Learn how to teach the game to young athletes while keeping it fun.
Watch live or on demand!
Run tryouts, plan practice, teach the game, and make it FUN
Middle schoolers are an eclectic bunch – they’re excited, impressionable, insecure. Some have volleyball experience from a rec league or club, while others are just there because their friend wanted to try out. Coaching a group of them can be tough! Whether you have some prior volleyball experience or were “asked” to coach the volleyball team without any knowledge of the sport, this 1-day virtual clinic will give you the tools you need to plan your season and teach the game, all while keeping kids engaged and sparking their love for the game. And that’s what it’s all about, right? Here’s what you can expect:
A day with youth coaching experts
Discover the youth training secrets our coaches have discovered over their careers, like how to motivate players and keep it fun.
Teaching notes and drills in the clinic handbook
Take away a helpful handbook of notes and drills that will be discussed during to the clinic. Use it to jot down any ideas you pick up.
Your questions, answered
There are no stupid questions at this level! Live Q&As throughout the clinic allow you to ask about session topics or even about your team.
Bonus resources
Get exclusive access to bonus resources for getting up to speed prior to the clinic and improving mental performance in your players.
On-demand video access
The video from the entire clinic is available on the website immediately after the live event ends. You can watch it on demand for life!
Continuing education hours
Need CEUs? No problem. You’ll receive a downloadable certificate documenting your clinic hours that can be submitted for professional development credit.
Learn from youth coaches who have been there, seen that
These coaches are just like you. They’ve coached at your level. They’ve worked through the same player struggles and team issues as you. They’ve learned how to make volleyball fun for young athletes, and they want to share that knowledge with you. We’re confident you’ll leave this clinic with dozens of new ideas on how to approach the upcoming season!
Tod Mattox
The Bishop’s School,
COAST Volleyball Club Dir. of Coach Education
Tina Kinkead
COAST VBC 12s Head Coach,
La Jolla Country Day Head Coach
Deborah Newkirk, M.S. Ed.
COACH ‘EM UP Founder,
Lawrence High School Head Coach
Rodrigo Suelotto
Francis Parker MS Program Director,
NOVO VBC Director
The Virtual Clinic Schedule
Saturday, August 1
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM PDT
All times are listed in Pacific Time. Schedule is subject to change prior to the event.
9:00 AM
Welcome & Clinic Introduction
9:10 AM
Training enthusiasm & cultivating confidence (Deborah Newkirk)
9:40 AM
3 enthusiasm builders & 5 drills with built-in enthusiasm (Deborah Newkirk)
10:10 AM
Q&A
10:20 AM
Break
10:30 AM
Super beginner progression (Rodrigo Suelotto)
11:00 AM
Teaching the six skills (Rodrigo Suelotto)
11:30 AM
Break
11:40 AM
Drills for 40+ athletes (Rodrigo Suelotto)
12:10 PM
Q&A
12:25 PM
Lunch break
1:00 PM
Basic team defense skills & drills (Tina Kinkead)
1:30 PM
Drills to track your team’s progress (Tina Kinkead)
2:00 PM
Q&A
2:10 PM
Break
2:20 PM
Serving for beginners: Bridging underhand and overhand techniques (Tod Mattox)
2:50 PM
A simple, speedy plan for teaching the 4-2 system (Tod Mattox)
3:20 PM
Break
3:30 PM
Making it fast and fun: 5 games for every youth practice (Tod Mattox)
4:00 PM
Q&A
4:15 PM
Clinic wrap-up
Bonus Resources
Your education shouldn’t end after the clinic! Use these resources to continue growing as a coach all season long.
Pre-Clinic Primer
Start your education before the clinic even starts! Get up to speed on topics that every coach needs to know—basic rules, terms and how rotations work.
Tryout Packet
Hosting a tryout? You need this packet. Use the printable handouts to fairly assess players on their skills, plus track intangibles like attitude and work ethic.
Season Planning Videos
Watch as Deborah breaks down how to plan the different phases of your season over 1.5 hours of on- and off-court instruction.
15 Years of Clinics, by the Numbers
Since 2011, The Art of Coaching Volleyball has brought together coaches from every level of the game to learn, connect, and grow. Our clinics have become a trusted space for sharing ideas, sparking inspiration, and shaping better coaching for thousands of teams.
40+
Cities
150+
Presenting Coaches
3k+
Coaching Sessions
15k+
Attendees
Attendees of past AOC Middle School Clinics said:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t find your question answered here?
Contact us!
What does a virtual ticket include?
Here’s what’s included when you purchase a virtual ticket:
- Access to the live clinic stream
- The opportunity to ask the clinicians questions in the live Q&As after each session
- A printable handbook PDF full of drills and notes from the clinicians
- A certificate showing time spent at the clinic that can be submitted for continuing education hours
- On-demand access to the virtual clinic recording for life
- Additional bonus sessions available to watch on demand after the clinic
- Access to discounts on gear and tools from AOC and its partners
Will this clinic help me if I'm new to coaching?
Definitely! This clinic is a great way to kick off your coaching journey. You’ll walk away with dozens of useful ideas, drills and strategies you can implement with you team, along with a network of fellow coaches you can tap into in the future.
What about if I’ve been coaching for decades?
Fantastic! This is a great opportunity for you to both share your own knowledge and pick up some fresh ideas from your peers and the presenting coaches.
Will I have to stay at my computer the whole day?
Not if you don’t want to! You have the option to come and go as you please. You can choose the sessions that most interest you and take a break whenever you need, or participate from start to finish. You can even close your computer and exit the clinic, then rejoin at a later time. Whatever works best for you.
Will there be breaks?
Absolutely! There will be 10 minute breaks for bathroom trips, snacks and moving around worked in throughout the day, along with a longer break for lunch.
When will the clinicians address questions?
They’ll be answering questions live at the end of every session period. There will be a short period dedicated to questions with the presenting coach before moving on to the next session.
What if I can't watch all/any of the clinic live?
That’s okay! We know coaches have busy schedules and the clinic date might not be available for everyone. Immediately after the live clinic ends we’ll add all of the recorded sessions to the AOC website where you can watch them on demand. If you purchase a clinic ticket, we’ll send you an email as soon as they’re ready to watch.
What technology do I need in order to participate?
All you need is a device that can connect to Zoom (computer, tablet, etc.). You can join from your smartphone, but the screen might not be big enough to give you the best clinic experience.
Can I participate if I’m not in the U.S.?
Definitely! Coaches all over the world have different methods of coaching, and this is a great format to learn and share new ideas. If you want to watch and join in the discussion live, you just need to be able to be on your computer between 9am and 4pm Pacific Time on the day of the clinic.
Will Premium members get free access to the clinic recordings?
No, Premium members will not be able to access the footage from the clinic unless they’ve purchased access. By purchasing a clinic ticket, you get to watch the event live and also get access to watch it on demand for life. Premium members receive a 10% discount off all clinic options: in-person tickets, virtual tickets and on-demand clinics.
How do I watch the bonus sessions?
The bonus sessions will be available to watch online after the clinic ends. All of the videos to be posted to the website immediately after the clinic concludes, and we’ll send an email out to let you know as soon as they’re ready. They’ll be added directly into your account and you can access them by going to Clinic Video from your account dashboard.
Are there any discounts available for clinic tickets?
AOC Premium members receive a 10% discount on tickets. Just make sure you’re signed into your Premium account when purchasing. Early bird pricing is in effect until February 27, 2026. You’ll automatically save 10% on tickets until then!
Where can I find a receipt showing what I paid?
When you purchase a ticket, a receipt will be emailed to you stating the amount paid. You can also sign in to your account and go here to view all of your past store purchases. If you cannot access your receipt either of these ways, please reach out to volleyball@theartofcoaching.com for assistance.
What is the refund policy?
Virtual ticket refund policy: You can receive a full refund of your virtual ticket up until 24 hours before the day of the clinic. Refund requests after the 24 hour mark will not be granted. For example, if the clinic begins on April 4, you can request a refund up until the end of the day on April 2.
