Heston C.

I've coached volleyball every summer since graduating high school with 808 Hale, where I worked as an aide in group clinics spanning youth players through high school athletes, coaching both boys and girls, and also ran my own private hitting clinic focused on individual attacking mechanics and footwork for more advanced players. I've also helped coach the NYC Impact Volleyball Club's 17s and 18s boys teams, working with older, more competitive athletes at the club level. I don't currently hold a formal coaching certification, though I'd be glad to pursue one in the future!

I've played volleyball for nine years, starting in 7th grade and competing at the club level until I was 18, before continuing my career at the collegiate level as a senior outside hitter for LIU's Division I men's volleyball program in the Northeast Conference — a program that won the NEC Championship in its first season and has advanced to the conference tournament every year since. I've been recognized as an NEC Prime Performer for my performance, and in my most recent season I recorded 244 kills (2.57 per set) on a .242 hitting percentage, along with 173 digs, 51 total blocks, and 282 total points (2.97 per set) across 26 matches, while also gaining experience at libero for added defensive versatility. Before college, I played high school volleyball in Hawaii, where I was named a two-time ILH Fab 15 selection, recognizing me as one of the top players in the division for both years.

A typical session with me runs 30 minutes over video call. Beforehand, the athlete can send me game film or any footage they want reviewed, or if they'd rather not prep anything, we can start the session by verbally discussing what they want to focus on that day. From there, we go through the film together, pausing on key reps to break down technique and decision-making — whether that's approach footwork and arm swing on attacks, platform angle and positioning on serve-receive and defense, or shot selection based on what the block and defense are giving them. To make corrections concrete, I pull in comparison clips, either professional players demonstrating the technique or read the athlete should be replicating, or footage of myself performing the movement, so they can see it side-by-side with their own film. I leave space throughout for the athlete to ask questions and walk me through their own read of the play, since understanding the "why" behind a correction sticks better than just being told what to fix. We go over progressions and next steps directly in the call, and afterward I send a written session recap so nothing discussed gets forgotten before our next time together.