THE PARENT'S GUIDE
TO PACE
PACE is not just a volleyball tool — it's a framework for understanding your child as a whole person. This guide explains what PACE is, how it works, and how you can use it to support your athlete's growth on and off the court.
No PACE trait is better than another. A championship team needs all four — the competitor, the energizer, the glue, and the thinker. Your child's natural personality has a role in every team they'll ever be part of.
PACE TRAITS ARE LIFE SKILLS
The qualities PACE measures don't stay on the volleyball court. Research shows that personality traits developed through sport carry directly into academic performance, career success, and interpersonal relationships. Here's what each trait means beyond the game.
Competitive drive, goal-setting, work ethic, physical excellence
Goal-orientation, academic discipline, career ambition
Praise your child's effort and preparation, not just results. A high-P athlete thrives when they see their hard work paying off. Help them set process goals ('I want to improve my serve accuracy by 10%') rather than outcome goals ('I want to start every game').
High-P athletes become the employees who stay late to get it right, the entrepreneurs who don't quit, the students who outwork their peers. This trait is a life advantage.
Team energy, emotional leadership, positivity under pressure
Leadership, resilience, social influence, emotional intelligence
Notice and name when your child lifts others. 'I saw you encourage your teammate after that error — that's real leadership.' High-A athletes need to know their emotional contribution is seen and valued, not just their stats.
High-A athletes become the managers who build great cultures, the friends everyone calls in a crisis, the leaders who bring out the best in others. Emotional intelligence is increasingly the most valued professional skill.
Unselfish play, system execution, conflict resolution, trust-building
Teamwork, collaboration, empathy, conflict management
If your child is high-C, they may hesitate to advocate for themselves (playing time, position preferences). Encourage them to speak up: 'Cooperation isn't just following — it's working with others, including asking for what you need.' Help them practice assertive communication at home.
High-C athletes excel in collaborative work environments, group projects, and any role that requires earning trust and working within systems. These are the team players every organization desperately needs.
Mental focus, game reading, tactical adaptability, pressure composure
Strategic thinking, problem-solving, analytical ability, academic excellence
High-E athletes may overthink and stress — academically and athletically. Encourage them to use their analytical skill to also schedule relaxation and fun. Help them see that balance is itself a strategic choice, not a weakness.
High-E athletes often excel academically and in analytical careers (engineering, medicine, strategy, research). Their ability to stay composed under pressure and think clearly in complex situations is a rare and valuable quality.
HOW COACHES USE PACE
PACE is designed to complement skill assessment — not replace it. The recommended weighting is clear and transparent:
This weighting ensures that physical ability remains the primary selection criterion. PACE informs coaching decisions — how to develop a player, what role suits them, how to communicate with them — but it never overrides athletic merit.
In practice, this means PACE shapes how a coach develops and communicates with each athlete — not whether they make the team. A highly-skilled athlete still earns their spot on athletic merit. PACE informs what role they play, how errors are coached, and how the team is built around them. A lower-skill athlete with a strong PACE fit does not displace a higher-skill athlete — they receive coaching that maximizes their specific development trajectory.
Coaches use PACE to build teams with complementary traits — not just the most skilled players, but a balanced mix of competitors, energizers, glue players, and thinkers.
PACE helps coaches 'speak each player's language.' A high-P player responds to direct challenges; a high-C player responds to team-framed feedback. Same message, different delivery.
When a coach chooses one player over another, PACE provides objective, trait-based language: 'We needed a high-Attitude presence in this role.' This reduces misunderstandings.
PACE helps identify natural leaders. A high-Attitude player may be the vocal motivator; a high-Endurance player may be the strategic thinker. Both are valid leadership styles.
HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR ATHLETE
Research shows that supportive parental communication leads to higher athlete motivation and enjoyment (Harwood & Knight, 2015). Here are six practical strategies grounded in the PACE framework.
Learn the Language
Familiarize yourself with the four PACE traits so you can use the same language your coach uses. When your child says 'I'm a C player,' you'll understand what that means and can reinforce it positively.
Reinforce Strengths at Home
Notice and name PACE traits in everyday life. 'That was very Attitude of you — you kept the whole group positive.' This helps athletes see their traits as genuine strengths, not just volleyball categories.
Support Growth Areas
If your child is lower in a trait, create low-stakes opportunities to practice it at home. Lower-P? Celebrate when they push through something hard. Lower-C? Praise collaborative moments. Lower-A? Notice when they lift someone's spirits.
Ask, Don't Tell
After games, lead with questions rather than coaching: 'How did you feel about your focus today?' or 'What did you notice about the team's energy?' This builds the self-awareness that makes PACE work.
Trust the Process
PACE is a long-term development tool. Resist the urge to compare your child's profile to teammates'. Every trait combination has a role. The goal is for your child to understand themselves — and that takes time.
Model the Traits
Athletes learn from what they see. Show Performance by working hard at your own goals. Show Attitude by staying positive when things go wrong. Show Cooperation by working well with others. Show Endurance by staying calm under pressure.
PARENT FAQ
The most common questions parents ask about PACE.
"PACE IS ABOUT DEVELOPING BETTER PEOPLE, NOT JUST BETTER PLAYERS."
— PACE White Paper
Athletes who understand their own motivations and how to work with others will carry those skills beyond volleyball — into every team, classroom, and career they encounter.