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Digging Deeper | In partnership with Volleyball England

In this episode, I’m joined by Davide Tiberti, the London Lionhearts Women’s coach, to hear his inspiring journey through volleyball — from growing up in Italy to leaving his mark on the English game.

Davide’s story begins as a junior in a Serie A club academy in Italy, where he developed his game alongside his brothers — one of whom went on to play professionally for the Italian National Team. Volleyball was in his blood, but when Davide moved to the UK for university, the game slipped away, and for a time, he thought that chapter of his life had closed.

It wasn’t until his late twenties that volleyball found him again. By chance, Davide stumbled across the Lionhearts club in London, and his passion was reignited. Soon after, he stepped up to play libero in the Super League with Lynx, an experience that shaped his understanding of the position. In this episode, he shares valuable tips and insights into the mindset of a great libero — from concentration to consistency and the discipline required to perform at the highest level.

But Davide’s journey didn’t stop on the court. When the opportunity arose, he took over coaching duties for Lynx, before moving on to lead the Lionhearts Women. Over the past four years, he has overseen an incredible rise: taking the team from Division 1, surviving that tough first season in the Super League, and building year on year to achieve an outstanding 4th-place finish last season. Davide opens up about how he achieved this — from his methodical approach to preparation, to instilling mindset and focus in his players, and creating an environment where the team could grow and compete at the highest level.

Now, as Davide steps down after his successful tenure, we also discuss what’s next for the Lionhearts under new leadership, and the legacy he leaves behind.

This is a conversation full of lessons on mindset, perseverance, and leadership — one that every player, coach, and club manager will take something from.

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Welcome back to The Heritage Show! After a well-deserved summer break, we’re recharged and ready to dive into another incredible season celebrating the people who’ve shaped volleyball in the UK.

In this episode, I sit down with true volleyball legend Freda Bussey, MBE – a powerhouse who’s been growing the game for over 40 years.

We explore Freda’s journey from her early playing days representing England on the world stage, to her time as a PE teacher at Ashcombe School, where she began coaching and eventually playing for the very team she led. We talk about the unique role of the player-coach, her long-standing work as a coach tutor for Volleyball England, and her passion for supporting new coaches.

Freda is the founding force behind Ashcombe Volleyball Club, established in 1976 – a club that’s still going strong today. She shares her wisdom on running a successful club, the commercial mindset it takes, and how the iconic Ashcombe Grass Tournament helped fund national league success and title-winning teams.

Still deeply involved in the sport, you’ll now find Freda refereeing at the University of Sussex with her husband, and continuing to make an impact through her roles in the Sussex and South East Volleyball Associations.

Awarded an MBE in 2013 for her services to volleyball, Freda is the definition of a doer – someone who simply gets things done and makes things happen.

A brilliant conversation with a true volleyball icon.
Let’s get into it.

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In this special edition of That Volleyball Guy, I’m joining in with UK Coaching Week to reflect on the Pass It On theme and what better time to do that than after being named Volleyball England’s Coach of the Year.

In this episode, I open up about my journey as a coach: how my mindset and approach have evolved over the years, the power of building connection with players, and the importance of staying grounded in purpose, not just performance. I share the key lessons I’ve learned through experience, mistakes, and growth and why I believe in always passing those lessons on.

I also talk about our team’s incredible journey celebrating our second successive promotion, rising from Division 2 to Division 1, and what it took behind the scenes to make that happen. From building belief to fostering resilience and consistency, I reflect on how our collective mindset helped us take that next step.

Whether you’re just starting your coaching journey or you’ve been at it for years, this episode is about sharing knowledge, celebrating progress, and paying it forward. Coaching is about more than just the game — it’s about people, growth, and leaving something behind that matters.

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