How much should parents actually be involved in their daughter’s volleyball recruiting process?
In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with three dads of 2028 Division I commits, the conversation shifts from what happened during recruiting to what it was really like to navigate the process as a parent.
The dads share the roles they took on behind the scenes, from managing spreadsheets, emails, film, travel, and school research to helping their daughters think through what they actually wanted in a college experience. They also get candid about the harder part: knowing when to stop coaching, listen more, manage their own stress, and give their daughters space to simply be teenagers.
They also talk about what happens after the commitment, why June 15th does not define an athlete, and the importance of running your own race instead of comparing your recruiting journey to someone else’s. The conversation closes with practical advice for looking beyond brand-name schools, evaluating where an athlete realistically fits, and using tools like Massey Ratings and virtual campus tours to discover programs families may otherwise overlook.
If you’re a parent wondering how to support your daughter without taking over her recruiting journey, this episode offers an honest look at what these dads learned along the way.
Chapters
00:00 – Welcome back to Part 2
01:20 – What role should dads play in recruiting?
03:20 – Helping your athlete figure out what she really wants
05:20 – When being the coach gets in the way of being dad
07:40 – Protecting time for athletes to just be kids
08:35 – Who was actually the most stressed?
12:30 – What the dads will miss about recruiting
15:45 – What happens after your athlete commits?
17:30 – Final advice for parents navigating recruiting
19:20 – June 15th does not define your athlete
21:45 – Stop chasing only the brand-name schools
23:00 – Using Massey Ratings to find the right competitive fit
27:20 – Using virtual campus tours to narrow your list
About the Guests:
Jason Wender
Father of Liv Wender, 2028 S, West Virginia Commit
Matthew Delaney
Father of Carolina Delaney, 2028 OH, Pepperdine Commit
Brett Baatrup
Father of Amaya Simon, 2028 MB, Colorado State Commit
Connect with the Players:
Amaya Simon: @amayaclassof2028
Carolina Delaney: @carolinadelaneyvb
Liv Wender: @livwendervolleyball
Connect with Susan:
Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank
www.rallysend.com
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