential downsides such as disrupting rhythm, defensive cohesion, and second-ball setting consistency. From a recruiting perspective, they advise clear communication about role-sharing, emphasize that liberos are hard to evaluate live, and stress intangibles (“libero vibe,” movement, communication, effort) that keep coaches watching. Instagram - @tripleblockheads X - @tripleblockhead Threads - tripleblockheads Facebook - Triple Block Heads Youtube - @TripleBlockHeads

  7. 12 mar

    TBH Episode 35: The Role of Clubs in Athlete Injury Prevention

    Send us Fan Mail Makani, Marc, and Frank discuss how volleyball clubs can prevent injuries and support athletes through rehab, emphasizing that overuse injuries are rising due to longer seasons, more reps, and hard playing surfaces. They argue clubs should prioritize athlete wellbeing through practical prevention systems: consistent, progressive warmups that end with athletes sweating, and standardized cooldowns. They stress athlete responsibility (arrive early, focus during warmup, listen to early soreness) and the need for tournament-day plans to manage play/ref/off cycles, including shifting reffing tasks to coaches/parents so athletes can recover and prepare. Post-match priorities include hydration, electrolytes, protein, stretching, and switching to slides. They recommend simple shoulder prehab with resistance bands and inexpensive “rehab bags” (bands, lacrosse balls, foam rollers, massage guns), noting that accessible information makes lack of knowledge an unacceptable excuse. Instagram - @tripleblockheads X - @tripleblockhead Threads - tripleblockheads Facebook - Triple Block Heads Youtube - @TripleBlockHeads

  8. 26 feb

    TBH Episode 34: The Toughest Position... Middle Blocker

    Send us Fan Mail In this Triple Block Heads volleyball podcast episode, Makani, Frank, and Marc begin a role-specific series focused on training middle blockers offensively and defensively from youth through elite levels. They identify four foundational motor skills for young middles—reaction, balance, timing/rhythm, and motor/work ethic—emphasizing early development for taller athletes and injury prevention. Offensively, they stress the mindset of “how do I get set,” training tempo clarity (zero, first tempo), variety of attacks (including one-foot options), audibles using natural gaps, efficient transition footwork, early communication, tracking the ball, and compact arm preparation. Defensively, they frame middle defense around blocking with four components: read, react, power movement, and punch/press-and-hold, plus hand-angle mastery and vision training. They close with desired middle traits: motor, selflessness, IQ, and swagger, and discuss recognizing middle impact and using role models to keep the position appealing. Instagram - @tripleblockheads X - @tripleblockhead Threads - tripleblockheads Facebook - Triple Block Heads Youtube - @TripleBlockHeads

Elenco completo (30)

Descrizione

Welcome to Triple Block Heads; the podcast for all things volleyball. Each episode, the trio of Block Heads will discuss topics that will hit home for a variety of volleyball enthusiasts, from beginners to collegiate athletes and volley nerds in between. The Block Heads bring a combined 50 years of coaching experience ranging from club to the highest levels of Division 1. 

Informazioni

  • Creatore
    Triple Block Heads
  • Anni di attività
    2024 - 2026
  • Puntate
    30
  • Classificazione
    Contenuti adatti a tutti
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Triple Block Heads
  • Sito web del podcast
    Triple Block Heads

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