How You Can Find Success from Your Bench
Unlocking your Potential

Every coach knows the challenge of keeping a team engaged, especially when playing time is limited for certain players. However, the key to building a successful team doesn’t lie solely in the starters but also in how you manage and develop your bench players. Here's a fresh approach on how to maintain morale, ensure contribution, and find success by tapping into the goldmine that is often found on the bench.

Set Expectations Early and Clearly

The foundation of success in managing playing time (PT) starts well before the first game. From the very beginning, set clear expectations about playing time with both players and their parents. Explain your coaching philosophy and the reasons behind your PT decisions. This kind of transparency sets the tone for the season and prevents surprises later on.

Pro Tip: Host a pre-season meeting with players and parents to go over your PT philosophy and how each player will contribute to the team. This is where you can emphasize that winning is a priority and that PT will be earned based on performance, effort, and the needs of the team.

Create Opportunities Outside the Season

One of the best ways to balance PT during the season is to provide opportunities for development outside of it. Encourage players to participate in off-season camps, club teams, or personal training sessions. This gives them the space to improve and earn more time on the court in the future.
Pro Tip: Offer to recommend off-season programs or even host extra sessions yourself. It shows you're invested in every player's development and not just their performance during the high school season.

Emphasize Every Role Matters

Make sure that every player, whether they’re a starter or a reserve, knows how they contribute to the team’s success. Bench players are crucial to maintaining the team’s energy, preparing starters in practice, and stepping up when needed. Emphasizing this keeps your bench players engaged and motivated, ensuring they don’t feel sidelined just because they’re not starting.

Pro Tip: Assign specific roles to your bench players during games, whether it’s tracking stats, cheering with enthusiasm, or preparing to come in as a sub. This helps them feel integrated and responsible for the team’s success.

Engage Parents by Communicating Openly

Often, parents can be a source of stress regarding PT. However, you can mitigate potential issues by communicating your philosophy with them early. Remind them that success isn’t just about minutes on the court during the season but about growth and opportunities throughout the year.

Pro Tip: Be ready to discuss PT when asked, but remain calm and professional. Reinforce the team's objectives and point to the opportunities you’ve created for their child to develop skills in other contexts (e.g., club, camps, or training).

Create a Culture of Fun and Inclusion

One of the most underrated aspects of team success is fostering a culture where everyone—starters and bench players alike—can have fun and support one another. Encourage team celebrations, positive communication, and creative bench involvement.

Pro Tip: Encourage team chants, group celebrations, and creative cheering routines. It boosts team spirit and shows that every player, whether on the court or on the bench, plays a role in keeping the energy high.

Develop a Winning Mindset for Every Player

Regardless of their position on the team, every player should have the mindset of a winner. This means preparing mentally and physically to perform at their best whenever they are called upon. Encourage them to see practice as a place to shine and grow, knowing their time to contribute will come.

Pro Tip: Hold one-on-one meetings to discuss each player’s personal development goals. By doing this, you show your investment in their long-term growth, which builds trust and motivation.

Reinforce the Team-First Mentality

The most successful teams are the ones where individual goals take a back seat to team objectives. Bench players need to understand that their role is critical, and their effort, enthusiasm, and commitment to the team culture will influence the team’s overall success.

Pro Tip: Regularly remind players that "team first" means doing whatever it takes to make the team better. Whether it’s practicing hard, staying positive on the bench, or bringing energy to the court, every contribution counts.

Coach Luc Tremblay is the Founder and Head Coach of Volleyball Winnipeg. Luc has been coaching volleyball for 30+ years with athletes of all age classes and all abilities. He has developed most of the training techniques used by VISION coaches and is responsible for the coach development program at Volleyball Winnipeg. For more details on our Coach Resources, click here. 
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