Ep 23 In-Season Strength Training and Nutrition with Emily Neff

03/06/25 • 61 min

Bump, Set, Mic...The TNT Volleyball Podcast

Ever wonder if you should try to squeeze in Strength and Conditioning Training during the Season? We have the science and data to answer that question! Ever wonder how your athlete should be eating at a tournament to keep fresh all day long? Listen to what we learned!

In Episode 23, Chuck and Brian welcome back Emily Neff from Relentless Athletics to share her findings from her research on In-Season strength training. The results will surprise you! Suffice to say, you are probably doing it wrong!

In Segment 1 Emily explains why it is important for young athletes to find time for strength and conditioning training during the season. She dispells the old-school training methods that many were raised on such as "Suck it Up", "Play Multiple Sports", and "If you want to jump higher, jump more".

In Segment 2, Emily dives into her research project results and shares her shocking findings on how to improve your vertical, and what happens to players that out-prioritize strength training in favor of more volleyball training. Learn how to focus on things that will make your athlete better, stronger, and more equipped for the season.

In Segment 3, Emily explains what an effective strenth and conditioning program looks like. She shares her thoughts on how athletes should eat during tournaments, and how parents can tell when they are eating the wrong things.

The Episode ends with Chuck describing all of the exciting offerings from TNT planned for the Summer of 2026.

Segment 1 - 0m 45s

Segment 2 - 22m 51s

Segment 3 - 38m 20s

TNT Summer Update - 55m 10s

The Episode ends with Chuck describing all of the exciting offerings from TNT planned for the Summer of 2026.

Segment 1 - 0m 45s

Segment 2 - 22m 51s

Segment 3 - 38m 20s

TNT Summer Update - 55m 10s

Previous Episode

Ep 22 College Recruiting with Eli Porr and Leon Kasperski

In Episode 22, Chuck and Brian talk to Volleyball Lifer and College Coach Eli Porr and Volleyball Dad and TNT Club Director Leon Kasperski as they discuss their thoughts on the College Recruiting process.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering playing college volleyball or simply trying to decide if college volleyball is right for them.

In Segment 1, we discuss what college coaches are actually looking for when scouting volleyball players. The answers may surprise you! What are the attributes and skills coaches prioritize in recruits? What makes a player stand out? How do you create a recruiting video? What is more inportant to a coach, Performance or Potential? When should you start the recruiting process? And is it possible to get recruited when you play on a subpar team with non-college minded players?

In Segment 2, we discuss the role that parents play in the recruiting process. What can parents do to help their athlete get recruited, and IMPORTANTLY, what do they sometimes do that helps ensure that their athlete does NOT get recruited? Do college coaches care about high school and club statistics? How important are the measurables such as height, vertical, and jump touch? This segment answers all of thsoe questions.

In Segment 3 we talk about the Club's role in the recruiting process while trying to avoid getting sucked into the world of NIL and the dreaded Transfer Portal! We also educate athletes on the college visit process and answer the question regardng the importance of College Showcase events. Finally, we end the segment explaining the role the club can play when scheduling events to make sure athletes are noticed by colleges they are most likely to attend and talk about future plans for discussion of recruting with some of our players.

-----------------

Segment 1: What Colleges are Looking for From Players and Families

1:15 Intro of our guests, Eli Porr and Leon Kasperski

3:20 Episode Goals

4:00 The numbers of players who continue playing in college and the level of competition for available positions

7:50 What the attributes / skills are that coaches look for in players

13:25 Evaluating actual performance vs. potential and the differences at each level

14:55 Playing D1 vs. D2 or D3 --- making the best decision for yourself

18:01 The role of film in recruiting and what to send to coaches

23:35 What to focus on when a coach visits your match and you're having an "off-day" such as sound technique

Segment 2: The Role of Parents in the Process and Performance Metrics Valued by Coaches

29:50 The appropriate role for a parent to take in recruiting

36:15 The role of parents in club vs. a high school or college program

38:10 The importance of player recommendations coaches receive, espeically from coaches they know

41:00 The value of going to camps and clinics at the schools in which a player has interest

42:14 Recruiting services --- are they worth it?

45:30 The stats / performance metrics that coaches look for the most

49:36 Training activities to engage in to maximize your potential

51:45 Chuck's soapbox - fix the summer tryouts!

52:19 When should players serious about playing at the next level get started on the recruiting process?

Segment 3: The Role of the Club and Coaches in the Process and the Changing Landscape of College Sports

57:25 What role do club and high school coaches ideally play in the recruiting process?

60:00 The recruiting visit process and how to maximize the benefits of official and non-official visits

66:00 The NIL and how it is changing college sports

72:00 Opinions on college showcase events

75:04 The club's role in the recruiting process here at TNT

79:40 Guest contact information for questions and more information about the college recruiting process

82:45 Plans for future podcast discussion of recruiting and wrap-up

Next Episode

Ep 24 NIL for High School Athletes with Courtney Altemus

If you thought Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) just applied to D1 College athletes (like we did!), boy were you wrong! Courtney Altemus from Advance NIL joins Chuck and Brian to set the record straight.

In Episode 24 of Bump. Set. Mic, we dive deep into the world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, focusing on how it's changing things in the college world and also impacting high school athletes, too. NIL has been a game-changer in the sports world, allowing athletes to profit from their personal brand, but what does this mean for high school students navigating this new landscape?

In Segment 1, we break down the basics of NIL, Courtney talks about her experiences advising athletes at various levels, and the history of history how things evolved to this point with regard to NIL. In addition, we explore the opportunities and challenges it presents as Courtney offers expert insights on how high school athletes can start preparing to leverage their personal brand effectively and responsibly.

In Segment 2, we discuss the importance of branding and Courtney shares tips on how to build a successful personal brand. She also shares her expertise on how to apply safeguards to avoid being taken advantage of and/or falling into legal trouble and who should be involved in that process to help athletes along the way.

In Segment 3 we discuss the future of NIL and how shifts in the ever-changing landscape could impact high school athletes moving forward. Courtney also addresses some practical considerations and points listeners in the right direction for sources of additional information about the process.

No matter the sport, whether you're an athlete thinking about the future, a parent, or a coach, this episode provides crucial information to help you understand the evolving NIL landscape and its potential impact on high school sports.

Key Topics: