Why in the heck I am starting speed clinics with my brother.

If you dont know, I spent the last 5 months away from volleyball and all of February and March in rural Sicily studying food. It truly was the best decision of my life and while there are undoubtedly repercussions in my professional life because of my decision to take so much time off, I wouldn’t change it for the world. While I was gone I had all these plans to start introducing what I learned about food into my life at home in California, maybe cooking classes or a podcasts or a food education instagram, I was so inspired! But when I returned it hit me quickly that food will always be there, but my time in sports is now.

The time away from the sports world that I have been so deeply embededed in my whole life, provided me an opportunity to explore myself outside of just “Zana the volleyball player” and boy did I learn a lot. Two of those “aha moments” or “light bulb ideas” led me to want to start speed clinics with my brother and here they are.

1. While I am a volleyball player I also identify as an athlete and I missed being an athlete so badly the past few months. I feel so strongly that I am able to do what I do and be at the level that I am becasue of the extensive training I have had in so many sports throughout my life. People ask why I am so fast, I ran track. People ask me how im so flexible and able to move in such freakish positions, I did gymnastics. How my footwork is so quick, years of soccer. So the volleyball player that I am now is only a result of the athlete I have been for the last 25 years. Above all I have learned from some incredible teachers how to control and move my body no matter what ball I’m hitting or chasing. I feel a sense of proudness and ownership over the way that I understand my body and how i can move and control it. I love volleyball but also have so much love and deep respect for athletes of all kind who can do incredible things with the bodies they were given.

2. For my entire professional and collegiate career I have had major imposter syndrome. I have never felt comfortable or entitled to teach or preach to anybody, I was grateful to people who supported me but was confused by people who looked up to me or wanted tips from me, unless they were fashion tips which I totally understand that. And while that was largely due to a lack of self confidence, I truly didn’t own, embody or give myself credit for some of the amazing things that I have been able to accomplish. I dont intend on ever being braggadocios or cocky and I also have so much more that I want to accomplish but at the same time it felt good to take a step back and see some things I have been able to do for what they are and appreciate all the work and sacrifices I have put into my career. I now am in a position and mindset that I am excited and confidant to share my thoughts, beliefs and ideas with anybody who wants to be thier best and who I might possibly be able to help. I feel like my athletic career has been such an learning journey that It would be a selfish not connect with he next generation of young athletes.

So that led me to sitting in my new apartment with my new roommate, my brother, and creating this idea for an athlete development program. My brother has been my role model, my sports psych, my trainer and truly my rock since I began my professional career. Im slightly biased but he is also one of the most entertaining and clutch athletes I have ever witnessed. But like me he is an athlete to his core, passionate, determined and has a fighting spirit. No matter the sport we watch, we cheer, and I cry when someone wins.

We plan to start speed and agility clinics that we believe will help any young athlete learn to move and understand their body so they can be the best athlete they can be. We also are available and looking to help mentor athletes on the mental side of the game that is equally as important, as well as giving private training in our respective sports, baseball and volleyball. Our goal is to create a place for athletes to come and grow as athletes in 3 ways, on thier body and movment, their technique and on their mind.

This blog post wasn’t intended to be a sales pitch, more of an explanation of how I went to a food school and came home and started speed and agility clinics, the worlds is just funny sometimes.