What Stanford's Volleyball Strength Coach Avoids Every Season to Stay on Top
Tyler Friedrich is the sports performance coach for the women’s volleyball team at Stanford University. He’s been helping them improve their strength, speed, agility, endurance, and jump height for more than 8 years.
But he says to stay on top, you must do one thing, well, it is more like something you shouldn’t do.
Friedrich avoids sticking to the same routine year after year. “We just finished season eight together, and we wouldn’t consider (our training program) a finished product,” he said. “I would say we’re more streamlined and more efficient, but I would not say OK, here’s what we do every year.”
Friedrich is always looking for ways to improve and optimize his training program, based on the latest research, technology, and feedback.
Stanford In-Season Training
One of the key concepts that Friedrich uses in the weight room is the microdosing model, or high frequency strength training. The team frequently lifts weight during the season, but with lower volume and intensity than traditional programs.
“It has evolved over time,” he said. “The microdosing model, high frequency string training, whatever you want to call it. So, we’re lifting weights every day in season six days a week.”
The idea is to stimulate the muscles and nervous system without causing too much fatigue or soreness, and to promote faster recovery and adaptation.
All Coaches Align Their Goals
Another important aspect of Friedrich’s approach is his precise training method. He carefully plans and monitors what exercises, sets, reps, and weights the team does on each day of the week, depending on their schedule, goals, and feedback.
He coordinates with the head coach and the athletic trainer to ensure that the training is aligned with the practice and game plan, and that the team is healthy and ready to perform.
“We are always tweaking and finding what’s best because the group changes every year.”
Coach Constantly Tweaks Training
He also considers the different characteristics and needs of each group of players, such as their number, position, experience, and skill level. He is flexible and willing to adjust as the season progresses, and as new challenges and opportunities arise.
Friedrich says that the staff is always on board to mixing things up and keeping things fresh. “We are always tweaking and finding what’s best because the group changes every year,” he said. “Many factors play a role and so we’re using all that to again maybe dial in what we’re doing year to year a little differently.”
Stanford Volleyball is One of the Best
The results of Friedrich’s work speak for themselves. The women’s volleyball team has been consistently ranked among the top teams in the country. According to the NCAA, Stanford is the most successful program in Division One women’s college volleyball history:
- 23 NCAA Tournament Appearances
- 9 National Championships
- 29- 4 regular season record in 2023 – 24
- One road loss
- Regional final appearance (2023−24)
- PAC12 champions 7 times, including the past two seasons
Friedrich is proud of his team and his role in their success. He says: “I love working with this team. They are hard-working, talented, and motivated. They trust me and each other, and they always give their best. I feel honored to be part of their journey, and to help them achieve their goals and dreams.”
Volleyball Analytics Play a Role
Friedrich has also been using sports data and analytics to improve the performance of the players he trains for more than 10 years. And on the latest episode of the “Xtra Edge Podcast” he talked about what three player metrics matter the most to him, when it comes to training women’s volleyball players.
Tune into the podcast to find that out and learn where you can find the bar chart and line graph, he created for coaches to understand better some of the volleyball metrics Stanford relies on.
Download our brochure to get more information on how to put together a winning volleyball performance plan.
Mehr Beiträge
What Performance Data Still Doesn’t Show in Basketball Yet
At the Basketball Coaching and Performance Summit 2026, Felix Hanika explored why injuries still occur despite advanced tracking and load monitoring. His research highlights what performance data misses and why connecting load, movement, and tissue is key to better injury prevention.
What 100 Games a Season Demand from Modern Coaches
At the Basketball Coaching & Performance Summit 2026, insights from EuroLeague coaching revealed how modern basketball is shaped by more than tactics. Managing player load, fatigue, and recovery has become essential to maintaining performance across long and demanding seasons.
Handball Performance Tracking & Load Monitoring
Germany’s silver medal at EURO 2026 underlined how crucial player availability is in elite handball. Monitoring external load, intensity, and recovery across congested match schedules is essential. KINEXON PERFORM delivers sport specific insights to structure training, optimise periodisation, and sustain performance throughout the season.
Setting the Standard for the Future of Basketball Performance
With over 55 on-site participants from 26 countries, including representatives from EuroLeague clubs, national leagues, academies, universities, FIBA and the EuroLeague, the 2nd Basketball Coaching & Performance Summit convened the decision-makers defining the next era of elite basketball performance.
From Broadcast to Performance: Why Handball Needs One Continuous Data Story
European handball is fully tracked across leagues and tournaments, yet performance data still lives in silos. This article shows how federations and clubs are connecting match and training data to improve player availability, reduce injuries, and turn tracking from broadcast spectacle into true performance infrastructure.
Entering 2026: Why Sports Technology Is Shifting from Tools to Infrastructure
From Germany to the NBA and Back: Basketball Performance Analytics in the Modern Game
When the NBA comes to Berlin, it brings elite athletes, global attention, and a look behind the scenes of modern basketball. Today, professional basketball teams rely heavily on performance analytics to prepare for games, manage player load, and stay competitive throughout a long season. Basketball performance analysis has become a standard part of how teams train, compete, and recover at the highest level.
Why Tracking Player Performance Data Makes Soccer Training More Effective for Match Day
In soccer, player readiness creates a competitive advantage that clubs can’t overlook. Winning second balls, sprinting while attacking the offensive zone during stoppage time, and executing decisive presses are the marginal moments that define matches. Clubs that keep more players prepared throughout the season consistently perform at a higher level.
How MTSU Women’s Basketball Automated Shot Tracking in Practice to Strengthen In-Game Shot Selection
The mantra “practice how you play” is echoed in locker rooms around the world. Basketball players can record thousands of shots during a week of practice or individual training sessions, but if shooting percentages only define if a player is consistent from a specific spot on the floor, why isn’t every athlete shooting at a high-level during games?
ACL Injuries in American Football: Why Data-Informed Return-to-Play Protocols Protect Athletes
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries remain a persistent reality in American football. High-velocity cuts, sudden decelerations, and piles in traffic create a perfect storm for knee stress. The question is no longer if teams will face ACL injuries, but how they will manage rehabilitation and return-to-play (RTP) without rushing athletes back into harm’s way. The most effective programs now pair clinical rehab with performance tracking technology to pace progression, reduce re-injury risk, and restore game-ready performance.
Closing the Gap Between Practice and Competition with KINEXON COMPETE Vision
Basketball is won in the space between what you drill and what the game demands. That’s exactly where KINEXON COMPETE Vision helps coaches: every rep is tracked, contextualized, and turned into actionable insight – without wearables or extra staff time. Coaches get more than makes/misses; they get the why behind each shot so they can design practices that truly transfer to game night.
Closing the Gap Between Practice and Competition with KINEXON COMPETE Vision
Basketball is won in the space between what you drill and what the game demands. That’s exactly where KINEXON COMPETE Vision helps coaches: every rep is tracked, contextualized, and turned into actionable insight – without wearables or extra staff time. Coaches get more than makes/misses; they get the why behind each shot so they can design practices that truly transfer to game night.
Introducing Rolling Window Analysis — Capturing the Most Demanding Scenarios of the Game
In elite sports, averages lie. That’s why we’re introducing Rolling Window Analysis — a major new feature within the KINEXON Sports app designed to help S&C coaches, sport scientists, and performance staff move beyond averages and static summaries while capturing what matters most: the most demanding moments of play.
Introducing Rolling Window Analysis — Capturing the Most Demanding Scenarios of the Game
In elite sports, averages lie. That’s why we’re introducing Rolling Window Analysis — a major new feature within the KINEXON Sports app designed to help S&C coaches, sport scientists, and performance staff move beyond averages and static summaries while capturing what matters most: the most demanding moments of play.
Introducing Rolling Window Analysis — Capturing the Most Demanding Scenarios of the Game
In elite sports, averages lie. That’s why we’re introducing Rolling Window Analysis — a major new feature within the KINEXON Sports app designed to help S&C coaches, sport scientists, and performance staff move beyond averages and static summaries while capturing what matters most: the most demanding moments of play.