Clear communication policies are essential to the long-term health of any junior volleyball club. Among the most important—and often most tested—of these policies is the waiting period parents are asked to observe before contacting coaches about playing time or athlete roles. While the traditional 24-hour rule has served youth sports well for decades, the evolving demands of modern club volleyball have made it increasingly insufficient. After careful evaluation, one club transitioned to a 48-hour rule. This decision was not about limiting communication, but about improving its quality, consistency, and effectiveness—for families, coaches, and most importantly, athletes.
Why the 24-Hour Rule Became a 48-Hour Rule
The 24-hour rule is a long-standing guideline used across youth sports to create healthy boundaries between parents and coaches. It asks families to wait at least a full day after a training session or—more commonly—a competition before initiating conversations about playing time or an athlete’s role. This pause helps prevent emotional, reactionary exchanges and supports more productive, solution-focused communication.
In recent years, however, we found that the traditional 24-hour window no longer aligned with the realities of modern club volleyball. Our move to a 48-hour rule grew out of two significant shifts in how our club—and many others—now operate.
1. The Rise of Integrated Technology and Video Review
Like many clubs, we now rely heavily on HUDL Assist and other video-analysis tools to evaluate team performance, identify training priorities, and assess individual athlete development. A typical weekend tournament can include 7–10 matches, producing hours of film and a large volume of statistical data. Meaningful conversations about playing time increasingly depend on this information. Coaches need time not only to watch film, but to:
- Review rotations and substitution patterns
- Analyze serve-receive and defensive efficiencies
- Compare in-match decisions with training objectives
- Contextualize performance across multiple matches, not just one moment
A 24-hour window often pressures coaches to respond before this review process is complete. Extending the waiting period to 48 hours ensures that discussions are grounded in data, patterns, and developmental goals—not incomplete recollection or emotional fatigue.
2. A Change in Travel Structure—and the Real End of an Event
Before COVID, our club operated under a team-based travel model. Athletes traveled with coaching staff, and the end of a tournament was clearly defined: it occurred when the team returned home and athletes were released back to parents. That built-in transition time allowed coaches to decompress, reflect, and reset before the 24-hour clock ever began.
The pandemic shifted us to a family-directed travel model, where parents now manage transportation and lodging. That means the event effectively ends the moment the last match or officiating duty is complete. In this structure, families could technically send questions or concerns as early as 9:00 a.m. Monday, despite the fact that coaching staff may still be:
- catching late-night flights,
- navigating delayed travel,
- returning home in the early hours of the morning, and
- still needing time to rest, regroup, and review video/data.
The result? Coaches were often pouring their first cup of coffee on Monday morning alongside an unexpected, emotionally charged email.
We realized that the 24-hour window no longer provided the time or conditions needed for coaches to rest, effectively process the weekend, and prepare for meaningful conversations.
Why 48 Hours Works Better
By extending the gap to 48 hours, we are ensuring:
- Coaches have time to travel home safely.
- They can properly rest and reset after long, intense weekends.
- Video and data review can be completed.
- Families receive more informed, thoughtful, and productive responses.
Most importantly, this adjustment maintains the spirit of the original rule: creating space for healthier communication, improved understanding, and better outcomes for athletes.
For club directors evaluating their own policies, this adjustment is less about restriction and more about alignment—with modern club structures, coaching workloads, and the long-term development of young athletes.
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About the Author
Sherry Fadool is the Executive Director of Triangle VBC. Since 2011 Sherry has led Triangle as Executive Director, driving its growth, governance, and
national reputation. She served six years on the JVA Board and has contributed to numerous presentations on youth sports leadership. With 25+ years in nonprofit leadership, Fadool remains a driving force in youth sports.