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Bump, Set, Mic...The Junior Club Volleyball Podcast by TNTAuthor: Chuck Dougherty
The Bump, Set, Mic podcast guides you through the world of junior club volleyball through the perspective of the TNT Volleyball Club located in the Philadelphia area. Join Club Director Chuck Dougherty and his cohost Brian Mooney as they interview coaches, parents and players to get behind the scenes insight into all things important in the world of club volleyball. Language: en-us Genres: Sports, Volleyball Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Ep49: A Place for Every Player — Growing Volleyball from the Ground Up
Episode 49
Monday, 26 October, 2026
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 9:30–11:30am, intermediate 12:00–2:00pm, and advanced 2:30–4:30pm Interested families can find registration information at TNT's In-House Program Registration page or by contacting questions@tntvb.com Chuck wraps up the episode by sharing news that he'll be speaking at the JVA Alliance Conference in Las Vegas in the spring about TNT's growth, branding, and club culture
