Becca Just
How long have you been coaching volleyball, and what inspired you to get started?
I’ve been coaching volleyball for over a decade, but my journey started much earlier. I fell in love with the sport in elementary school and stayed committed through college, where I was honored as an AVCA All-American, Female Athlete of the Year, and First Team All-Conference. Those experiences shaped not just my skills, but my deep appreciation for what volleyball can offer young athletes.
My inspiration to coach came from watching my dad, a basketball coach, and wanting to follow in his footsteps. Volleyball quickly became my passion, and I wanted to create the kind of environment I always valued as a player, one that nurtures growth both on and off the court. I wanted to help athletes feel seen, supported, and challenged in meaningful ways. That passion led me into coaching and eventually into leadership roles, from Georgetown Force to Alpha Performance Volleyball, and now at Great Crossing High School and the AVCA.
What do you enjoy or look forward to about coaching for Alpha?
What I enjoy most about coaching for Alpha is the strong sense of family and connection—the relationships I’ve built with our coaches and families create a meaningful support system that helps me grow as both a coach and a director. I love working with our athletes and watching their development unfold throughout the season and beyond, and I’m proud to be part of a club that reflects the values that first inspired me to coach: inclusion, growth, and community.
How do you approach developing athletes both on and off the court?
My approach to developing athletes centers on the whole person, not just their performance on the court. I teach athletes that mistakes are a natural part of growth and give them tools to learn from those moments. My goal is to build their confidence and help them develop the skills needed for long-term success, rather than focusing solely on winning.
I emphasize learning, personal growth, and resilience. I want athletes to experience the same benefits that sports brought to my life, discipline, joy, and a sense of belonging. By creating a supportive environment and modeling those values, I aim to prepare them for challenges both in volleyball and beyond.
What can athletes and their families expect when they join your team in terms of development and growth?
Athletes and families joining my team can expect a supportive, growth-focused environment where development goes beyond wins and losses. I hold athletes accountable while celebrating their progress, focusing on long-term confidence and personal growth. My goal is to help each player grow as both a person and a volleyball player, preparing them for challenges on and off the court.
What’s your favorite drill or coaching technique, and why do you love using it?
One of my favorite coaching techniques is using progression drills that build on one skill at a time. I especially love the 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 progression because it emphasizes ball control and fosters a competitive mindset in a game-like setting. It’s adaptable, allowing me to adjust rules and outcomes to target specific skills while keeping athletes engaged and challenged.
I also love serve receive progressions, where we start with the basics, emphasizing footwork first, then platform, and gradually layer in more advanced elements. Eventually, we build up to full 6-on-serve receive with setters and hitters, creating a realistic and purposeful training environment. These progressions help athletes develop confidence, consistency, and a deeper understanding of the game.
What’s one piece of advice you’ve received as an athlete or coach that you still carry with you today?
One piece of advice I’ve carried with me since I was thirteen came from my coach, who told me to always be aggressive, even if it meant hitting the back wall. She reminded me that with time and training, I’d learn to control that same swing, but the mindset of going for it was more important than playing it safe. That lesson taught me to play to win, not play afraid to lose, and it’s something I still emphasize with my athletes today.
Another powerful reminder came from a fellow coach who said, “You can’t beat up on other teams if you’re beating up on yourself.” Volleyball is a game of mistakes, and it’s incredibly mental. I use that advice to help athletes be kind to themselves, learn from errors, and stay confident through the ups and downs of competition.