top of page
Mockingbirds_Logo_Hi.png

Coach Matt's

Private Lessons

A 1 hour lesson with Coach Matt 

During club season, Coach Matt has lesson availability on Fridays, Sunday mornings, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:30pm. All lessons are held at Order on the Court. Reach out to him to book one of the lesson slots below:

Availability

Sunday, March 9, 2025

3:00 PM

Sunday, March 9, 2025

4:00 PM

What are Private Lessons?

At its core, private training offers an environment where a coach can fine-tune the simplest mechanics with an almost meditative level of attention. For newcomers, this might mean breaking down foundational movements into their smallest pieces—foot placement on the pass, hand shape when setting, the angle of approach on the attack—so that each skill becomes ingrained as reliable muscle memory. Over time, these “small” adjustments accumulate into a player’s personal athletic language, allowing them to respond naturally and fluidly on the court, without constant internal correction. For seasoned athletes who have already weathered countless drills, these private sessions become laboratories of subtle refinement: the place where we reexamine the tiniest details that turn a solid jump serve into a tactical weapon, or mold a decent block into a near-impenetrable wall at the net.

At the same time, private lessons are not just about locking down mechanics; they are about developing intention. Every drill and repetition is undertaken with a purpose. When a player knows why their arm swing should follow a certain path or how their platform affects ball trajectory, they learn to appreciate the “why” behind each correction. For beginners, this cultivates a deeper understanding of the game’s rhythm and introduces them to a mindset of problem-solving rather than rote memorization. More advanced players, who have possibly mastered the “how,” benefit from evolving their strategic thinking. They discover that nuanced timing on a set, or subtle pacing on a hit, can mean the difference between winning a tough rally and letting a crucial point slip away. In this way, private lessons go beyond just learning skills: they shape the player’s perspective, turning them from a participant in the sport into a student of it, someone who can read cues, anticipate outcomes, and respond proactively rather than just react.

Additionally, private instruction shines a spotlight on the importance of daily drills—those cornerstone exercises that refine every angle of your game. For a novice, these seemingly repetitive movements build the bedrock of consistent technique and safe biomechanics. The player begins to internalize proper posture, sensible court positioning, and balanced footwork. For an experienced athlete, these same drills become your personal diagnostic tool, highlighting minute inefficiencies that might otherwise remain unnoticed. Daily repetition isn’t just busywork; it’s a continuous refinement process. Over time, persistent, intentional drills train the body to move instinctively, freeing the mind to focus on in-game strategy and adaptability. The end result is a more complete player: one who doesn’t shy away from complexity but rather uses polished fundamentals to navigate it with confidence and control.

In this personalized setting, the coach is not just a figure who corrects errors, but a guide who recognizes that every player, beginner or advanced, is a tapestry of unique talents and areas for growth. The private lesson framework allows for a tailored progression and pacing that align with a player’s goals and learning style. Whether it’s a raw beginner developing basic hand-eye coordination or a seasoned hitter perfecting their transition footwork after a block, each session connects short-term actions to long-term visions. The player’s evolving needs steer the training plan, ensuring that development remains a continuous, forward-moving journey rather than a stagnant routine.

For a parent, investing in private lessons might initially feel like placing your child at the heart of an intricate training model, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an opportunity to see your athlete grow not just in skill, but in approach. They begin to understand that improvement emerges at the intersection of disciplined repetition, thoughtful adjustments, and an ever-expanding grasp of the game’s underlying principles. For the advanced player, this perspective can unlock new levels of performance—turning what might have seemed like mastered skills into evolving crafts worthy of ongoing refinement.


In essence, whether your player is stepping onto the hardwood for the very first time or has been working with dedicated coaches for years, the kind of private training I offer aims to facilitate not just better volleyball, but better volleyball players. It is a path toward combining physical execution with intellectual understanding, forging muscle memory that supports creativity on the court, and shaping an athlete who learns to bring intention, self-awareness, and a growth mindset to every practice and every match that follows.

bottom of page