Learning at the CEV Coaches Convention: Inspiration from Hodgson, van Hintum, and Klimenova in Zadar
Day 1 of the 2025 CEV Coaches Convention in Zadar set the tone for a weekend dedicated not only to volleyball but also to the art of learning itself. The program was divided into theoretical sessions in the morning, where concepts and frameworks were explored, and practical sessions in the afternoon, where ideas came alive on the court.
Three leading voices - Eric Hodgson, Saskia van Hintum, and Nataliia Klimenova - each brought unique perspectives that inspired the attending coaches to rethink their approaches to training and athlete development.
Eric Hodgson: The Coach as the Volleyball Sherpa
Eric Hodgson invited coaches to rethink their role not simply as instructors, but as sherpas, guiding athletes through the peaks and valleys of their sporting journey. To illustrate this, he introduced Mia, an imaginary young player navigating the Perception-Action Cycle, a framework that emphasises how athletes learn through continuous interaction between perception, decision, and execution.
Hodgson stressed the crucial difference between learning and performance. While performance is what the scoreboard captures, learning happens in the less-visible moments-mistakes, reflections, and adjustments. For Hodgson, the coach’s task is not to chase immediate results, but to create environments where true learning can flourish.
That means building game-like training where players are challenged to solve problems under conditions that mirror real match situations. Rather than providing all the answers, coaches should encourage athletes to develop problem-solving skills, fostering adaptability and independence on the court.
Hodgson also introduced sitting volleyball in his practical session, conveying the message that volleyball is for everyone, inviting also coaches to try out the discipline.
Nataliia Klimenova: Cultivating Decision-Making, Resilience, and Growth
Nataliia Klimenova centered her message on what she called “The Learning Paradigm”, a shift from traditional skill-drill models toward an approach that values growth, resilience, and holistic development.
She highlighted how personality insights - such as the DISC assessment - can deepen a coach’s understanding of athletes, helping them to connect, communicate, and inspire more effectively. By acknowledging differences in personality types, coaches can develop tactical and emotional awareness, empowering athletes to thrive both as individuals and as part of a team.
Klimenova also challenged coaches to reframe volleyball training itself. Beyond technical execution, training should be a space where athletes learn to take ownership of decisions, embrace resilience in the face of setbacks, and cultivate a growth mindset. For her, volleyball is not just about performance under pressure-it is about empowerment.
Saskia van Hintum: Setting the Standard for Setters
Saskia van Hintum turned the spotlight on one of volleyball’s most debated and admired positions: the setter. She asked the fundamental question: How do we create a setter?
For van Hintum, setting may well be the most difficult technique in volleyball, demanding a combination of technical precision, tactical intelligence, and emotional maturity. A setter is not simply born in a position but developed through deliberate cultivation - of vision, timing, and above all, leadership.
Her discussion prompted coaches to consider: When is someone truly a setter? Is it when they master the hands, or when they begin to orchestrate the game with confidence? In van Hintum’s view, it is both- a technical craft and a strategic art that must be nurtured with patience and high standards.
Day 1 ended with coaches inspired to look beyond drills and results, and to embrace coaching as a pathway for learning, growth, and empowerment.
On Sunday, the Convention continues with creative workshops, giving participants the chance to explore innovative methods, exchange experiences, and put ideas into practice in a collaborative setting.