Beyond the Court: A LOVB Podcast

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In this episode of Beyond the Court, hosted by Olympic medalist Courtney Thompson, we’re joined by Brian Keefe, Head Coach of the Washington Wizards. Brian shares insights from the highest levels of professional sports on what it takes to develop athletes and build sustainable success. From designing training environments to building habits that last, this conversation explores the mindset behind elite performance and strong team culture. In this episode: ➡️Player development and designing training environments that support long-term growth ➡️The importance of consistency, habits, and resilience in all levels of sport ➡️Building team culture and finding people who genuinely love the game, love their craft, and want to get better every day while helping their team do the same ➡️The responsibility of being a great teammate and consistently showing up for the people around you ➡️Brian’s perspective as a volleyball dad (his daughter plays at Tstreet Volleyball Club) and what he’s learned about the sport ➡️His hopes for youth coaching across sports in the U.S. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or fan of the game, this conversation offers lessons that go far beyond the court.

Season 2, Episode 4 of the Beyond the Court podcast with host Courtney Thompson brings in big volleyball names to chat about volleyball over time, the hopes for youth volleyball moving forward, and navigating parenthood as a former athlete turned coach. In this episode: ➡️Troy Tanner (Former Olympian & Tstreet Club Director) speaks on what youth athletes overlook in training, a little history on men’s Olympic volleyball, and parenting in the NIL era ➡️Erik Sullivan’s (Head Coach of USAV Women’s Volleyball & LOVB Austin) thoughts on being the first men’s national team libero, navigating being a coach and a parent, and hopes for the state of junior volleyball ➡️Mike (NFL Veteran) and Lindsay Rosenthal (LOVB Foundation) talk about being a volleyball parent as a former elite athlete and on how the LOVB Foundation is impacting junior volleyball and youth lives 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations like this →Follow LOVB for more content!!!← IG: @lovb @lovbclubs @lovbcoaches TT: @lovb @lovbclubs One League. For Youth. For Pro. For Life. 🏐 Join us as we build the LOVB community as we grow the sport of volleyball. #LOVB #LOVBYouth #LOVBClubs #LOVBCoaches

Beyond the Court podcast host Courtney Thompson chats with some of the top leaders, coaches, and influencers in volleyball. In this episode: ➡️Janis Tupelos (Global Health Institute ER Advisor & LOVB Foundation Advisor) shares where the club volleyball model is excelling and could improve ➡️Kaitlyn Gao (LOVB Founder) talks on the growth juniors gain from club volleyball on and off the court ➡️Kevin Barry (Owner of California Surf Club & Volleyball Dad) on how to support juniors through winning and losing moments as a parent ➡️Jeremy Roueche (DJ for AVP, NCAA Championships, and LA Lakers) on managing the highs and lows of the season and how to DROP IN! 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations like this →Follow LOVB for more content!!!← IG: @lovb @lovbclubs @lovbcoaches TT: @lovb @lovbclubs One League. For Youth. For Pro. For Life. 🏐 Join us as we build the LOVB community as we grow the sport of volleyball. #LOVB #LOVBYouth #LOVBClubs #LOVBCoaches

In this episode of Beyond the Court, Courtney Thompson sits down with Malia and Peter Hirschman, Paula Weishoff, and Kate and Kenny Hairrell to explore the deeper impact of volleyball: from leadership and belonging to resilience and family support. In this episode: ➡️ Malia (LOVB Foundation President) and Peter Hirschman (LOVB Founder) share their vision for LOVB, diving into what it means to foster belonging, emotional awareness, personal identity, and a broader definition of success in the sport. ➡️ Paula Weishoff (LOVB Houston Assistant Coach) talks about getting through tough times mentally and physically. ➡️ Kate and Kenny Hairrell (Volleyball Parents from SC Rockstar) discuss how to best support their kids as they move into more high-intensity levels of the game, and the lessons they hope their children carry with them beyond club volleyball. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations like this →Follow LOVB for more content!!!← IG: @lovb @lovbclubs @lovbcoaches TT: @lovb @lovbclubs One League. For Youth. For Pro. For Life. 🏐 Join us as we build the LOVB community as we grow the sport of volleyball. #LOVB #LOVBYouth #LOVBClubs #LOVBCoaches

Season 2 of Beyond the Court kicks off with the LOVB Foundation guests, Kathy DeBoer, Sarah Pavan and Adam Schulze, and Melissa Boice. Hosted by Olympic medalist Courtney Thompson season 2 is going to deep into the heart of the youth volleyball community. 🏐✨ In this episode: ➡️ Kathy DeBoer (former AVCA Executive Director & current LOVB Foundation Chair) shares honest insights on the state of club volleyball and powerful lessons for athletes, families, and coaches. ➡️ Sarah Pavan (Olympian & new mom) and Adam Schulze (podcast host & new dad) reflect on how volleyball prepares you for life, partnership, and parenting. ➡️ Melissa Boice (Director at SC Rockstar) breaks down what makes a good club coach and better club parent. Whether you’re a player, parent, coach, or lifelong fan, this conversation goes far beyond wins and losses it’s about building people, community, and purpose through the game. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations like this →Follow LOVB for more content!!!← IG: @lovb @lovbclubs @lovbcoaches TT: @lovb @lovbclubs One League. For Youth. For Pro. For Life. 🏐 Join us as we build the LOVB community as we grow the sport of volleyball. #LOVB #LOVBYouth #LOVBClubs #LOVBCoaches

Both former guests individually, Jason Watson and Tom Black return to Beyond the Court and discuss their coaching philosophies with each other and host Courtney Thompson. Despite coaching in the same conference, Jason and Tom are quite friendly with one another and frequently talk through their teams with one another. Among the topics discussed are structuring an offense, serving approach, timeout strategy, using video to provide feedback and more.

As someone who’s held head coaching positions at three very different institutions, Jason Watson is very familiar with building new cultures. He’s coached and found success at BYU, Arizona State and now Arkansas, where he led the Razorbacks to the Regional finals of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Jason works very intentionally to shift culture and establish trust with his athletes by being transparent with feelings and expectations – both his players’ and his own – encouraging feedback and adapting strategies to it, and becoming more unstructured in communications with his players. His goal is for his athletes to know him as other people in his life. 

Whether on the volleyball court or in life, fear is often the biggest limiter to success, not lack of ability. Fear can prevent wholehearted engagement and commitment; it is a limiter to what people can achieve. Tom Black knows that, and he makes it a point to address those fears head-on with athletes. Whether through conversation, drill or writing activity, he strives to teach his athletes to acknowledge the fear and proceed anyway. Tom’s teachings have impacted athletes at the international level and collegiate level, as position coach or head coach. Everyone can learn to embrace fear and venture into it anyway. Take it from Tom’s former disciple, Courtney Thompson. 

Coach and leadership teacher Don Bartel knows that internal work is key to external success. Outcome-aware but purpose- and process-driven, he has focused on building skills and actions in athletes from middle school all the way to college. Regardless of location, he weaves the lessons he wishes to teach into an athlete’s daily activities and stresses the importance of giving athletes ownership over their situation. Don also recognizes the outsized effect a coach’s mood can have on their team. After a stern talking-to from Courtney’s dad of all people, he learned to allow athletes to celebrate wins and enjoy their successes. He can even celebrate those successes now; not as his own, but as those of people he cares about. In a wide-ranging interview, Mr. Bartel, as Courtney knows him – he coached Courtney and fellow podcast guest Trevor Thompson when they were younger – discusses all this and more in the latest episode of Beyond the Court.