Crowdsourcing My Next Article
Turns out shouting into the void isn’t a content strategy.
Hi 👋
I’m currently stationed on the couch—Day 4 of a new Covid saga—surrounded by tea, tissues, and the vague hope that I’ll someday be able to smell coffee again. But let’s look on the bright side: what better time to reflect, write, and… crowdsource?
Since I’m not in the gym yelling “why are we tipping that?!” this week, I’ve had a rare moment to pause and reflect on this Substack project—and where we’re headed together.
Over the past few months, some of my posts seem to have genuinely resonated with readers:
“Better Volleyball, Fewer Drills” was by far the longest—and most viewed—piece I’ve written, which proves that yes, you do have the attention span for thoughtful rebellion.
“When the Coach Is the Obstacle” poked at the idea that sometimes, we’re the ones in the way of growth (ouch, but true)
“A Friendly Guide to Easing Into Ecological Training” helped coaches dip a toe into representative learning without fully lighting their practice plan on fire
And “The Cue Confusion” clarified that what you say might not be what athletes hear (…a concept familiar to anyone who's ever coached teens before lunch)
Now, I’ve got a list of new topics I’m itching to write about—some of them deep dives, others just weirdly fun thought experiments from the shadowy corners of ecological dynamics.
But here’s the thing:
I want to hear from YOU.
What do you want to read next? What are you struggling with? What’s been helpful, what’s been “meh,” and what would actually get you excited to click?
So I put together a short little survey—I'm calling it:
🧭 “The Chaos Compass”
Help guide where we go next in the messy, beautiful world of ecological coaching.
Inside, you’ll find:
A quick poll with 9 potential article topics (like letting players design their own constraints or why most “game-like” drills still aren’t game-like)
A few questions to help me understand who’s reading this (spoiler: it’s not just my mom)
And a chance to steer the ship a bit—because this isn’t just my journey, it’s ours
Whether you’re a coach, a parent, a volleyball nerd, or someone who just really enjoys metaphors about chaos and control, I’d love your input.
As I explore this space (on the couch, still questioning the nature of time), I’m genuinely grateful for this little community that’s forming. It’s exciting. Weird. Motivating.
And I want to keep building something that serves you—your athletes, your questions, your messy reality.
Thanks for reading, sharing, commenting, disagreeing, and exploring alongside me.
Now go take the survey, will ya?
— Loren
(current status: still coughing, still grateful)