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Coach Chijo Podcast

Coach Chijo

Real conversations about coaching, volleyball, mindset and leadership

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25 episodes
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Avg 33 min
English

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Tuesday · 53 min
What It Takes to Play Volleyball on the Navajo Nation | Ep. 25
Three hours of driving. One way. Just to attend volleyball practice. That's the reality for some young volleyball players on the Navajo Nation. Coach Chijo visits Kayenta, Arizona, to sit down with Andrea Ashkie, director of Velocity Volleyball Club, to learn what it takes to create volleyball opportunities in a community where distance, expenses, and limited facilities present enormous challenges. Andrea shares how she went from playing volleyball on the reservation to competing at the collegiate level before returning to her community to coach and build a club program. With coaches volunteering much of their time, families traveling hours for tournaments, and gym space difficult to secure, keeping volleyball accessible requires extraordinary commitment. Coach Chijo and Andrea also discuss the personal sacrifices of coaching, balancing volleyball with family, and the importance of giving back. It's a conversation about community, opportunity, and why volleyball is so much more than winning games. Guest: Andrea Ashkie, Director of Velocity Volleyball Club Learn more: https://www.velocityazvolleyball.org/ Follow Coach Chijo for more volleyball stories and conversations. #Volleyball #CoachChijo #NavajoNation #VolleyballPodcast #YouthVolleyball #JustGo
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October 27 · 33 min
What Can Chickens Teach Volleyball Players? | Ep. 24
What can chickens teach volleyball players? Apparently, quite a bit! Coach Chijo visits longtime friend and fellow coach Hollen in rural Idaho, where a conversation surrounded by chickens turns into a lesson about hesitation, hustle, and the importance of simply going for the ball. After unexpectedly running a 6 AM middle school volleyball practice, Chijo and Hollen discuss how to get young players moving, why coaches should sometimes talk less, and how game-like training can make practices more effective and enjoyable. They also explore the balance between teaching technique and letting athletes play, why serving under pressure matters, and why keeping beginners excited about volleyball should be a top priority. A fun, practical conversation about coaching, learning, and helping young athletes fall in love with the game. Just Go!
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October 20 · 46 min
Why Aren't More Boys Playing Volleyball? | Ep. 23
Why aren't more boys playing volleyball? Coach Chijo sits down with Jake Wu, a high school senior and boys' volleyball setter from Boulder, Colorado, to explore why boys' volleyball hasn't grown as quickly as girls' volleyball and what might help change that. They discuss the shortage of youth teams, the differences between the boys' and girls' games, serving strategies, the mental challenges of competition, and why some players don't discover volleyball until high school. Jake also shares his perspective on what makes a great coach, how he handles competition and trash talk, and why volleyball is a sport he wants to play for the rest of his life. Plus, some encouraging advice for younger boys who are nervous about trying out for their high school team. A candid conversation about growing the game, coaching, competition, and the love of volleyball. Just GO!
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October 13 · 37 min
No Roads. Just Planes. High School Volleyball in Alaska | Ep. 22
What if you had to board a plane every time your high school volleyball team traveled to an away game? That's everyday life for volleyball players in Juneau, Alaska! Coach Chijo takes the podcast onto a boat in beautiful Southeast Alaska for a conversation with Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears head coach Arnold Ibias and players Bree Powers and Nellie Stowers. With only two teams in their conference and no roads connecting Juneau to other cities, traveling to compete is a major undertaking. The team flies across Alaska, sometimes stays overnight in school classrooms, and relies on community fundraising to support a volleyball budget of $65,000–$80,000. The players share what it's like traveling almost every weekend, adjusting to life in Alaska, and building friendships through their unique experiences. You'll also hear about the differences between volleyball in Hawaii and Alaska, the challenges of Alaska's long winters, what makes an athlete coachable, and Coach Chijo's approach to choosing team captains. It's a conversation about volleyball, community, dedication, and the extraordinary experiences that come with playing sports in Juneau. Just GO!
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October 6 · 36 min
Wait… Snow Volleyball Is a Real Thing? | Coach Betül Çetin | Ep. 21
Wait… snow volleyball is actually a real thing? Coach Chijo sits down with Coach Betül Çetin, an accomplished indoor, beach, and snow volleyball athlete from Türkiye who has competed internationally and now brings that experience to coaching. Coach Betül won bronze representing Türkiye at the 2012 U16 World Championship in indoor volleyball. In beach volleyball, she became the first female athlete from Türkiye to compete at the Youth Olympic Games when she represented her country at the 2014 Nanjing Games, finishing ninth. She has also won more than 20 Turkish Championship titles, earned silver and bronze medals at the Balkan Championships, and finished fourth at the 2015 European Beach Volleyball Championship. And yes — she plays snow volleyball too. Coach Betül won the 2023 CEV European Snow Volleyball Tour and was runner-up on the tour in 2017. In this episode, she explains what it's actually like to play volleyball on snow — from cleats and gloves to three-player teams and snowstorms. The conversation also explores her journey from player to coach and back to player, what coaching taught her about the game, the challenges of playing-time decisions, good mistakes versus bad mistakes, and why she's returning to Türkiye to pursue professional volleyball again. Coach Betül has coached athletes in Canada and the USA, focusing on athlete development, technical training, and performance improvement. And there's a great connection at the end: Coach Betül shares how Coach Chijo's videos helped her when she began coaching in Canada — before the two unexpectedly met in Las Vegas. It's a conversation about competing, coaching, learning, and following your passion for volleyball. Just GO!
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September 29 · 6 min
You Have to Get Out of the Gym | Alaska Glacier Polar Plunge | Ep. 20
Sometimes you have to get out of the gym. After running five volleyball clinics in three days in Alaska, Coach Chijo heads into the Alaskan wilderness for a completely different kind of adventure. The trip includes hours in four-wheel-drive side-by-sides, glacier melt rivers, incredible scenery, and eventually a glacier. Then comes the big question: Is Coach Chijo actually going to jump into the freezing glacier water? This episode is a reminder for volleyball players and coaches to occasionally step away from the gym, get outside, experience something new, and make some memories. And sometimes that means taking the polar plunge. Just GO!
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September 22 · 19 min
Why High School Volleyball Is Different in Texas | Libby Pacheco | Ep. 19
Why is high school volleyball different in Texas? Coach Chijo sits down with Libby Pacheco from the Texas High School Coaches Association while attending the association's massive coaching convention in Houston. Libby explains why Texas takes high school athletics so seriously and how having coaches working on campus changes the relationship between coaches and athletes. They dive into Texas volleyball culture, why the level of competition is so high, the relationship between high school and club volleyball, and whether athletes really need to play club to be successful. They also discuss multi-sport athletes, school size, facilities and resources, competitive parents, professional development for coaches, and the bigger role high school sports can play in an athlete's life. It's an inside look at a high school sports culture that surprised Coach Chijo and gave him a few major aha moments. Just GO!
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September 15 · 32 min
How to Reduce Team Drama | Coach Blase | Ep. 18
How do you reduce drama on a volleyball team? This is Part 2 of my conversation with Coach Blase. In Part 1, The Playing Time Problem, we talked about fairness, equality, winning, development, and why playing time creates so much conflict between coaches, players, and parents. I ended that episode by asking Coach Blase what advice he would give young coaches struggling to handle playing-time issues. This episode begins with his answer. And that answer leads us into a much bigger discussion about how coaches can proactively reduce drama on their teams. Coach Blase believes better-informed parents and players can mean less drama. He explains why he regularly educates parents about what's happening in practice, questions the idea of closed practices, and argues that parents should be viewed as part of the team's support system rather than the enemy. Then he shares an idea that even surprised me: having parents become cleared and participate in practices as assistant coaches. We also discuss why coaches need to remain open to change, even after decades of experience, and why being vulnerable enough to receive feedback can make you a better coach. Coach Blase shares how he had a parent track his interactions with every athlete during practice. What he discovered was eye-opening: some players received no attention at all, while others heard almost nothing but corrections. That leads to another important lesson: You have to be the coach for all of your players. Ultimately, reducing drama requires transparency, communication, education, vulnerability, and a willingness to do things differently. It's not my team. It's our team. Keep learning. Keep growing. And remember, let's play volleyball because it's fun. Just GO!
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September 8 · 37 min
The Playing Time Problem | Coach Blase | Ep. 17
Playing time. Few topics create more tension between coaches, players, and parents. In this episode, Coach Blase and I tackle one of the most difficult questions in youth volleyball: What does fair playing time actually mean? Coach Blase shares the story of a parent who used a stopwatch to compare her daughter's time on the court with another player's and even counted how many times each athlete touched the ball. That leads us into a much bigger conversation about equal vs. fair, winning vs. development, and how much control coaches actually have over an athlete's opportunities during a match. I also share one of my own experiences coaching 12U. I gave a middle blocker an opportunity to stay in and play back row. The player enjoyed the opportunity, but her parents had a very different reaction. We discuss why coaches sometimes play developing athletes even when it could hurt the team's chances of winning, why some positions naturally get more touches, and whether changes like unlimited substitutions would actually solve the playing time problem. This is Part 1 of my conversation with Coach Blase. Next week, we'll finish the playing time discussion and talk about how coaches can reduce drama on their teams. Keep learning. Keep growing. And remember, let's play volleyball because it's fun. Just GO!
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September 1 · 30 min
He Played for Iran, Now He’s Training His Daughter to Play in Italy | Coach Mehdi | Ep. 16
Coach Mehdi played volleyball for 25 years in Iran, including years in the Iranian national-team system. Now he's coaching in the United States and passing everything he learned on to the next generation, including his own daughter, Asal. In this episode of the Coach Chijo Podcast, Mehdi takes us inside the life of an elite volleyball player. He talks about training three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon, living in national-team camps, playing professionally, traveling internationally, and spending long stretches away from his family. Asal joins the conversation and gives us the player's perspective on having a former national-team player as her dad and coach. She's a 14-year-old outside hitter with a big goal: someday playing professionally in Italy. She talks about training with her dad outside of regular team practices, being a leader on her team, staying positive after mistakes, and how much work she's willing to put in to chase her dream. We also get into volleyball culture in Iran, Mehdi's career as a 6'7" left-handed opposite, playing against Japan, professional volleyball around the world, and his philosophy about setting big goals. Mehdi knows firsthand that reaching the top takes an enormous amount of work. Now he's trying to teach that lesson to his own kids. Watch the Coach Chijo Podcast on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.
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August 25 · 14 min
How a First-Year High School Coach Changed the Culture | Coach Humble | Ep. 15
What can an experienced coach learn from someone in their first year coaching high school volleyball? Quite a lot. Coach Chijo met Coach Cameron Humble at the Texas High School Coaches Association Convention in Houston. After learning that she had just completed her first season as the head volleyball coach at Orangefield High School, he wanted to know how she approached the job. Coach Humble shares how she worked to change the culture of her program by giving players ownership, expecting upperclassmen to lead, creating competition in the gym, challenging her team against bigger schools, and building an environment where players support one another. The results included an outright district championship, but this conversation goes well beyond wins and losses. Coach Humble also talks about getting comfortable being uncomfortable, continually learning as a coach, developing confidence in the weight room, and the coaches who helped shape her philosophy. After 33 years of coaching, Coach Chijo finds himself hearing lessons he wishes he'd understood in his own first year. A conversation about culture, growth, leadership, and never thinking you know it all.
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August 18 · 5 min
Stella Asks: What Should I Know Before High School Volleyball? | Coach Vicky & Riley | Ep. 14
Stella is heading into her freshman year and has a lot of questions about what high school volleyball is really going to be like. So she asks Coach Vicky and Riley. How do you handle walking into a gym with older players? How confident should a freshman be? What should you do at tryouts? What happens if you don't make the team you wanted? And how do you show coaches that you're coachable? Coach Vicky and Riley give Stella advice from their own experiences, including why communication matters, how to respond to coaching, why you should work with different players at tryouts, and how to earn your spot without being intimidated by juniors and seniors. They also give Stella three things to remember when she walks into her first high school tryout: show up early, communicate and keep moving, and be coachable. It's a conversation for Stella, but it's advice every player heading into high school volleyball can use. The Coach Chijo Podcast features real conversations about volleyball, coaching, growth, and the journey behind it all.
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August 11 · 56 min
What Volleyball Is Really Like in China | Coach Bai Yun | Ep. 13
What is volleyball really like in China? In this episode of the Coach Chijo Podcast, I sit down with Coach Bai Yun, a former Chinese National Team player and founder of the largest volleyball club in Beijing. With more than 3,000 athletes, 18 coaches, and 12 training locations, she shares what it's really like to develop volleyball players in China. We compare the differences between volleyball in China and the United States, discuss coaching philosophies, player development, discipline, training schedules, and why she hopes her daughter will someday play NCAA Division I volleyball. Whether you're a player, parent, or coach, you'll hear a perspective that most people outside China rarely get to experience. In this episode we discuss: • Life as a Chinese National Team player • Building Beijing's largest volleyball club • Why Chinese athletes train differently • School volleyball vs. club volleyball in China • The biggest differences between volleyball in China and the United States • Discipline, coaching, and developing elite athletes • Why Coach Bai Yun wants her daughter to play NCAA Division I volleyball Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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August 4 · 38 min
Isabella Asks Coach Chijo the Questions Every Volleyball Player Wants Answered | Part 2 | Ep. 12
What happens when Super Helper Isabella keeps asking the questions every volleyball player wishes they could ask their coach? In Part 2, Isabella dives even deeper into the coaching decisions that players think about every tournament. Coach Chijo explains exactly how he determines playing time, why attitude matters just as much as skill, and how players can earn opportunities long before match day. They also discuss handling pressure, creative coaching strategies, adapting during matches, and why practicing every situation makes better volleyball players. If you haven't listened to Part 1, start there first, then come back for the rest of the conversation. In this episode: How Coach Chijo really decides playing time The "playing points" philosophy Why every player should learn every position Creative strategies that surprise opponents Why coaches should practice unusual situations A simple way to deal with stress before and during matches How communication builds better players and teams Isabella's toughest questions... and Coach Chijo's honest answers Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
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July 28 · 39 min
Isabella Asks Coach Chijo the Questions Every Volleyball Player Wants Answered | Part 1 | Ep. 11
Super Helper Isabella turns the tables and interviews Coach Chijo with the questions volleyball players have always wanted answered. From tryout tips and tournament warm-ups to choosing captains and understanding why coaches make substitutions, Coach Chijo shares honest insights from more than 30 years of coaching. This is Part 1 of a special two-part interview series. What do coaches really look for during tryouts? Why do coaches substitute players? How are team captains actually chosen? In this special episode, Isabella turns the tables and interviews Coach Chijo with the questions every volleyball player has always wanted answered. Coach Chijo shares honest coaching insights, practical tryout advice, tournament warm-up routines, leadership lessons, and explains the thought process behind coaching decisions that players don't always get to hear. In this episode you'll learn: • What coaches notice first at tryouts • Simple ways to stand out without being the best athlete • Mistakes that can hurt your tryout • Tournament warm-up routines that prepare you to compete • How Coach Chijo selects team captains • Why coaches substitute players during matches • How confidence and attitude influence coaching decisions This is Part 1 of a two-part interview with Isabella. Part 2 releases next Tuesday. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just GO!
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July 21 · 30 min
My Last 24 Hours with John Kessel Changed Everything | Ep. 10
What happens when you spend an entire day learning from one of volleyball's greatest minds? In this solo episode, I share the biggest coaching and teaching lessons I learned after spending 24 hours with legendary volleyball educator John Kessel. Some of these ideas challenged almost everything I've believed about coaching, private lessons, drills, and player development. I found myself questioning many of the methods I've used for years. We dive into why so many players are practicing for practice instead of practicing for performance, why reading is the most important skill in volleyball, and how small changes can completely transform the way athletes learn. Whether you're a coach, player, or parent, this episode will change the way you think about volleyball training. In this episode we discuss: Why "practice for performance" changes everything The biggest problem with traditional hitting lines Why reading is volleyball's most important skill Why pass-set-hit teaches every position better Are private lessons actually helping? How to make every drill more game-like False confidence in training Coaching the person, not just the player Three words every coach should stop using The lessons I'll immediately be changing in my own coaching If this episode makes you rethink your own coaching, share it with another coach who loves learning.
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July 14 · 24 min
Why Volleyball Festival Feels Like Family | Bryan Kelly | Ep. 9
Why Volleyball Festival Feels Like Family | Bryan Kelly What makes Volleyball Festival so much more than just another volleyball tournament? Coach Chijo sits down with Bryan Kelly, President of Volleyball Festival, during Volleyball Festival in Phoenix to learn why thousands of players and families return year after year. Bryan shares the story behind the tournament's family culture, the traditions that have been passed down for more than four decades, and why creating lifelong memories matters just as much as winning matches. From personalized player touches and the famous Player Party to gift exchanges and the legacy of Volleyball Festival founders Dave and Bernice Epperson, Bryan explains what makes Festival unlike any other tournament. Super Helper Isabella also joins the conversation to ask questions from a player's perspective about what she sees that makes Volleyball Festival so special. Whether you're a player, coach, or parent, this episode is a reminder that volleyball is about much more than wins and losses. In this episode: • Why Volleyball Festival feels like family • The traditions that make Festival unique • Creating lifelong memories through volleyball • Why every player deserves to feel special • The importance of sportsmanship and community • Coach Chijo's free clinics at Volleyball Festival • Super Helper, Isabella's perspective as a player Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
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July 7 · 18 min
What Parents Wish Coaches Knew About Coaching Volleyball | Dina Snook - Ep. 8
What do parents really want from coaches? In this episode of the Coach Chijo Podcast, Coach Chijo sits down with Dina Snook, former volleyball player, volleyball parent, and Coach Chijo Operations Manager, to discuss the coach-parent-player relationship from a perspective many coaches rarely hear. Dina shares her experiences raising athletes through years of club and college volleyball, what parents notice from the sidelines, and how coaches can build stronger relationships with both players and families. Topics include: Why positive coaching matters Helping athletes recover from mistakes The difference between correction and criticism Why players shouldn't compete in fear Understanding different athlete personalities How parents and coaches can work together Why communication builds trust Open practices vs. closed practices When athletes want to quit and how parents should respond Creating a better experience for players and families Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this conversation offers valuable insight into building healthier team environments and helping players reach their potential.
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June 30 · 36 min
Who Gets to Play? Diversity, Access & the Future of Volleyball | Coach Johnitta Clemons - Ep. 7
Who gets the opportunity to play volleyball? In this episode of the Coach Chijo Podcast, Coach Chijo sits down with Coach Johnitta Clemons, Director of Volleyball at Game Day Sports Academy (GSA) in Bakersfield, California, for a powerful conversation about diversity, accessibility, and the future of volleyball. Coach Clemons shares how GSA has built one of the most diverse volleyball communities in California and discusses the barriers many families face when trying to access club volleyball. From fundraising and transportation challenges to creating opportunities through programs like Starlings Volleyball, this conversation explores what it takes to make the sport available to more athletes. The episode also takes a deeply personal turn as Coach Chijo shares his experience growing up in Japan, struggling to fit in, and how volleyball became the outlet that ultimately changed his life. This conversation goes beyond volleyball. It's about opportunity, belonging, mentorship, resilience, and the impact coaches can have on young people. In This Episode • Coach Johnitta Clemons' volleyball journey • Building a diverse volleyball community • The cost of club volleyball and access challenges • How fundraising can help athletes participate • The mission of Starlings Volleyball • Transportation and socioeconomic barriers in youth sports • Why representation matters • Coach Chijo's personal story growing up in Japan • How volleyball can change and even save lives • Coaching with purpose and heart Mentioned in This Episode • Game Day Sports Academy (GSA) • Saving Destiny Youth Foundation • Starlings Volleyball
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June 23 · 1 hr 2 min
More Than Volleyball: Coaching on Navajo Nation | Coach Kristen - Ep. 6
In this episode of the Coach Chijo Podcast, Coach Chijo sits down with Coach Kristen, Director of Tuba City Volleyball, Head Coach at Tuba City High School, physical therapist, wife, mother, and community leader on Navajo Nation. Coach Kristen shares her journey from helping Tuba City High School win its first-ever Arizona state championship in 2012 to now leading the next generation of athletes in her community. The conversation explores the realities of growing up and playing sports on the reservation, the challenges of limited resources and long travel distances, and why athletics can be life-changing for young people. They also discuss coaching philosophy, mentorship, communication, building confidence, and how great coaches help athletes succeed both on and off the court. This is a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, service, and the impact one coach can have on a community. Topics Discussed • Growing up on Navajo Nation • Winning Tuba City's first state championship in 2012 • The evolution of club volleyball in northern Arizona • Long travel distances for practices and competitions • Why sports are so important in reservation communities • Finding confidence and learning to communicate • The coaches who helped shape Coach Kristen's life • Building a volleyball program from the ground up • Coaching beyond wins and losses • Teaching life skills through sports • The need for more facilities and opportunities for athletes • Giving back to the community that raised you
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