Beyond the Court: A LOVB Podcast

A Lifetime of Volleyball: Kathy DeBoer, Sarah Pavan and more

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

A Coaching Discussion with Jason Watson and Tom Black

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.

Building Trust with Jason Watson

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.

The Antidote to Fear with Tom Black

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.

Celebrating the Successes of Others with Don Bartel

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.