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Girls celebrating winUSA Volleyball Education is focused on improving developmental and educational opportunities across the sport of volleyball from grassroots to the national team level. Our goal is to provide the opportunity to access, complete and apply high-quality information and methods in the technical, tactical, physical and emotional aspects of the game for athletes and coaches while providing training, support and resources for other key stakeholders including officials, parents and clubs.


USA Volleyball Development Model

For years, the focus of volleyball in many areas and across various levels shifted to a mindset of winning at all costs.

What we now know is that the most successful teams in the world have developed a model of training and a culture that supports a holistic approach to athlete development which not only sets them up for competitive success on the court, but values and emphasizes the important of athlete health, well-being and long-term involvement in the sport.

The USA Volleyball Development Model was created based on the idea that volleyball in the U.S. could be taught differently, resulting in long-lasting positive outcomes across all measures of performance while keeping kids involved and loving the game longer.

USA Volleyball Development Model

Know Better, Do Better

The five pillars of the USA Volleyball Development model provide the basis for a holistic approach to the core elements that are vital to supporting development at every level and across age groups.

  • Craft: Mastering the skills and strategies of our game
  • Heart: Becoming your best self through connection, gratitude and emotional well-being
  • Mind: Training our minds to maximize performance
  • Body: Developing the physical capacity to train and compete at the highest level
  • Team: Building a culture of excellence that honors ourselves, our team, our game and our country

Role-Based Education

USA Volleyball Education is committed to providing support for the volleyball community with a role-based approach to education and training. Whether you’re planning practices, cheering from the stands or making the right call, we provide the tools and resources to help you succeed.

Coach Education

Athlete Education

Parent Education

Officials Education

Club Director Education

Drills for Sports Imports Volleyball Trainer+ and The Vertec

USA Volleyball partner Sports Imports has provided USA Volleyball coaches with drills for use with their Trainer+ and The Vertec.

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Sports Imports

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All Resources 127 Resources

January 9, 2015

Why Four Nets on a Rope

Recently, I spoke at the AVCA Convention to an overflow crowd, using a ribbon down the middle of the court (thanks to Sports Imports for the use of a box and standard to give me an anchor point). The title of the talk was Small Sided Games for Warm Up. I showed 1 v 0, 2 v 0. 1 v 1, 1 v 1 plus 1, and loser becomes the net games.

January 3, 2015

Five Views on Video Training

Athletes and coaches talk the importance of game film

September 22, 2014

Top 10 Reasons for a Club to do Sitting Volleyball Training

I am not an expert at the sport of sitting volleyball. The experts are Bill Hamiter, Mike Hulett and Elliot Blake, and the Paralympians who compete in it. However, I have spent over 20 years in growing the disabled game together.

June 2, 2014

Give the Boys a Chance

I simply would like to ask everyone reading this blog to share, as I am about to, their best practices, other sport successes and brainstorming thoughts on how to give boys 5-18 years old a chance to make volleyball their sport for a lifetime.

May 3, 2014

Leave a Ball Behind II

Over a decade ago, I created a program with USA Volleyball, our regions and our amazing clubs to donate just one of their used volleyballs at the end of their seasons, to give away to other programs around the world that are less fortunate.

Growing the Game blog

January 22, 2014

Change Your Words, Change Your Gym

I recently was at the NCAA Finals for Women’s D1 and four words jumped out at me that I have always found of importance, but which were being repeated in session after session. To hear others using these four words in genuine ways, makes me think we have turned a corner in volleyball.

December 12, 2013

Simplified Youth Rules

Ideas for youth play for 3-11 year old athletes, who should be playing in teams of two or four.

March 12, 2012

USA Volleyball Skills Contest

The YMCA of the USA updated this skills contest with USA Volleyball staff help for use during their volleyball centennial celebrations.

February 26, 2012

Jim Coleman Impact & Immediate Feedback Video System

On October 22, 2012, Jim Coleman would be turning 80 years old. His passing a over a decade ago, in August of 2001, meant heaven picked up one of the best volleyball minds in the world to ever walk into a gym. At our USA Volleyball offices, all our historical material is in a large library area

October 26, 2011

The Rare Find

I just finished one of those books that I feel all readers of this Growing the Game Together blog should also take the time to read. Then re-read. Long ago, then US Olympic team coach Terry Liskevych, told me of a study on talent, done with the National Football League general managers at that time. As I recall it now, they were asked what was the one thing an NFL team needed to win the Super Bowl. Since I work to teach socratically, I then ask coaches what they think the NFL GMs said. Answers such as “Communication…” and “Teamwork…” and many others pour in, but what over 25 of the 32 NFL GMs said was “Talent.”

December 9, 2010

Kessel’s Best Movies for Team Viewing

A personal list of movies, in no particular order, that might be great for team bonding and inspiration.

November 20, 2009

May We Please Leave a Court Up?

Over 20 years ago I was working with the University of Colorado program, working with several club teams to merge them into a single varsity program.

August 10, 2009

Paralympic Sports Clubs Military Sports Programs x

I traveled some this summer doing mostly weekend clinics around the USA primarily for coaches and PE teachers at the youth level.

July 20, 2009

Opportunity is Nowhere

This is one of my favorite "words" ever, and given the economic situation impacting us all, leads us into the reason for this grow the game set of options - for I see things as now here, never nowhere.

July 13, 2009

More Volleyball From Vanuatu

Espiritu Santo...Wrecks to Rainforest -- Vanuatu, Discover untouched seclusion and beauty...that is what Carte de Luganville - the map of this town says.

July 9, 2009

Beachroots Volleyball in Vanuatu

I have come back to where my grandfather, father and a guy named James Michener once travelled and worked.

July 1, 2009

Volleyball and Fly Fishing

I got a new Orvis Helios 3wt recently. Made from the same carbon fiber they use on the Apache helicopters, it is feather light at 1.75 ounces total, and strong as heck, for casting into the afternoon winds along my favorite little streams.

June 26, 2009

Father’s Day and Volleyball

My father was my role model in countless ways, and I have done my best raising my kids as a single dad to follow in his World War II veteran footsteps.

February 27, 2009

To Sit or Stand During Matches?

This week I got an email from a coach, who asked a great question - sit or stand during match play?

January 30, 2009

How We Make Decisions

Most of you reading my work over the years understand the importance I place on improving the most important skill in our sport – reading.

January 26, 2009

More Street Volleyball Please

Hanging out at this year's NCAA Volleyball Championships in chilly Omaha, Neb., one cannot help but be warmed by the wonderful hospitality of the Cornhusker Nation and Great Plains members. Wednesday night