Junior Olympics volleyball has existed informally in Eyota for many years. My family became involved when my daughters began to play 5 years ago, and I admit, I wasn’t a very nice parent, because I didn’t understand the work involved, and the rules, and I didn’t see the bigger picture beyond winning. But I was inspired to become a coach and take on a team, which lead to coaching 8th and 9th grade teams at Dover-Eyota High School, and seeing the need for a better organized off season volleyball youth group for our community.
I’m excited to be part way into our second year as a community based club, and to see participation increasing. Players are registered, tournaments and schedules are set, and we have new uniforms. Some of our teams have already played in a tournament or a play day scrimmage event. Youth sports are a much bigger deal than they used to be 5 or 10 years ago, and were pretty much non-existent when I was growing up. This creates challenges, as we compete for gym space with basketball and softball during the winter months, and some of our players are involved in all three sports!
Some of the frustrations that come with being a coach during the off season, is that you only see and work with your team once a week, versus five times a week during the school year. And you are competing with other youth sports. Oh how you wish for just one practice when all your players are there, and that once you have your line-up set for the weekend tournament, you hope that someone won’t tell you they are going to be gone at the list minute, forcing you to make last minute changes.
Also, there is so much to teach, and just not enough time. At the beginning levels, you are teaching basic skills of passing, passing footwork, serving, and how to “read” the ball. At the middle school level, you begin to teach harder skills of attacking and blocking, and more complicated rotations, which involve switching your spot on the court to play a more specialized position. At the high school levels, you teach the players even more complicated rotations, ways to stack to receive your opponent’s serve, transitioning from defensive base to offense, and back, and coverage: knowing where to be on the court to defend. You also continually teach and work on basic skills, and you want the girls to learn in system situations, and how to play the ball when it’s out of system. It’s really tough to work on some of these things when players are missing.
As we move forward through our JO season, I hope parents keep in mind what we are up against, and to put into perspective that as a community based organization, we have players of all skill levels, and most likely very few are elite athletes going on to play D1 sports in college. Our community based program is affordable, and built upon volunteers who put in a lot of hours of their personal time that you don’t see or think about. Please keep in mind some of the benefits for youth players of volleyball beyond winning:
1- Teamwork and socialization
Volleyball teaches kids teamwork and helps to establish contact with peers.
The latter is especially important for children who experience problems with socialization in everyday life. A group of like-minded people will help the child to become more sociable and confident.
2- Volleyball for kids has a positive impact on health
Volleyball has a good effect on health. A variety of movements in this sport loads almost all muscle groups. Volleyball also strengthens children’s immunity and the cardiovascular system, improves the eye movement and body posture.
3- Creates positive qualities for the child
It forms and strengthens positive qualities that will surely be useful for a child in life such as hard work, responsibility, desire to win, discipline and courage.
4- Does not require large financial expenses
Volleyball belongs to affordable sports, as the kid needs only to participate in a youth volleyball program or camp. For training outside the volleyball court, the child will need only a net, a ball, and teammates. In addition, there is no expensive outfit, which usually is the main expense for the parents of the athlete.
5- Sportsmanship
What other sport do all the players of each team greet each other and wish each other good luck?
6- Visiting other cities & schools
7- The risk of injury is lower than other contact sports
8- Learning how to keep score, officiate and line judge
This aspect of the game and JO volleyball can lead to money making opportunities for players as they go off to college. What other part-time and flexible job can they make $30-40 an hour doing on a weekend?
9- Volleyball is just plain fun!
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