1-on-1 Coaching
Decreasing Pain, Increasing Performance.
About Me
I help volleyball athletes move better, hit harder, and stay in the game longer — by training the body the way it was built to move.
As a former professional and Canadian National Team volleyball player, I know firsthand what it takes to perform at a high level — and stay healthy doing it.
During my varsity career at Trinity Western University, I was a three-time First Team All-Canadian and named U SPORTS Player of the Year in 2015. Our team captured two national championships and one national silver medal. After university, I played professionally in Germany, France, Switzerland, and India.
But the real story behind my longevity and success lies in the people who influenced me.
Off the court, I trained under Mischa Harris — my now co-founder at Athlete Wellness Academy. Mischa introduced me to a performance approach that wasn’t just about getting bigger, faster, or stronger. We focused on improving movement quality as the foundation for performance and durability. Thanks to that work, I played nearly my entire career pain-free — something few high-level athletes can say.
On the court, I was coached for six years by Ben Josephson, one of the most respected minds in Canadian volleyball and current Associate Head Coach with the University of Texas Women's Volleyball Team. Ben didn’t just teach me how to be a better volleyball player — he taught me to be curious, creative, and relentlessly committed to growth. Those values fuel how I coach today.
Since retiring from pro volleyball in 2018, I’ve been on a mission to better understand how movement and mechanics can unlock performance and eliminate pain. That journey led me to Austin Einhorn of Apiros, whose revolutionary approach to human movement has changed the way I coach. I’ve been mentored by Austin for nearly three years, and the tools I’ve learned from him have helped me create real breakthroughs with athletes who were stuck — sometimes for years.
The influence of these three mentors shows up every day in how I work with athletes. I don’t do cookie-cutter programs. I look at the full picture — how you move, how much capacity you have, how you swing, and how your body responds — then we focus on the changes that will unlock more power, reduce pain, and elevate your performance long-term.
I’m passionate about helping athletes become more resilient, more capable, and more uncommon.
If you’re tired of doing what everyone else is doing — and ready to build something better — you’re in the right place. Keep reading.
-
Movement Coach
Evolved Coach (Apiros)
Sleep and Recovery Specialist
DNS, FST, FMS, ELDOA Certified
Movement and Arm Swing Consultant for:
Trinity Western University Spartans Men’s Volleyball Team
University of Alberta Golden Bears Volleyball Team
UC Santa Barbara Women’s Volleyball Team
Thompson Rivers University Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Team
University of Saskatchewan Men’s Volleyball Team
How It Works
Most athletes come to me because they haven’t been able to get the results they’re after. Whether they’re trying to play pain-free, recover from an injury, or improve their performance, they feel stuck. Many have already tried a long list of solutions — but they’re still in pain, still not progressing, and starting to believe that this might just be “the way it is.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place.
When athletes come to me at this point, I get genuinely excited — because I know we can change the story. I’ve seen it happen time and time again. The process I use has been tested and proven with hundreds of athletes, helping them not only get out of pain but unlock performance gains they didn’t think were possible.
The Process
-
This might sound simple, but it’s often missing from most coaching assessments. One of the first questions I ask is: “What have you already done?”
This opens the door to valuable insights — what’s worked, what hasn’t, and where we’re spinning our wheels. If an athlete is coming to me, it’s usually because their current approach isn’t getting the job done. So why waste time repeating the same thing? -
Next, I assess how the athlete moves — both in a weight room and in their sport. I look at movement efficiency and the athlete’s capacity to repeat efficient patterns over time. This dual-environment approach often reveals blind spots that traditional assessments miss. Combined with what I’ve learned in Step 1, it gives us a clear starting point for change.
-
Now it’s time to experiment. Based on our findings, we test a few targeted strategies to see what creates real change. Not everything will work — and that’s okay. If something I expected to help doesn’t move the needle, I don’t let ego get in the way. I go back to the drawing board, re-assess, and adjust until we find what does.
-
Once we’ve identified effective strategies, we focus on making movement cost less. Think of your body like a bank account. Every movement withdraws from that account. If you have $1,000, we want each rep to cost a few cents — not a few hundred dollars. The more efficient the movement, the slower the account drains. When the account runs low, that’s when pain, overuse injuries, and performance dips tend to show up.
We’re not chasing “perfect” movement — we’re chasing efficient movement that lets athletes stay durable and play longer.
-
Reducing the cost of movement is only half the equation. We also need to build capacity — so athletes can handle more load, volume, and intensity without breaking down. This means developing physical qualities like strength, control, and resilience alongside better mechanics.
-
Finally, we connect the dots between strength training and sport performance.
My goal isn’t for an athlete to become the best lifter in the gym — it’s for their improved movement to show up on the court, where it matters most.Efficient movement in the weight room means nothing if it doesn't transfer to better swings, faster reactions, or pain-free play. That’s the bridge we build together.
1-on-1 Athletes
-
Olympians
4
-
Professional Volleyball Players
30+
-
National Team Volleyball Players
35+
-
Professionals From Other Sports
10+
Jesse Elser - Team Canada & Professional in France
“Before I started training with Nick I was playing at a decent level and through lots of pain – now I’m playing at a high level with no pain at all. We all know it’s fun to win and fun to compete but sometimes lifting can be monotonous but Nick and his programs make going to the gym fun and exciting. Not only do his lifts bring out your inner child but I see major results by the end of each session because of his creativity and his precise attention to detail. He has taken my self-confidence to a whole new level and I’m experiencing trust in my body and my abilities that I've never experienced before.”
1-on-1 In-Person Coaching
My in-person sessions are unique because we don’t separate the weight room from the volleyball court — we use both environments together to create more powerful and lasting results.
Our facility includes a fully equipped weight room and volleyball courts, allowing us to seamlessly blend strength, movement, and arm swing training in real time. Whether it’s refining your arm swing, improving movement mechanics, or addressing pain, we move fluidly between the gym and the court to maximize your progress.
Sessions typically last 60–75 minutes and are fully customized to you. Some sessions might focus more on the gym, others more on the court, but most combine both to create a holistic approach that you won’t find anywhere else.
If you’re local — or willing to fly in — and want an innovative, integrated training experience that accelerates your results, in-person coaching here is truly one-of-a-kind.
-
Level 1 Sports Inc
Address: 14449 Yellowhead Trail NW, Edmonton, AB T5L 3C4 -
Each session costs $200. This price covers the session, facility access, and programming based off what we work on in session.
Want To Work Together In-Person?
Matt Neaves - Team Canada & Professional in Germany
“After my first pro season and doing National Team in the summer, I strained my abdominals multiple times and was feeling worried about my next season. I had other nagging pain that wouldn’t go away in other areas too. I went to work with Nick a few weeks after I arrived in Germany and he helped my abdominals, shoulders, knees, back, and basically anything I threw at him. I was able to compete at my highest level consistently, and his programming and advice was a huge factor in this. Even being 8 hours time difference away, the communication was effortless. I’m really pleased with my progress and excited to continue working with Nick.”
1-on-1 Coaching Options
VIRTUAL
The Uncommon Training Membership
It’s called the Uncommon Training Membership because I want athletes who are part of it to strive for and get uncommon results. This membership is designed to be the most efficient (from a distance) way to progress athletes towards their goals and beyond. It is geared towards university and professional level athletes who are looking to commit to a process that will continually push them away from pain and injuries, and towards higher performance in their sport.
The small group of athletes in this group will be my main priority.
As a part of this membership, athletes will have access to up to 90-minutes of call time/month (phone or zoom). This allows me to make sure athletes are learning the patterns, progressing in an efficient manner and if something comes up mid-month we can connect and problem solve!
Athletes will also have a shared photo album where they can quickly upload their workout and sport videos for analysis and feedback. I want to make the experience as similar to in-person as possible so we utilize these videos to ensure exercises are done well, progress is being made, and sport performance is improving (if that’s part of your goals).
These videos also help me adapt exercises and programming in real-time, as the athlete adapts. If we see a change in movement happening, I want to progress things in order to see your results improve quickly!
Lastly, members will have my phone number so they can access me throughout the month for questions an support. There is limited space so apply using the button below and I’ll be in touch shortly!
FAQ
-
I am keeping numbers low (~10) so I can FULLY commit to the athletes within the group. If you apply and things are full I will put you on a waitlist and contact you when a spot opens.
-
The Uncommon Training Membership is $400/month. There is no 3 month or yearly contract you must agree to. I expect the results to make you want to stick around.
-
I designed this Membership with Professional, National Team and University athletes in mind but in rare cases some youth athletes are permitted into the group.
More important than the level you play at in your sport, I’m looking for athletes that are ready for change and genuinely curious in nature.
-
Most of the Uncommon Training Membership athletes work with me year round. Training looks different in the off-season than it does in-season, I understand that. I also understand what it’s like to have a team training program that you have to complete.
I will help you navigate the uniqueness of your situation and make adjustments quickly to ensure you’re doing the right things whether you are in-season or in the off-season. -
I work with some athletes who are not in the Uncommon Subscription on a case by case situation.
Individual sessions cost $300 and include the assessment, the session and simple follow-up programming.
These 1-off sessions do not include complex in or off-season programming but are more geared towards helping athletes quickly problem solve injury or performance issues.
Brodie Hofer - Team Canada (Olympian) and Professional in Italy
“Nick and the Athlete Wellness Academy were a great resource for me while I was overseas. I was dealing with knee pain and I wasn’t sure what to do. I gave Nick a call and we sorted out my problems in a couple sessions. After 1 week of exercises my pain had reduced significantly. After 2 weeks I was moving and playing better.”
Cory Schoenherr- Team Canada and Trinity Western University
“Over my time at Trinity Western, I have been incredibly fortunate to have the chance to work with Nick. In my time at Trinity, I have unfortunately experienced injuries late in the season, and Nick is a major reason for why I have been able to get on top of those injuries, and return to playing in time for nationals. Nick is incredible at identifying the root cause of pain, and working with you to ensure that the pain goes away, and stays away. I have been working with Nick since the fall of 2021, and since then, I have increased my vertical, increased my serving velocity, gotten out of being in a position of constant knee pain, and most importantly, put myself in a position to be able to train each and every day. and work towards achieving my short and long term goals.”
Kade Miller - Ambrose University
“When I came to Nick I was having intense knee pain, getting physiotherapy twice a week without any real results and no end in sight. I couldn’t jump without strong pain killers and every day movements such as standing up, sitting down and walking were becoming more and more difficult. Within a few weeks of following Nick’s program I was able to join in offseason practices with my team and started getting back to jumping. Nick addressed the root of my problems and gave me programs that fit them. We had monthly virtual sessions to track progress and to adapt the program to my body’s needs. Fast forward a few months to my first real week back training with my team for our training camp. 8 practices over 5 days and 5 strength and conditioning sessions on top of that and I made it through with less soreness than my teammates thanks to Nick. My knees feel stronger than they ever have and simple every day movements actually feel like simple every day movements instead of a chore. There was a point where I thought I’d never make it back to 100%, I was even questioning if I could continue playing volleyball and now I feel like I’ve regained control over my body.”
Get a better understanding of how I work with my clients:
