Aija Abele on Culture, Coaching, and the Work Athletes Don’t See (Part 2)

About this episode

Aija Abele discusses the realities of coaching, team culture, and the unseen work that goes into athlete development.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Aija, she shares what she thought coaching would be when she first started versus what the role has actually become two years in. From reflection and responsibility to fairness, team culture, and the mental side of performance, she offers a thoughtful look at the work coaches carry long after practice ends. We talk about what athletes often don’t realize coaches are thinking about, how to balance fairness with what a team needs in the moment, how to respond when energy drops, and what it really takes to build a unified culture when skill levels vary across a roster. This conversation also gets to the heart of what “Better Together” really means - not just as a club phrase, but as a way of leading, growing, and showing up for the people around you. In this episode, we cover: • What coaching actually is versus what Aija thought it would be • Why coaching is so much more mental and relational than most people realize • The reflection process coaches go through after practices and tournaments • Leading by example and asking athletes to do only what you’re willing to do yourself • Balancing fairness, kindness, momentum, and development • What players…

People in this episode

Guest: Aija Abele

Topics covered

• coaching
• team culture
• mental performance
• athlete awareness
• fairness in sports
• leadership
• trust building

Keywords

• coaching
• team culture
• mental side of performance
• athlete development
• fairness
• energy management
• trust
• leadership

More episodes of Better Together

• Playing the Long Game: Building Better Athletes with Ryan Freeburg PART 2 · June 12, 2026 · 36 min
• One Year Later: Building United Birmingham with Ryan Freeburg PART 1 · June 4, 2026 · 36 min
• The Mental Side of Volleyball with Perry Robinson · May 28, 2026 · 35 min
• The Human Side of Coaching with Perry Robinson · May 20, 2026 · 33 min
• What College Coaches Actually Look For in Recruiting with UAB Head Coach Betsy Freeburg | Part 2 · May 13, 2026 · 37 min
• Betsy Freeburg on Perseverance, Leadership, and Becoming UAB’s Head Volleyball Coach · May 6, 2026 · 32 min