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

Nov 25

Team parents are the quiet leaders on every junior volleyball team that work closely with coaches and the club to make the season better for players, families, and everyone involved. In Episode 36 of the TNT Junior Volleyball Club podcast, hosts Brian Mooney and Chuck Dougherty discuss the crucial role of team parents in club volleyball. They emphasize the importance of team parents in fostering a positive team culture, managing logistics, and maintaining open communication. Key responsibilities include organizing team events, coordinating travel, and ensuring team cohesion. The hosts highlight the need for team parents to balance their roles as parents and team supporters, avoiding favoritism and maintaining a supportive environment. They also share examples of effective team parenting and stress the value of team parents in enhancing the overall team experience. Segment 1: Understanding the Parent Role (0:00 - 27:57) The first segment introduces the critical, often underappreciated, role of the team parent in youth volleyball clubs. Brian and Chuck discuss how the team parent serves as the glue holding together coaches, players, and other parents. They share insights from various perspectives—parent, coach, and club director—highlighting how team parents ease burdens on coaches by taking over logistics, communication, and coordination. The conversation stresses the importance of choosing the right kind of volunteer—someone organized, positive, able to set aside personal agenda, and committed to enhancing the experience for everyone involved. Some real-life anecdotes help illustrate how a good team parent positively impacts team culture, logistics, and morale. Segment 2: Building Strong Team Culture (29:06 - 44:50) The episode continues with a focus on the team parent's influence on team and club culture, especially in welcoming new families, integrating parents, and fostering camaraderie. The hosts discuss strategies such as organizing group hotel stays, meal coordination, parent chat groups, and encouraging parent cheers during tournaments. Practical tips are given to ensure all families feel included—from simple things like name tags to parent cheers and creating a supportive sideline environment. The crucial role of the team parent in diffusing issues, modeling positive sportsmanship, promoting group bonding activities (like preseason cookouts or team-themed parties), and demonstrating emotional composure during competitions is emphasized. Segment 3: Working Effectively with Coaches and Club Leadership (45:30 - 62:34) The final segment details how effective team parents support both coaches and club leadership while respecting healthy boundaries. The team parent is positioned as a communication conduit—not someone seeking influence over coaching decisions but as a liaison sharing important both ways while helping to filter out drama or non-issues. The hosts offer examples where good team parents clarify misunderstandings (such as scheduling or travel mishaps) with transparency and help manage player/parent expectations—especially around sensitive topics like playing time. They stress that being team-focused—rather than advocating only for one's own child—is vital, as is maintaining confidentiality and prioritizing the collective experience for kids and families.

Nov 19

Wondering what college volleyball life is like for a Division 1 athlete? This episode of Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Podcast Presents the College Experience Series continues with a focus on the player perspective featuring players from Marist University in New York. In this second episode of the series, Bump, Set, Mic co-hosts Chuck Dougherty and Brian Mooney sat down again with TNT Director of Operations Leon Kasperski to share and reflect upon his recent interview with Marist University players Claire Lewis (a 5th Year Senior Setter and Team Captain), Claudia Kasperski (a Junior Libero/DS), and Gabriella Flamish (a Sophomore Right Side). Leon spoke with them about their experiences at Marist both on and off the court, from the Spring and Summer programs, the volleyball season itself, and what college life is like in general for them as Division 1 athletes. The players shared many thoughtful insights in their discussion with Leon that are benefitical for families and players interested in playing at the next level to hear. They talk about topics such as their intense schedules, travelling as a smaller D1 school to play powerhouse schools, their academic life at Marist and how they try to maintain proper balance as a student-athlete, some of the challenges they've faced in their collegiate careers, and the absolute importance of cultivating a positive team culture. Segment 1: The Marist Volleyball Season & Competition Level (0:00 - 22:23) In this segment, Leon and his guests discuss the intense Marist season schedule which includes coming back in early August for two-and-a-half weeks of all-volleyball, all-the-time before school starts, one that includes 2-3 practices per day during preseason. Also talked about are specific travel experiences to major programs across the country, powerhouse schools like USC, Tennessee, and Michigan State. Reasons why Marist deliberately schedules strong competition early in the season and how the team maintains a postiitve mentality when facing much larger, better-funded programs are also part of the discussion. Segment 2: Academic Life at Marist & Student-Athlete Balance (22:44 - 42:31) In segment 2, listeners hear the players talk about their actual majors - from education to economics to accounting - and explain how Marist supports their academic goals. They also go into more detaail about their schedule and how a recent change at Marist from Saturday-Sunday games to Friday-Saturday has impacted their social lives. Also coming up in the chat is how study abroad opportunities are supported for athletes at Marist which is not always the case in other places. Segment 3: Team Culture, Challenges, and Growth at Marist (42:53 - 87:40) In the final segment, the players share an abundance of valuable information. As part of the talk, they are very honest about some of the toughest parts of their experience. Claire, for example, shares her emotional journey through two major injuries, the mental challenges of missing her senior season, and her eventual decision to return for a 5th year. Other topics relevant to players at all levels that are presented and elaborated on are how to deal with playing time challenges, learning to support teammates even when not getting the court time one desires, and the importance of honest, open communication between players and coaches. Finally, the players vouch for the vital role that development of team culture plays, not only in how it impacts their on-court performance but also their overall experience in general.

Nov 8

Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Podcast, is thrilled to present the first episode of our new College Experience Series. So much is often discussed about how players should go about trying to get recruited, but what is life like for college players, coaches, and others involved in the college game once that occurs? The College Experience Series will have you covered with all you need to know about life in the college volleyball world from those that live in it. In this first episode of the series, Bump, Set, Mic co-hosts Chuck Dougherty and Brian Mooney sat down with TNT Director of Operations Leon Kasperski to discuss and share his recent interview with Temple University Women's Head Coach Linda Hampton-Keith and Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator Olivia Vance. For the purpose of this episode, Leon's conversation with the coaches was broken down into 3 segments. In each, the guys preview the content to be shared in the clip that follows, then afterwards briefly discuss their reactions to the information presented before moving on to the next segment. Segment 1: Meet the Temple Coaching Staff (0:00 - 20:00) In this segment, Leon and his guests discuss what makes Temple's volleyball program unique and how they're navigating the major changes in college athletics, specifically the new NCAA settlement that's transforming how programs operate. You'll learn about each of the coaches and their individual roles, coaching philosophies, and how Temple is adapting from the traditional 12-scholarship model to managing 18 roster spots. This segment provides valuable insight into the leadership style and vision driving Temple's program. Segment 2: Temple's Recruiting Philosophy (20:43 - 49:19) In segment 2, listeners hear exactly what Temple's coaches are looking for in potential recruits and how they want to be contacted. You'll hear Coaches Hampton-Keith and Vance break down their recruiting timeline, what catches their attention in recruit emails and highlight videos, and how they evaluate players at tournaments. They also share their communication preferences, including their guidelines about staying in touch every three weeks, and they also explain how they use and value recruiting platforms such as University Athlete profiles. Segment 3: The Temple Experience and Finding Your Fit (50:06 - 78:39) In the final segment, Temple's coaches share what it's really like to be part of their program and what makes the Temple experience special. They touch on their prospect camps, what recruits should know about life in Philadelphia, and their philosophy on developing players both athletically and personally. They also discuss their approach to finding the right fit - not just athletically, but culturally and academically as well. With 8 freshmen currently on their roster, they also touch on the importance of establishing and building team culture and what new players can expect when they join the Temple volleyball family.

Oct 24

We've got a fun one for you this time on TNT Bump. Set. Mic.! 🎙️ We're kicking things off with a recap of our 12U–14U tryouts—lots of energy, tons of talent, and a few process improvements to make this our smoothest tryout ever! If you ever wondered how we manage 250 girls in a single tryout, we give you peek under the covers. At TNT, we are always striving for improvement, so we develped our own home grown tryout app that made this year's process smoother, faster, and even more awesome. Chuck, Brian and Leon will give you a peek into how technology is being used at TNT to make the tryout process even better this time around. To top it off, we're giving you a sneak peek at our brand-new College Experience Series hosted by Leon Kasperski—real stories from college coaches and players about what it takes to play at the next level. There are plenty of resources out there to talk about how to get recruited, but nobody tells you what it is actually like once you are playing college volleyball at D1, D2, D3 and NAIA levels. Leon interviews college players and coaches at all levels to hear what they are looking for in a college athlete, and what they expect from their players. Buckle up—it's going to be a fun, fast-paced episode you won't want to miss! 🏐🔥 Segment 1 - TNT 12U-14U Tryout recap - 0:33s Segment 2 - TNT tryout app - how TNT uses technology to help evaluate players and form teams. 27:00m Segment 3 - Introduction to the College Experience Series hosted by Leon Kasperski - 47:30m

Sep 19

In Episode 32 of Bump. Set. Mic., Chuck and Brian dive into the heart of TNT Volleyball: our core values. From the early days of the club to today, these values have shaped who we are, how we play, and the community we build. We'll explore why our values matter, how they've evolved over the years, and the role they play in guiding every decision—from coaching and player development to building a culture of serious fun, family, and excellence. Whether you're a player, parent, or coach, this conversation will give you a deeper look at what makes TNT more than just a club—it's a community fueled by passion, fun, and a commitment to growth on and off the court. Segment 1: (0:00 - 28:12) Introduction and the need for Core Values Value 1: Passion for the Game Value 2: Serious. Fun. Value 3: Player Development Segment 2: (28:38 - 63:12) Value 4: Quality Coaching Value 5: Community & Family Value 6: Achievement & Excellence Value 7: Accessibility for all Segment 3: (63:42 - 75:32) Upcoming programs Intro to new program: The College Volleyball Student Athlete Experience

Aug 14

An exciting first for the podcast comes your way in episode 31! Chuck and Brian are joined by TNT boys' program directors Jacki Curci and Bob Minschwaner to discuss the history and growth of boys volleyball, and how they have been producing successful boys teams since 2010! They discuss relevant topics such as the challenges of building a competitive schedule, how to get recruited by colleges as well as the differences between coaching boys and girls. Chuck and Brian learn all about the underground market of Nationals jersey exchanges, and how that is a major factor when designing boys uniforms! Segment 1 begins with some history about Jacki and Bob's backgrounds in volleyball, how the boys' program at TNT came to be. Also discussed are the boys' directors perspectives on some of the major differences between coaching boys and girls, as well as the differences in the way the game is played. Segment 2 highlights the goals and mission of the TNT boys' program, especially with regard to developing well-rounded athletes both on and off the court. This mission is similar to the mission of the TNT girls programs. They discuss the growth of the boys' game and the impact Covid had on boys' volleyball. Jacki and Bob then share their thoughts about where the boys' program is headed as well as ideas on how to bring the girls' and boys' programs closer together. Jacki and Bob explain how they balance running the boys' program while also coaching National teams. The segment ends with some talk of the very popular "jersey exchange" that goes on at boys' AAU Nationals. Segment 3 discusses challenges in building competitive boys schedules in the Northeast along with steps being taken by the program directors to assist players with college recruiting. They share some success stories of TNT boys receiving quality college offers to play volleyball at the next level. The segment concludes with Jacki and Bob sharing their expectations for the coming season for the TNT boys' teams. Segment 1: How the TNT Boys' Program Came to Be (0:00 - 22:23) The Volleyball Paths Taken by Our Boys' Program Directors How the Boys' Program Became a Reality at TNT The Current Size of the Boys' Program Staffing the Boys' Teams with Quality Coaches Differences Between the Boys' and Girls' Games Segment 2: Tournament Options and Decision-Making Factors (22:53 - 40:50) Approaching a Player's On and Off-Court Development Balancing Skill Development with Character Building The Impact Covid Had on the Boys' Game Plans for Growing the Boys' Program Here at TNT The Club's Vision for Bringing the Two Programs Closer Together Balancing Running the Boys' Program While Also Coaching Club Teams The Boys' AAU Nationals Jersey Trade Segment 3: Scheduling and College Recruiting (41:16- 62:24) Choosing Tournaments for the Boys' Teams to Attend USAV vs. AAU Events and How Things Have Changed Over the Years Supporting Players Who Want to Play at the Next Level Differences in Opportunities in College for Boys and Girls Advice for Parents and Players Navigating Through the Recrutiting Process The Importance of a Strong Academic Record When Players Seek Offers Some Recruting Success Stories for TNT Boys Outlook for the Boys Teams for the Upcoming Season Upcomng Offerings for the Boys at TNT Outside of the Club Season Wrap-Up

Jul 31

Did you ever wonder how clubs create tournament schedules for teams? If you have ever found yourself scratching your head or irritated about anything related to your schedule, you don't want to miss this episode. In Episode 30, Season 3, Chuck and Brian talk to the schedule maker extraordinaire, a.k.a The Unicorn, a.k.a Leon Kasperski to discuss all of the things that need to be considered when creating the tournament schedule for a team. The panel discusses important factors such as travel costs, availability, picking the right level, and college coach exposure among other things, and how they all factor into building the perfect schedule. We also welcome to BSM our FIRST podcast sponsor - Udis and Tokasz Orthodontics, located in Spring House, PA! Say Ahhh! Segment 1 focuses on planning, process, and goals when engaging in development of tournament schedules for a season. Leon shares info about when the process begins in advance of a reason, the process of registering teams for tournaments, and challenges resulting from registration that often occurs even before teams are formed. Chuck expands on TNT's approach to "responsible scheduling" and how that may differ from some other clubs. The discussion then moves towards the presence of college coaches at tournaments and how to go about that as a club, especially when wanting to put players in front of coaches they could potentially play for at the next level. Segment 2 delivers insights into the decision-making process with regard to creating individual team scheedules at each age group and level of competition. Leon presents a scaled approach as the players get older to increase their exposure, vary the experiences to some degree, and maintain appropriate levels of competition to ensure positive experiences for the teams. Chuck discusses some of the history of scheduling at TNT, how the club has evolved over the years, and balancing team and club needs with a desire to avoid unnecessary expense to families. Leon shares the reality of why teams from the same club can still sometimes end up playing each other in a tournament despite a club's best efforts. The importance of communicating realistic expectation to parents in advance of tournaments is also discussed, and Chuck and Leon present a positive view of the tournaments that provide medals for winners at various levels of competition. Segment 3 discusses how feedback from coaches and families can be an important part of the scheduling process. Some examples regarding tournament experiences received by the club from coaches are shared. Leon presents insights as to reasons why tournaments can be appealing to a club, including venue, location, attractions in the local area, and level of competition. An important point is also brought up regarding how a club really only learns about a tournament by sending teams there, especially for new events. Parent feedback about tournament destinations received from TNT parents at the end of last season is also presented. A few sucessful examples of TNT players being seen by college coaches at tournaments are mentioned, with Leon and Chuck sharing the reality of how players get noticed at tournaments, especially the importantance of a club having coaches on staff with connections to college coaches as part of that process. The group then shares some final thoughts about scheduling before wrapping up the episode. Segment 1: Scheduling for a Club Season (0:00 - 18:40) When the Process Begins in Advance of a Season The Tournament Registration Process: Insights and Concerns Issues to Consider When Building a Season Schedule Thinking About The Different Levels of Teams a Club Offers TNT's Approach to "Responsbile Scheduling" College Coaches at Club Tournaments, the Impact of Blackout / Quiet Periods, and Putting Players in Front of Coaches They Could Play for at the Next Level Additional Concerns With Regard to Tournaments at a Distance Segment 2: Tournament Options and Decision-Making Factors (19:10 - 43:22) A Scaled Approach to Selecting Different Events for the Various Age Groups and Levels Defining a "Better Schedule" --- Providing What is Needed vs. a Schedule with Unnecessary Expenses Finding Appropriate Competition and the Reality of What Can Occur When Teams Attend High-Level Tournaments How and Why Teams from the Same Club Can Sometimes Play Each Other in Tournaments Despite a Club's Best Efforts Communicating Realistic Expectations to Parents in Advance of Tournaments The Benefit of Tournaments that Provide Medals to Winners at Different Levels of Competition Segment 3: Considering Feedback from Coaches and Parents When Building Schedules (43:52 - 61:43) Examples of Tournament Feedback Received from Coaches Reasons for Choosing Tournament Venues: What a Club Looks for Live and Learn: Trying to Gauge the Level of Competition Especially with Regard to New Tournaments Discussion of and Reflection Upon Tournament Feedback Received from TNT Parents More Insights Regarding Cost Considerations Related to Tournaments The Truth about How College Coaches Recruit at Tournaments, How Players Really Get Noticed, and Some TNT Success Stories Final Thoughts About Scheduling Wrap-Up

Jul 15

In Episode 29, Season 2 of the podcast continues with another episode from "The Owner's Box." (aka Chuck's Kitchen Table) Segment 1 begins with a discussion of what TNT is doing to prepare for the upcoming tryouts. Chuck and Brian discuss open gyms, TNT's commitment to honoring the tryout and USAV rules by NOT extending early offers, and the rumor of "Secret Tryouts". Chuck adds his personal feelings about the changing landscape of club volleyball and tryouts, and how TNT has had to make changes in recent years, while holding firm the the TNT Mission that all decisions should focus on "what is best for the girls". Segment 2 addresses some changes being made to TNT's approach to Nationals' teams for the 2025-2026 season, and some of the difficulties encountered in 2025. Brian ends the segment by asking Chuck his thoughts on why players sometimes want to move from one club to another at the start of a new season. Segment 3 focuses on why TNT is a good choice for families, and the road TNT has taken to expand into a club that has something to offer for all levels of players. Segment 1: Preparing for Tryouts and Addressing Some Misconceptions (0:00 - 18:35) What TNT is Doing to Get Ready for Tryouts and a Rundown of the Tryout Schedule How Can Players and Their Families Survive the Stress of Tryouts and Some Prior Episodes to Listen to in that Regard Addressing Some Misconceptions and Reflecting on the Concerns Raised Why TNT Moved to Summer Tryouts Similar to Other Clubs Segment 2: Changes to TNT's Approach to National Teams for 25-26 (19:10 - 32:25) TNT's Prior Approach to Nationals and Difficulties Experienced Last Season Designating Committed Nationals Teams at the Start and Forming Additional Teams Later for Other Players Who are Interested Discussing USAV vs. AAU Nationals Differences From a Club Perspective Reasons for Player Movement that Occurs from Season to Season Segment 3: Why Choose TNT (33:03 - 53:49) Emphasis on Player Development The TNT Experience How Our Facilities Allow Us to Offer More to Families Coaching Philosophy Providing Various Levels of Competiton for a Wide Range of Players Supporing Those Interested in Playing in College A Detailed Approach to Fair Pricing Where Flexibility Exists for Multi-Sport Athletes at the Club Additional Benefits Offered by the Club Episode Wrap-Up