17 Volleyball Coach Interview Questions and Answers

Are you a volleyball enthusiast who wants to help young athletes develop their skills? If you have experience coaching volleyball and are looking for a new opportunity, you may be invited to interview for a volleyball coach job.

Coaching a volleyball team is a lot of work. You need to be able to teach athletes the skills they need to play well, motivate them to achieve their best, and create a winning team spirit. To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve gathered some common questions and answers that you can expect.

Are you certified to coach volleyball?

The interviewer may ask this question to make sure you have the necessary qualifications for coaching volleyball. If you are not certified, explain what steps you plan on taking to get your certification.

Example: “Yes, I am currently a level three coach through USA Volleyball. I started my career as an assistant coach at a local high school and worked my way up to head coach after two years. During that time, I took online courses to earn my certification. I also attended training sessions with other coaches in the area to learn new drills and strategies.”

What are some of your previous coaching or teaching experiences related to volleyball?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a coach and how your experiences have helped you develop your skills. Use examples from previous coaching or teaching positions that relate to volleyball, such as working with youth teams or helping players improve their game.

Example: “I’ve been coaching for five years now, starting out at my local high school where I coached both boys’ and girls’ varsity volleyball teams. In this position, I had to work with different skill levels of players and teach them new techniques while also developing strategies for games. This experience has helped me learn how to communicate effectively with all types of people and understand what it takes to be an effective leader.”

How would you create a practice plan for your team?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your coaching skills and how you plan out practice sessions. Use examples from past experiences where you created a practice plan that helped the team improve their volleyball skills.

Example: “I would first meet with my assistant coach to discuss what we want to focus on during our next practice session. We would then create a list of drills, exercises and activities that help us achieve those goals. I find it helpful to write down these plans so I can refer back to them when needed. During each practice, I use the notes as a guide for what we’re doing and how long we should be spending on each activity.”

What is your strategy for helping players improve their skills?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you develop your players’ skills and abilities. Use examples from past coaching experiences to explain what strategies you use to improve a player’s skill level, including practice plans or drills that help them learn new techniques.

Example: “I believe in giving my players plenty of opportunities to practice their skills during our practices. I also encourage them to work on their skills outside of practice by practicing at home or with friends. In addition, I make sure they have access to resources like online videos or instructional books so they can continue learning even when we’re not in session.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to discipline a player and the results.

Discipline is an important part of coaching, and the interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills. Use examples from your experience that show you can be firm but fair when disciplining players.

Example: “In my first year as a head coach, I had a player who was late for practice every day. At first, I tried talking with her about it, but she didn’t seem to understand why it was important to arrive on time. After two weeks of being late, I benched her for one game. She apologized after the game and arrived on time for the rest of the season.”

If you had the opportunity to add one new skill or strategy to your team, what would it be?

This question can help the interviewer determine your coaching style and how you would implement new strategies or skills into a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a skill or strategy that you have used in the past that helped improve your players’ performance on the court.

Example: “If I had the opportunity to add one new skill or strategy to my team, I would choose to teach them how to spike more effectively. In my last position as head coach of a high school volleyball team, we implemented a spike training program where we focused on improving our players’ form when spiking the ball. We practiced this skill during every practice for two weeks before beginning regular drills. By the end of the season, many of our players were able to spike the ball over six feet.”

What would you do if one of your players was injured during a practice or game?

Volleyball is a fast-paced sport that requires quick reactions and movements. Players are often injured during games or practices, so it’s important for coaches to have a plan in place to handle these situations. In your answer, explain how you would assess the injury and decide whether the player can continue playing or needs to leave the court.

Example: “If one of my players was injured during practice or a game, I would first ask them if they could continue playing. If they said yes, I would keep an eye on them throughout the rest of the practice or game to make sure they didn’t sustain any further injuries. If they were unable to continue, I would call over our athletic trainer to evaluate their condition and determine whether they need to be taken to the hospital.”

How well do you know the rules of volleyball?

The interviewer may ask this question to see how much you know about the sport and whether you can apply your knowledge to coaching. To answer, list some of the rules you are familiar with and explain why they’re important.

Example: “I have been playing volleyball for many years, so I am very familiar with the rules. For example, in my last position as a coach, we had a player who was constantly stepping out of bounds during play. I explained to her that she needed to stay within the lines on the court at all times. She understood and adjusted her game accordingly. The next time she stepped out of bounds, it was an honest mistake. It’s important to understand the rules because knowing them helps players learn how to avoid breaking them.”

Do you have any experience working with youth players?

Youth volleyball coaches often have to work with players who are still developing their skills. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience working with youth athletes and how you handled any challenges that came up during your coaching tenure.

Example: “I’ve coached several youth teams over the past five years, including a team of 10-year-olds last season. I find it important to be patient when working with younger players because they’re still learning the basics of the game. I try to make practices fun by incorporating games into our drills so the kids don’t realize they’re practicing new skills. It’s also helpful to have parents involved in practice so they can reinforce what we’re teaching at home.”

When coaching, do you prefer to work in groups or individually?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you will manage your team. Volleyball is a sport that requires teamwork, so it’s important to show that you value collaboration and cooperation.

Example: “I prefer working in groups because I think it allows for more creativity and innovation. When coaching volleyball, I like to have my players work together on drills and exercises so they can learn from each other. This helps them develop their skills as well as their relationships with one another. Working individually also has its benefits, though, especially when it comes to practicing specific techniques or skills.”

We want to improve our team’s communication. How would you do that?

Communication is a vital skill for any coach. It’s important to be able to communicate effectively with your players, other coaches and the athletic director. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain how you would improve communication within your team and what steps you would take to do so.

Example: “I think one of the best ways to improve communication is through regular meetings. I would hold weekly meetings where we discuss our previous game and upcoming games. During these meetings, I would also give my players feedback on their performance and provide them with tips that they could use during practice or in future games. Another way I would improve communication is by making sure all of my players know how to contact me. I would make myself available via email, phone call or text message at any time.”

Describe your process for evaluating your team’s performance after a game or practice.

The interviewer may ask you this question to learn more about your coaching style and how you use data to make decisions. To answer, think of a specific example from a previous team where you used data to evaluate performance.

Example: “I have found that the best way to evaluate my players’ performance is by using statistics. I keep track of all relevant stats during games and practices, including number of errors, assists, kills, digs and blocks. After each game or practice, I review these stats with my team so we can discuss what areas they need to improve on. This helps me get feedback from my players while also helping them understand their strengths and weaknesses.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. When answering, it’s important to highlight your skills that match the job description and emphasize what makes you unique from other candidates.

Example: “I have a lot of experience coaching volleyball teams at all levels, including high school, college and professional teams. I also have extensive knowledge of the game and am familiar with many different strategies for training players. In my previous position, I helped lead my team to win state championships in both volleyball and basketball. This is an impressive feat because most coaches only coach one sport.”

Which volleyball teams or players do you admire?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a coach and understand your coaching philosophy. It also helps them determine if you have experience working with teams or players who are similar to their team or players. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific player or team that has inspired you in some way.

Example: “I admire the teamwork of the 2016 USA Women’s Volleyball Team. They were able to work together so well despite having many different personalities on the team. I think they did an excellent job of supporting each other both on and off the court. Their ability to communicate effectively helped them win gold at the Rio Olympics.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of being a good teammate?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you work with others and your teammates. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on a specific example of when you were a good teammate or helped another player become one.

Example: “I think that being a good teammate means always having each other’s backs. I remember in my senior year of high school, we had a new player who was struggling with her serves. She would get nervous before every serve and miss the ball completely sometimes. One day, she missed three consecutive serves, which is very rare for a volleyball player. The rest of us started getting frustrated because we knew she could do better. So, I went over to her and told her not to worry about what anyone else thought and just focus on doing her best. After that, she calmed down and focused on serving again.”

How often do you think a volleyball team should practice?

This question can help an interviewer understand your coaching philosophy and how you plan to implement it. It’s important to show that you have a strong understanding of the sport, so be sure to research volleyball before answering this question.

Example: “I think it depends on the skill level of the team. For example, if I were coaching a high school team with players who had little experience playing volleyball, I would want them to practice at least three times per week. However, if I were coaching a college team with experienced players, I might only need to practice once or twice per week.”

There is a rule that your players are unsure about during a game. What do you do?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the sport and how you can help players learn new rules. You can also use this question as a chance to demonstrate your ability to make quick decisions during a game.

Example: “I would first ask my team if they are sure about what rule was being called by the referee. If they are, I will tell them that we need to play according to the call. However, if they aren’t sure, I will ask the referee for clarification on the rule. Once I know the exact rule, I will explain it to my team so they understand why we have to follow the rule.”