Ep49: A Place for Every Player — Growing Volleyball from the Ground Up

Every young athlete should have a chance to play volleyball—even if they're new to the sport, balancing other activities, or still developing after a tryout. In the Season 3 kickoff of Bump, Set, Mic, Brian and Chuck welcome back Jacki Curci, TNT's boys' program director, to talk about the club's efforts to grow the game, including the in-house program and its goal of making volleyball more accessible.

The conversation looks at how the program welcomes beginners, helps experienced players sharpen their skills, and gives athletes a supportive place to keep playing. From building confidence and making friends to potentially working toward a future club team or other personal goal in volleyball, the focus is on development, good coaching, and helping kids enjoy the game.

Segment 1 – TNT's Mission and the In-House Program (0:00 – 17:41)

• Brian and Chuck kick off Season 3, recap the recent 12U–14U tryouts, and welcome Jacki Curci back to the podcast to discuss volleyball opportunities for boys and girls
• Chuck reflects on TNT's growth from two nets and 30 beginners in 2013 to more than 50 teams and two facilities
• Why TNT's mission extends beyond competitive teams: kids who want to play should have a place to learn and develop
• How the in-house program grew from a response to high demand, limited team spots, multi-sport schedules, and a shortage of other playing opportunities
• Why introducing kids to volleyball early can help grow the sport—and give them an alternative to starting with sports like soccer
• How the program uses age and skill groupings, multiple courts, and experienced coaches to give players room to progress

Segment 2 – Helping Beginners Learn and Feel at Home (18:08 – 39:33)

• What beginners in the program can expect, how no volleyball experience is required, and grouping of sessions to help players learn at a comfortable level
• Why coaches emphasize fundamentals, movement, passing, serving, and plenty of repetitions before expecting beginners to play full games
• How partner activities, junior coaches, music, and team encouragement help new or shy players feel welcome
• What progress can look like beyond serving over the net, including moving toward the ball, communicating, and becoming more confident
• How coaches balance fun with skill development, and why success often means a player is eager to come back
• Guidance for families considering the beginner group, including how age, experience, confidence, and ability to handle the ball can help determine placement
• Advice for nervous parents: meet the coaches, then give kids space to participate and build independence

Segment 3 – Developing Experienced Players and Finding the Right Fit (39:56 – 1:00:59)

• How the intermediate and advanced sessions serve players with prior experience who want more development outside of a competitive club team
• Why coaches may ask players to build toward a friend's court or session rather than move up before they're ready—and how players can move between levels within the program
• What to consider after a tryout outcome not resulting in a club team offer: keep developing through in-house, or explore another club that offers the right coaching, playing opportunities, and team environment
• How sessions challenge experienced players through more variable drills, three-touch play, serving targets, reading the game, and decision-making under pressure
• What coaches look for in player growth: consistency, effort, decision-making, coachability, and willingness to go after the ball
• How in-house can act as a developmental pathway to competitive teams, while also being valuable for players whose goal is simply to improve and keep playing
• Program details shared in the episode: sessions run on Saturdays November 7 through January 23—beginners 9:30