From Player to Coach: How Does a Roundnet Community Grow?

The development of roundnet as a sport is not defined solely by performances on the court. The way a community builds its future is just as important. At the heart of this process are coaches—not only as developers of skills, but also as drivers of a culture based on involvement and responsibility.

During the opening conference of the Roundnet Coaching Development for Education and Inclusion project, we spoke with Julia Kathy Grob about what it truly means to be a roundnet coach. The conversation began with her experience as a player and quickly moved towards deeper topics: community, responsibility, and confidence in one’s own journey.

“We have very good players who have decided to become coaches, because a sports system cannot function when there are only people receiving information—we also need people who provide information.”
(Julia Kathy Grob – Pro Player)

This idea captures one of the most important realities of an emerging sport: the balance between receiving and contributing. In a growing community, it is easy for players to benefit from opportunities—tournaments, visibility, and technical development—without considering their own role in supporting the system.

However, when players choose to become coaches, it marks a shift in mindset. It is no longer only about individual performance, but also about collective responsibility. A healthy sporting ecosystem needs people who invest their time, energy, and knowledge in others. Without this kind of involvement, growth becomes fragile and dependent on a limited number of initiatives.

“When you look at Germany’s national coaching team, they are former professional players who have retired. (…) Yes, we retire, but what if we came back as coaches and gave back everything we received from the community?”
(Julia Kathy Grob – Pro Player)

The transition from player to coach is not the end of the journey, but a natural and necessary continuation of it. The experience gained over years of competition does not disappear when a player retires. On the contrary, it gains new value when it is used to support others.

In addition to their technical knowledge of the sport, former top-level players bring a deep understanding of the game: its rhythm, decision-making under pressure, and adaptability. These are things that cannot be learned through theory alone. They also become role models for new generations, demonstrating that involvement in the sport does not end when competitive participation does.

This perspective helps build a culture in which experience is passed on and reinvested rather than lost.

“Sometimes, ambitious people do not share their knowledge as much, but that is something I have never experienced in Germany, and it is truly beautiful.”
(Julia Kathy Grob – Pro Player)

In many competitive environments, information is treated as an advantage that must be protected. Strategies, techniques, and small tactical details are often kept within restricted circles. Roundnet, however, appears to be moving in a different direction.

Openness in sharing knowledge creates an environment in which progress is accelerated for everyone. Players do not develop in isolation, but within a collaborative system where the exchange of ideas is encouraged. This culture reduces barriers to entry for beginners and creates an authentic sense of community.

In the long term, this mindset could become one of the sport’s greatest competitive strengths.

“Future coaches should think big and not allow stereotypes to limit them. (…) Just be confident and trust your abilities. (…) You do not have to be perfect to be a very good coach.”

(Julia Kathy Grob – Pro Player)

Perhaps the greatest challenge facing future coaches is not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of confidence. Many players wonder whether they are “good enough” to teach others, particularly in a sport where the level of play is rising rapidly.

This mindset can become a genuine barrier. Waiting for perfection before beginning to contribute ultimately leads to stagnation. In reality, a coach’s value does not lie in never making mistakes, but in their ability to explain, guide, and adapt information to the level of the people they are coaching.

Confidence in one’s own experience—even when that experience is not “perfect”—is essential. Every player who has taken part in tournaments, gone through the learning process, and developed an understanding of the fundamentals already has something valuable to offer.

Coaches do not need to be perfect players.

Perfection is not a requirement for making an impact. Involvement, openness, and the willingness to contribute are.