The Evolution of the Volleyball Profile: Coaches and Athletes

By Coach Adrian | @VolleyLiveLife

Volleyball is not just a sport. It is a reflection of life itself. When the rules changed, when the scoring system evolved, when new positions and freedoms were introduced, it did more than change rallies. It changed the kind of people who played the game and the kind of leaders who coached it.

If you want to understand what volleyball has become, you have to look at the athletes who carried it through the decades and the coaches who shaped them. Because the story of the game is really the story of its people.

Yesterday’s Athlete

Imagine fighting for ten rallies in a row and not seeing a single point on the board. That was side out scoring. If you were on the receiving side and you won the rally, all you earned was the right to serve. Points were scarce. Matches lasted forever. And the athletes who grew up in that system became masters of patience.

They didn’t have nutritionists, video breakdowns, or specialized trainers. What they had was grit. Every player had to serve, pass, defend, block, and attack. There was no libero to step in and protect you. If you were on the floor, you had to carry the whole game.

Think of Karch Kiraly, who dominated the 1980s and later became a legend on the beach. He was not just an attacker. He was a complete player, reading the game, serving tough, defending with fire, and inspiring with presence. Or Lang Ping, the “Iron Hammer” of China, who carried her country to Olympic gold in 1984. She was disciplined, powerful, and balanced; not just a hitter, but a leader who embodied the toughness of her era.

These were not specialists. These were survivors.

Today’s Athlete

Now imagine a different picture. A young player with a personal trainer, a strength coach, a psychologist, and access to video replay for every touch. A player who can hit at terrifying speeds, who jumps like gravity is optional, who trains with scientific precision. This is the modern athlete.

Today’s players are faster, stronger, and more explosive than ever before. But the rules and systems around them have shaped a different mentality. Rally scoring rewards the sprint but not the marathon. The libero hides defensive weaknesses. Softer ball-handling rules allow creativity but demand less purity.

Look at Wilfredo León, whose jump serve can silence an entire arena. Or Zhu Ting, a modern queen of the game, whose power and precision dominate in every major competition. They are extraordinary, but they are also products of a system that allows specialization. Their brilliance is sharpened for specific roles rather than tested in every corner of the court.

Today’s athletes shine like lightning. Yesterday’s athletes burned like fire.

Yesterday’s Coach

The coaches of the past ruled with authority. They were commanders, not companions. Their focus was discipline. Their practices were long, repetitive, and often brutal. Athletes trained until their technique was flawless. Obedience was expected, and mistakes were corrected with no hesitation.

This style produced athletes who were unbreakable. But it often came at the cost of communication and empathy. Players respected their coaches, but rarely felt understood.

Think of Bernardo Rezende (Bernardinho) of Brazil, who began shaping his nation’s volleyball in the 1990s with relentless fire. His teams were forged in his intensity. Or Doug Beal, who led the U.S. men to Olympic gold in 1984, pushing them with structure and vision that changed American volleyball forever. These coaches were tough, and their toughness built champions.

Today’s Coach

Now step into a modern practice. The coach is still demanding, but the role has expanded. They are strategist, motivator, teacher, and sometimes therapist. Today’s athletes expect explanations, encouragement, and connection. They want to know why, not just how.

The best coaches today understand balance. They still demand excellence, but they also give space for humanity. José Roberto Guimarães has led Brazil’s women to Olympic glory not just with tactics but with deep relationships. John Speraw leaded the U.S. men with a combination of data, strategy, and communication. These coaches know the science of the game, but they also know the hearts of their players.

Modern coaches walk a thin line. If they are too strict, they lose the connection. If they are too soft, they lose the discipline. The great ones hold both, firm in standards but warm in presence.

Better Then or Better Now?

This is the question that divides generations. And the truth is not simple.

Before, athletes were complete and patient. Coaches were strict and commanding. The game built resilience, but sometimes crushed spirits.

Now, athletes are faster and more explosive. Coaches are smarter and more empathetic. The game flows with speed, but sometimes misses the depth of patience and purity.

Which is better depends on what you value. The past gave us toughness. The present gives us brilliance. Both matter. Both deserve respect.

My Stand

I believe volleyball has evolved in performance but regressed in soul. The rules will keep changing, the systems will keep adapting, but greatness does not come from the scoreboard. It comes from the struggle.

That is what I refuse to let go of. I refuse to raise soft athletes. I refuse to lower standards just because the rules allow it. I want players who can endure like Kiraly and explode like León. I want leaders who can command like Bernardinho and connect like Guimarães.

The truth is, every era has its strength. Our job today is not to choose one over the other. It is to merge them. To carry patience, discipline, and humility into a world of speed, science, and specialization. To create athletes who are both strong and wise. To become coaches who are both demanding and compassionate.

The rules may change. But the heart of the game remains the same. The ball goes up, the whistle blows, and the fight begins. And as long as there is struggle, volleyball will always carry greatness.

A Question for You

What kind of athlete do you want to become? Explosive or complete? What kind of coach do you want to be? Someone who lowers standards to keep players comfortable, or someone who dares to demand greatness even when it is hard?

The choice is yours. The game will always evolve. The struggle will always remain

#VolleyLiveLife