Coach Your Brains Out, by Gold Medal Squared

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**Coach Your Brains Out, by Gold Medal Squared**

Coach Your Brains Out, by Gold Medal Squared has been releasing weekly podcasts going on five years now! Founded by professional beach volleyball players John Mayer and Billy Allen, the primary goal is practical, useful education that will help you become a better coach. Our podcasts are released every Thursday afternoon, so set your notifications accordingly!

Latest Episodes:

SMALL PROGRAM SUCCESS with Dan Friend Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

0:41 - Dan’s thoughts on being able to coach/work with his wife (having the opportunity to create crossover between coaching styles).
4:42 - Key factors to Dan’s success coaching a smaller program at Lewis University.
- 5:18 - Importance of recruiting coachable players with good work ethic.
- 7:16 - Lewis University’s volleyball popularity among the general students.
8:32 - Disadvantages of a small volleyball program and university.
- 8:38 - Less of a social life in comparison to larger universities + harder to find ways to stay engaged within the community.
- 9:49 - Younger alumni (younger program) who generally aren’t able to help fund the program yet.
10:33 - Importance of Dan’s team culture/philosophy (having fun, team mentality, being outside the box, and ownership and pride of the program).
- 10:47 - Having fun + developing team mentality: enjoying competing in practice and in games as well as team activities outside the gym.
- 12:49 - Maintaining team culture despite Covid limitations.
- 13:04 - Journal writing.
- 13:19 - Reading sports psychology and volleyball related books as a team (e.g. The Inner Game of Tennis).
15:16 - Making sure that players have self-discipline and put in the work to get better as a player and an individual.
16:17 - Importance of learning about the history of the Lewis University volleyball program (being proud of the program).
17:55 - How Dan makes sure and can tell that his players are invested in the team culture.
20:26 - How Dan’s team culture and philosophy is reflected in and improves the team’s performance.
22:34 - What is done in practice to help close the gap between potentially more “talented” teams.
24:56 - Dan’s recruiting process (particularly how he finds the right players for the program).
27:49 - How Dan frames the program’s success when talking with his players.

Get CYBO the book! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1098630904

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/coachyourbrainsout

ARM SWING with Vic Black Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

0:38 - What has changed in the last decade that has allowed pitchers to increase their pitching speeds (despite the factor of genetics).
2:12 - Active range of motion vs passive range of motion.
3:08 - At what point can athletes transition from focusing on developing healthy shoulders to focusing on increasing their speed?
5:03 - In terms of volleyball, what can be done to increase hitting speed?
- 5:34 - Using weighted arm sleeves to develop faster arm swings.
5:59 - Developing clean and efficient arm swings is a large factor in increasing speed.
8:02 - How Vic would structure exercises using weighted arm sleeves.
11:19 - In addition to developing healthier shoulders, will a lower load also help people hit harder and throw harder?
13:13 - Are there benefits of measuring players’ spike and serve speeds?
- 14:28 - Using measurable and visual results to increase motivation.
15:40 - What kind of coaching styles and methods have worked for Vic?
- 16:01 - Identifying anchor points
- 16:28 - Verbal and visual cues (in the form of analogies and metaphors)
- 17:20 - Time constraints
19:08 - How Vic discovered these coaching methods.
20:49 - How players have responded to Vic’s coaching + example of how Vic walks a player through practice.
23:41 - Vic’s new overhead sports practice facility in Amarillo, Texas.

SHOULDER HEALTH with Vic Black Sep 23, 2021

Show notes

0:46 - How Vic was introduced to and gained an appreciation for volleyball.
1:52 - When and why Vic made the transition from playing in the majors to coaching - using his own experience to help younger, developing players.
3:27 - Simple and inexpensive warm-ups and routines coaches can teach to players and implement within their own practice.
6:50 - More expensive and heavy-duty equipment to invest in for better shoulder health (e.g. crossover symmetry, motion capture equipment).
- Marc Pro device mentioned: https://marcpro.com/product-category/devices/
9:38 - What part of Vic’s previous coaching that he would try to do differently.
12:01 - Applying shoulder techniques in volleyball (preventing the full extension of arm above your head in a straight downward motion).
14:52 - Posture’s effects on shoulder health.
15:40 - Should you lower your elbow when extending your arm and shoulder?
17:11 - Developing correct arm swings in younger players who have to compensate for lower reach above the net.
19:25 - How to correct high elbow and extended shoulder motions that lead to weaker shoulders.
22:25 - Aqua bags, and utilization of them during practice.
24:43 - Using weighted balls during practice (weighted med balls, weighted baseballs, aquabags).
27:05 - Implementing practice methods that Vic uses in a volleyball context.
28:43 - Pre and post practice exercises and routines to maintain shoulder health.
- Pre-practice - Crossover symmetry and band exercises.
- Post-practice - Eccentric exercises.
29:39 - Repetition counts for pre and post practice exercises.
32:17 - Benefits of soft tissue massages (using lacrosse balls and foam rollers).

TRANSITIONS with Angie Akers Sep 16, 2021

Show notes

Show Notes (Angie Akers episode 2)

1:11 - Challenges Angie faced when transitioning to coaching April and Alix + dealing with the pressure of coaching an already successful team.
1:57 - Adjusting coaching to fit the circumstances within their team.
5:06 - Dealing with awkwardness and discomfort within teams to develop better relationships later.
7:58 - Transitioning from an Assistant Coach for the Dutch to a Head Coach with Team USA.
9:49 - Describing April and Alix’s excellence.
12:35 - Implementing “Dutch Directness” in practice and coaching.
15:14 - Will the US national team develop more cohesiveness between teams, modeling after other foreign teams.
16:40 - Tailoring coaching to the individual (particularly in the case with April and Alix).
17:45 - Dealing with differences in scouting judgement before games (e.g. wanting to serve different players.
18:10 - “Don’t get married to your plan” - being adaptive and flexible with strategies during games.
19:23 - Reflecting on the year - what Angie wants to work on as a coach.
21:19 - What Angie is “dominating” in: areas she believes she’s doing well in.
21:54 - Listener Questions
- 22:05 - The most difficult part of coaching the A-Team/April and Alix.
- 22:41 - April’s perspective on facing disappointment or undesired results.
- 24:10 - Angie’s favorite part of the Olympic experience

PREPARING FOR THE OLYMPICS with Angie Akers Sep 09, 2021

Show notes

1:11 - How Angie ended up coaching April and Alix and representing Team USA in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics.
4:15 - How Angie used a pre-mortem exercise to prepare for the Olympic Games, and avoid potential mishaps while accomplishing their goals.
4:56 - Covid 19’s limitations on relationship building and team building exercises during the Olympics.
6:43 - Facing and preparing for heat and humidity in Tokyo.
9:27 - Written form of a pre-mortem to manage anxiety and nerves.
10:53 - Role of past FIVB tournament results in preparation and practice, and identification of what was needed and when.
13:01 - Why they sat out of the Gstaad tournament.
15:30 - How the Olympic format and preparation helped them dominate their opponents during the Olympics.
17:03 - How Angie used film study to structure practice and prepare during downtime between games..
17:56 - Emulation of “playing” against opponents during practice and warmups.
19:20 - Would Angie have coached an underdog team differently than April and Alix?
20:16 - How Angie, April, and Alix approached every match.
21:18 - How John and Andrew would approach every match.
22:49 - Circumstantial warm up/preparation for different tournaments vs relatively consistent warm up/preparation (e.g. Cancun compared to a colder environment).
24:00 - Enjoying the Tokyo Olympic activities.
25:32 - Finding a routine during the Olympics, and filling up free time while staying mentally sharp.