Kaitlyn Anderson

Building a Standard of Excellence

My mission for Level Up Volleyball is simple, but powerful: help every athlete grow in confidence, character, and skill in an environment where they build lasting friendships, unforgettable memories, and a deep love for the game. I want our players to be excited to come to practice. Our gym should be a place where players are true to themselves, are comfortable in making mistakes, and enjoy what they're doing. We aim to help every athlete grow both on and off the court. This means I have to be more than just a coach or director; I have to be an advocate who listens, a mentor who guides, and a role model who sets the tone for my athletes. Every decision I make reflects the values I want this club to stand for. 

I learned this firsthand when I first stepped into coaching. I fell in love with the process, watching young athletes reach their dreams they didn't think were possible, watching girls find their confidence, and witnessing friendships form through their shared love for the sport. Even during my recovery from back surgery, coaching kept me connected to the sport I love. My players, teammates, and coaches all showed up for me. It reminded me that volleyball is about so much more than the wins and the losses; it's about the community we have built.

That is the environment I want Level Up to embody. It should be a place where athletes feel supported, challenged, and valued. A place where players learn to lead, communicate, persevere, and believe. In the end, we're not just shaping volleyball players, we're shaping people. If we do this right, our athletes will leave this program not only with strong fundamentals and competitive experience, but with character, confidence, and the courage to do great things long after their last game.  

If you’re a fellow coach or director, what does this role mean to you? What do you want the standard for your club to be How can we build environments that shape people and not just players? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

-Kaitlyn Anderson 

Confidence is Key

Confidence is one of the biggest game-changing traits that you can have. Many people think that you either have it or you don’t. While I agree that some people are born with more natural confidence than others, confidence is an acquired skill. As a club director, I have seen firsthand how confidence is built through encouragement, small wins, coach approval, and repetition. 

I have witnessed several kids completely change as players and people with a simple shift in mindset. When kids are around coaches and teammates who give them confidence, they begin to act with confidence. I had a player who went from barely getting the ball 5 feet in front of her on her serve to a consistent serve over the net in a couple of hours. It was never because she didn’t have the skill; it was because she didn’t believe that she could do it. 

So, how do we as coaches foster confidence in young players? First, you must realize that every athlete is unique. Players will develop at different rates, respond differently under pressure, and thrive under different coaching styles. Some build confidence through repetition, while others need to fail to learn, some need to be motivated through positive words, while others need tough coaching. This is easy to adjust when you are working with players individually, but it can be more difficult when you are dealing with a team full of different personalities. We as coaches must recognize these differences, adapt our approach, and create an environment where every athlete feels safe to take risks, believe in themselves, and grow. If players know that you believe in them, then they will start to believe in themselves, and their confidence will foster their success.

Coaches, what words/tactics do you use to foster confidence in young athletes?

-Kaitlyn Anderson 

Behind the Scenes of Level Up Volleyball

Level Up Volleyball is now a well-known volleyball training program located in Morgantown, West Virginia. It originated in the summer of 2023, with three high school volleyball players. The three of us were looking for a fun summer job that was possible while traveling an hour and a half three times a week for our own volleyball season. The idea we came up with was to train young players. It was supposed to be a fun, easy summer job, but it turned out to be so much more. Once we started training players, I found a true passion for coaching. We are now approaching our third year of business, have added travel teams, and have worked with over 100 athletes.  

More important than the success of the business are the lessons that it has taught me. Working with young athletes changed me as a person and a player, both mentally and physically. When you get to the point that I am at in volleyball, where I have been playing for nearly ten years, it is easy to feel burnt out and lose motivation. When coaching kids, you are reminded of the reason that you started. You see the passion and love they have for the game, and it makes you feel it in your own game too. I have had the privilege of watching kids reach their goals and see the joy on their faces when they finally achieve the thing they’re working towards. I’ve also watched kids get discouraged and lose their motivation. Then, I’ve watched them bounce back from that discouragement and, in the end, reach their goals. All of it motivates me to be the best version of myself as a player and a coach. I want to push myself to perform to the best of my abilities because I know I am a role model for the athletes I am coaching. I can’t walk into the gym and tell my kids that they need to have a positive attitude and give maximum effort if I am not doing the same.  

Being a coach has changed my life in many ways. To my fellow coaches, in what ways has coaching changed you?

-Kaitlyn Anderson