Tod Mattox: Building Fast & Fun Youth Volleyball with Small-Court Games

with Tod Mattox;
The Bishop's School (San Diego, CA) Volleyball Coach;
Coast Volleyball Club Director of Coaching Education;
The VolleyPod Podcast Co-Creator & Contributor;
Author of The Volleyball Coach's Book of Lists (Amazon);
Monte Vista HS (CA) Varsity Coach from 1987 to 1995;
Hoover HS (CA) JV Coach from 1982 to 1987;
Also served as a UCSD Men's Assistant Coach, coached the 17's at Epic, was Coaching Director for Starling Volleyball Clubs, and remains a popular contributor to coaching clinics

Tod Mattox has spent decades refining an approach that helps coaches create practices that are fast, fun, and highly effective.

In this video, Coach Mattox opens up his small-court training philosophy and shows how to use games to accelerate learning and skill development. By reducing court size and increasing player involvement, coaches can create more touches, more rallies, and more opportunities for players to read the game. The result is a practice environment where athletes stay engaged and improve faster.

You will see how Coach Mattox uses purposeful, game-like scenarios to teach core volleyball skills such as passing, setting, attacking, and serving. Rather than stopping play to correct every mistake, he demonstrates how to guide behavior through constraints, cue words, and clear expectations. This approach allows players to learn in real time while developing stronger communication and court awareness.

Coach Mattox also demonstrates how to structure practices so everyone is involved, even with large numbers. Small-sided games, partner rotations, and creative court usage eliminate standing around and keep balls in the air. These methods help players build confidence while reinforcing correct technique and team concepts.

Throughout the video, Coach Mattox emphasizes high standards, clear communication, and joyful competition. You will learn how to challenge your strongest players while supporting those still developing, creating a practice culture where improvement is constant and effort is visible. This video provides a practical roadmap for building practices that players love and that produce real results on the court.

50 minutes. 2026.