The Cincinnati Enquirer high school sports team has brought back a popular feature, Coaches Confidential, to the 2026 slate of coverage.
The idea is for coaches to answer questions anonymously about their sport so readers can focus on the message instead of the messenger. While football coaches have been the primary focus in past features, we asked soccer and volleyball coaches to weigh in this year.
Coaches not on the mailing list who wish to answer questions may reach out to csouder@gannett.com.
This week's question for volleyball coaches: What is your coaching philosophy concerning playing time? What do you look for in a player when making your choices? What advice do you give families about approaching you with concerns?
Playing time starts in practice
- "Playing time is earned in the gym long before it's earned on game night. We look for players who are accountable, great teammates, bring positive energy, compete every day, and consistently do the little things right. Talent matters, but attitude, effort, and reliability matter just as much."
- "Playing time is earned in practice and throughout the season. We always look for a positive and hardworking individual that will hold herself and her teammates accountable to their programs goals they have set."
Best players will find the court ...
"At the varsity level,
I don’t keep a lot of girls on my bench. We typically have the smallest team in town (in numbers). We are playing to win every point of every game."
... but skill isn't the only determining factor
- "It is a great combination of skill, effort and success that is constantly changing throughout the preseason and parts of the season. I do believe that players who raise the bar for the team are the ones who should be on the court the most leading their team to success. The are constantly raising the bar with their attitude, their skill, their effort and their competitive drive. An athlete has to have more than just skill to have success on the court."
- "Playing time is never guaranteed, each athlete needs to earn their spot through hard work, grit, effort, communication and overall skill. From practice, to the locker room, bus rides, and everything in between. It all plays a factor on playing time. I am watching to see how they are able to see the court and make smart strategic decisions. Can they adjust to the opponent? Do they shut down after a mistake or use it as fuel to get the next one? Are they lifting up their teammates or pouting, are they coachable? Are they adaptable to a spot they maybe haven’t played in awhile or do they only give half effort?"
JV and Freshman teams are the place for development
"Playing time at the JV and freshman levels is different. I consider them player development and I make sure my coaches understand that. At the JV and freshman levels, player development is more important than their wins/losses."
Parents can keep players on the right track
"For families, my biggest advice is to make sure the message your athlete hears at home reinforces what we're teaching in the gym. In the car after practice or matches, encourage them to keep working, be a great teammate, and trust the process."
If parents have a problem with playing time, keep it respectful ...
- "If parents have concerns, I'm always willing to have a respectful conversation, but I want those conversations to be focused on growth and development rather than comparison or playing time alone."
- "If there are any concerns within the program, the player and/or family should go directly to the head coach after a reasonable amount of time considering all perspectives. However, they should trust that the coach is doing everything in their power for the betterment of everyone in the program."
... or keep it to themselves
"My advice to parents about approaching me to talk about playing time is DON’T."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Advice for volleyball families about playing time | Coaches confidential
