
Why Middle School Needs Different Coaching
Middle school is where habits set in. Bodies change fast, attention spans are shorter, and confidence can swing with every serve. We keep training simple and repeatable: clean mechanics, smart reads, and age-appropriate footwork and strength. The goal is steady progress—and a calm plan that carries into high-school tryouts.
👉 “Watch how Coach Chris Mah trains a middle school libero and a high school outside hitter using the same USA Volleyball and Olympian foundations—proving this system builds skills that scale at every level.”
WHAT FAMILIES ASK
Q: What makes MAH Volleyball Training different?
A: This is not a camp—it’s a long-term development system. Our program is rooted in the same principles used by Olympians and USA Volleyball, refined for middle school athletes. These foundations, shaped by legendary coaches like Marv Dunphy and Rick McLaughlin, are fine-tuned by Coach Chris Mah to give players a proven pathway toward lasting growth.
Q: How do I know it really works
A: I competed at a high level from a young age, became the #1 ranked defensive player in the U.S., and built my career on these exact foundations. Today, I’ve adapted the same methods into a system middle school athletes can absorb, repeat, and master—building confidence and skill that transfer directly into game play.
Q: Will my athlete train all volleyball skills, or just one position?
A: We teach the complete game. Serving, passing, setting, attacking, blocking, and defense all matter in middle school. By training every skill, athletes build a stronger foundation, stay versatile, and have more opportunities when it comes time to specialize in high school or beyond.
Q: How do you handle growth and changing bodies?
A: Every athlete is different, and every rep is adjusted to their stage of development. We match mechanics, workloads, and footwork progressions to their growth—helping them gain strength, coordination, and agility without risking injury or burnout.
Q: How does this prepare athletes for the future?
A: The habits formed here carry into high school, club, and college-level play. Families see steady progress now, while athletes build volleyball IQ, mental toughness, and all-around skills that open doors to varsity rosters, advanced club teams, and even college recruiting potential.
Q: What if my athlete is still developing or behind others?
A:That’s exactly who this system is built for. We place athletes by skill and position—not just age—so advanced players are pushed with game-speed drills, and developing athletes follow a clear ramp that builds confidence, competence, and momentum to keep moving forward.
WHAT WE TEACH IN MIDDLE SCHOOL BLOCKS
Foundation First: Serve-Receive & Platform
We start with static posture and clean platform angles, then layer simple footwork maps. Reliable first contact today means serve-receive feels easy later—more in-system swings, less panic, faster growth.
Simple Mechanics, Game-Day Consistency
Toss discipline, safe arm path, and target zones—then pressure sets so it sticks. When the routine is simple, serves stay the same on game day. Mastering this early makes adding pace and location easy in the future.
Reads → Timing That Scales
See It Early, Be On Time. Eyes first, then feet and hands. Athletes learn the on-time sequence by position—pass → setter contact → attacker—so movement becomes automatic. When timing is built young, the game slows down as the level rises.
Defense- Real Roles, real execution
Line/angle rules, seam control, and pursuit habits from the correct static start. With responsibilities crystal-clear, athletes take better angles and get more touches—confidence grows, and defense “just happens” in matches.
Move Right, Hit Easy
We teach load-to-move, shuffle/drop patterns, and approach rhythm from a solid static start. Contact window and arm path come next. The result: balanced swings that feel effortless now and scale to real power later—without bad-habit ceilings.
Calm Under Pressure
Composed by Design. Tiny routines—breath, reset, one cue—build match-calm that carries forward. We also teach which errors to ignore or even justify (most aren’t true mistakes). Athletes learn to move on fast and keep performing.
Get in touch so we can start working together.
Secure Your Athlete’s Spot in Elite Volleyball Training
Small pods. Game-speed reps. Expedite development.
$65 / 60 min · 6 athletes max
Structured scheduling
Complete skill development
24-hour cancel/reschedule window
We train all positions
We Expidite player development
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We prep for college
30 years experience
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