Anthony Cockrill, Director of Volleyball Sports Performance and Assistant Director of Olympic Sports at SMU, returns to the Podcast for his second appearance after his first episode became our most downloaded episode ever.

In this conversation, we go deep into the systems behind elite volleyball performance. Anthony breaks down jump and swing mechanics, squat progressions, jump training, building bulletproof shoulders, getting your first chin-up, and how he balances physical preparation with skill development.

We also dive into assessments, warm-ups, gymnastics movements, nutrition, injury mitigation, and how to organize training to support long-term athlete development.

This episode is packed with practical insight and high-level thinking for anyone training volleyball players—or athletes at any level.

🔗Check out more from Anthony👇

1st Episode with Anthony: The Epidemic of the Underprepared Athlete (#1 MOST DOWNLOADED EPISODE) - [click here]

Framework For Flight - PDF Program: [click here]

Instagram: @anthonycockrill

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:10 Jump Mechanics: Understanding the Approach

14:56 Visual Feedback and Skill Acquisition in Jumping

17:38 Body Awareness and Squatting Fundamentals

25:54 Plyometric Training for Vertical Jump Improvement

34:48 Swing Mechanics: Enhancing the Volleyball Arm Swing

41:01 Why Volleyball Players Should Throw Footballs

48:32 Key Movements for Shoulder Health

51:14 Getting Your First Chin Up

01:00:49 Nutrition for Young Athletes

01:09:11 Game Day Nutrition and Timing

01:11:14 Effective Warm-Up Strategies

01:18:03 Balancing Skill and Physical Development

01:22:11 The Importance of Physicality in Youth Sports

01:25:39 Assessment and Evaluation Processes

01:32:55 Reflecting on Injury Management and Prevention

01:36:58 Building Routines for High-Pressure Situations