Better Together
A United podcast centered around athlete development, coaching philosophies, the college recruitment process, and more! Hosted by Korohen Jones, Director of Player and Coach Development. Each week we showcase different athletes, alumni, and coaches that all help us become #bettertogether.
Adopting A Growth Mindset And Exploring Key Differences Between Indoor Vs. Beach Training With Heather Sodade: Part 1
In the first part of our conversation with United beach director Heather Sodade, we discuss key differences between training for beach volleyball vs. indoor, how playing beach improves an athlete's overall game. and we hear her perspective on necessary mental shifts that indoor players need to make when competing in beach volleyball. Join us back next week for Part 2!
Balancing Individual Skill Development With Team Cohesion And Fostering Positive Team Culture With Alison Nagel
This week we chat with United 11 Black coach Alison Nagel about the overlooked skill of emotional management, fostering a positive team culture, balancing individual skill development with team cohesion, and more.
Illuminating The Role Of Officials: Common Misconceptions, Misunderstandings, And How To Contribute To A Positive Playing Environment With Melissa Reis
This week we sit down with former United coach and current area official Melissa Reis and hear from the other side of the ref stand! We cover common misconceptions, frequent misunderstandings, how parents or spectators can contribute to a positive playing environment, and the process that referees go through to ensure consistency and fairness.
Our First Parent Round Table - THE DADCAST Part 2 - Supporting Player Development, Overcoming Motivational Slumps, And Mental Prep During Tournament Travel
Join us this week for Part 2 as we continue the conversation with our United dads! We discuss topics such as player development - how we can best support our athletes, guiding them through motivational slumps, creating opportunities for athletes to be in environments where others are striving for excellence, mental preparation during tournament travel, and more.
Our First Parent Round Table - THE DADCAST Part 1 - Advice For First Time Club Parents And Improving Communication
We’ve been so ready for this one! This week, we're dropping our first parent round table (shoutout to Scott Jones for coming to hang with us) and we sit down with some of our volleyball dads! We discuss everything from advice for new volleyball parents, club-wide communication, and more.
We are grateful for the opportunity and conversation. Big thanks to Andy, Lawrence, and Ethan for joining us. This one will be split into two episodes - join us next week to hear part two!
Navigating a D1 Athletic Program, Awareness Of Mindset, And The Importance Of Support With Jasmine Brooks
This week we welcome the new year and start off our season sitting down with United alum and D1 college athlete Jasmine Brooks. We chat about her recruitment experience, major differences in club ball vs. a D1 athletic program, maintaining awareness while taking care of your mindset, keeping realistic expectations for yourself, and the importance of support.
Conquering Self Doubt, Strategizing Around Pressure, And Playing All Out With Riley Lovell
This week we sat down with former United athlete and UAB commit Riley Lovell. We hear about how she has managed the challenges of recovering from shoulder surgery and her advice for pushing through the stresses that arise during recruitment - such as maintaining confidence, overcoming self doubt, doing your research, and keeping your options open.
Demystifying Common Attacking Errors With Korohen Jones
KJ goes solo this week and focuses on attacking, specifically common issues that hitters face. She discusses adjustments that can be made to fix these - such as the four step approach in relation to timing and why your ball may be taping the net.
Learning About Yourself As A Player, Finding Balance, And Improving Your Game With Taiki Peterson
We are back this week after a Thanksgiving break and sat down with United Boys 18 Black athlete and Indiana Tech commit Taiki Peterson. We hear about his recruitment process, his thoughts on what needs to happen to bring more growth and attention to boys volleyball, and the most rewarding part of his volleyball journey so far.
Maintaining Persistence During Recruitment, Leaving Behind Fragile Confidence, And The Impact Of Selflessness With Sophie Krichev
This week we sat down with United 18 National and UTA commit Sophie Krichev. Join us as we talk about her recruitment experience and hear a few tips she offers fellow athletes as they navigate that process. We also cover how self worth is not found in your performance, her proudest moment as a volleyball athlete, strategies for maintaining focus during a match, and more. You don't want to miss this one!
