I'm Brian Croston, and if you want the short version, once the system clicks they stop thinking and just play. I coach 14-Scarlet at CVA, and my practices are built for exactly that age. We start with a lot of skill work that builds into small-sided game play, with high rep volume and a lot of contacts every session. Bad error, bad moment, everyone watching—I give the fix, not the replay. They already know they shanked it.
I grew up in Texas before the turn of the century, and boys volleyball didn't exist at any level. I enjoyed playing sand volleyball with my friends, and my introduction to the 6 v 6 court game came in my first year of teaching. I coached boys soccer and boys volleyball at Milford High School. I recruited one of my soccer players to be my middle blocker, and he became so enamored with the game that he is now the Loveland High School boys coach.
At this age everybody plays meaningful minutes. Development comes before results. I'd rather families hear this from me than guess—an athlete who only wants to work on the fun skills isn't going to get very far here. When the system clicks, the athletes stop thinking and start playing.
If the team gets one complaint, it's my coffee intake. I spend the rest of the week as a teacher. Email me any time and you'll hear back within a day.
Certified with a college degree, active teaching license, CPR/AED, background screened, and SafeSport trained. Please come and watch a practice. Watch how I organize a session and build from skill work to tactical functional training, then decide for yourself.
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