OJVA Uses Pod Structure, Hudl to Train (and Win) Faster than their Competition
There’s so much that goes into coaching that it can get overwhelming in a hurry. Coaches have to adapt to so many variables: managing equipment, securing gym space and practice times, and communicating across their team while still delivering meaningful guidance to players and parents.
It’s essential for high-performing clubs to leverage systems and tools that keep them agile and maintain momentum throughout the year.
At Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy (OJVA), coaches and athletes don’t have practices—they train. OJVA doesn’t simulate games, they stimulate growth and comprehensive development, and they do it at full speed. Every rep, every drill, every day.
In order to facilitate fast-paced, intense training, OJVA operates in “pods.”
Pods are small groups of athletes from various teams and age groups. This helps athletes learn fundamental skills alongside peers of varying skill and experience while coaches provide hyper-focused instruction that leverages unique expertise and experience.
“It’s one thing to be coached on the court of what it is. It’s another to have them be able to see it in black and white: this is what the realities are.”
“I watch a lot of film,” Suttich says. “With that in mind, we’ve gotten more and more players to watch a lot of film. I love the category [on Hudl] where I can see who’s watching film. If I’m putting in five hours, I expect them to watch at least an hour, hour and a half.”
Everything found and highlighted via Hudl is shared with athletes to be implemented in training the next day. What’s more, OJVA coaches watch film to scout one another. They review matches and drills to uncover tendencies or pinpoint each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
This process of intra-squad scouting exposes coaching blind spots while increasing self-awareness.
“We scout each other's team so we can say, ‘How would you attack me?’ or ‘How would I attack you?’” Suttich explains. “This makes us very detail-oriented for our kids so we can say, ‘This is what we need to work on.’”
Hudl’s full solution helps teams capture high-quality film with video and data tools to quickly find and share important moments. Every product integrates with each other to help teams improve.
At OJVA, they know the sky's the limit for coaches and athletes to reach their potential. The only question now is how fast they can get there?