Session 1 Recap - June 1, 2026

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What a way to start the Summer!

I wanted to share how impressed I was with the athletes during our first session yesterday.

One of the keys to improvement is being open to instruction, and every athlete demonstrated that mindset. They listened, applied feedback, and made noticeable improvements throughout the session. That is something they should be proud of.

We began by discussing the importance of building positive habits. Success in volleyball starts before the first serve, and the same principle applies to school, work, and everyday life. We practiced a simple focus routine that athletes or anyone for that matter, can use before practices, games, tests, presentations, or any situation that requires concentration:

• Close your eyes

• Take a deep breath in to your limit

• Hold it for three seconds

• Slowly exhale

This technique helps relax the body, clear the mind, and improve focus. Throughout the summer, we will continue reinforcing this habit so it becomes second nature.

Leadership Development

We also discussed leadership and communication on the court. Great volleyball players do more than play their position, they help their teammates succeed. We worked on reading the court, identifying opponents' tendencies, communicating with teammates about positioning, and learning how to mentor one another. Throughout the session, athletes were encouraged to coach and support their peers, helping them develop confidence as future leaders.

Court IQ

Court IQ was another major focus. Volleyball is a game of quick decisions. Athletes learned the importance of recognizing where teammates and opponents are positioned, covering for one another, reading the court, and making smart decisions with the ball. We discussed using peripheral vision, understanding defensive responsibilities, and recognizing when to attack aggressively versus making a smart play to keep the rally alive.

Skills Development

The athletes worked on several fundamental volleyball skills, including:

• Serving mechanics and accuracy

• Footwork and agility movements

• Court movement and positioning

• Bump-Set-Hit progressions

• Hitting mechanics and wrist snap

• Setting fundamentals

• Defensive readiness and reaction time

A major emphasis was placed on proper footwork and positioning. We discussed the importance of moving underneath the ball, getting balanced before contact, and allowing good footwork to create better results. Athletes learned that strong mechanics create consistency.

During our hitting drills, we focused on:

• Getting underneath the ball before attacking

• Creating a high, controlled set that allows time to adjust

• Finishing with proper wrist snap to create a downward attack angle

• Adjusting to imperfect passes and making smart decisions when the ball is not perfectly set

One of the biggest lessons of the evening was that volleyball is often about adjustment. Not every pass or set will be perfect, and successful athletes learn how to move their feet, reposition themselves, and make the best possible play.

Evaluation and Growth

Throughout the session, I evaluated the athletes using drills and scrimmages while recording portions of practice for review. What stood out most was how much improvement occurred in a single evening. Skills that were challenging at the beginning of practice became much more natural by the end because the athletes were willing to listen, learn, and apply coaching.

At-Home Development

I encourage the athletes to spend just a few minutes each day reviewing the concepts we covered. Even five quality repetitions of a skill can help build muscle memory and confidence.

Simple at-home focus areas include:

• Serving mechanics and toss consistency

• Footwork and movement to the ball

• Bump-Set-Hit progressions

• Wrist snap on attacks

• The breathing and focus routine we practiced

I will be texting each family a slow-motion video of their athlete's serve for you and your athlete to review together. These videos will help highlight mechanics, footwork, ball contact, and follow-through so athletes can better understand what we are working on and continue improving between sessions. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to work with your athletes. I am excited to watch their growth throughout this program, not only as volleyball players, but also as confident leaders, teammates, and young adults.

Coach Josh

Royal Aces Youth Volleyball Skills Academy