From a board member: Club volleyball is about more than just playing on the court
Thursday, February 4th, 2021
By Josh Price
Badger Region Board Member
The 2021 club volleyball tournament season is underway! Who would have thought that would be possible six months ago? Go back a year ago, and why would anyone think that there would be any doubt that the 2021 tournament season would not begin as normal? So many things have changed in the past year for everyone in so many ways.
I am not telling you all something that you do not already know. However, when you take a step back and get some perspective, you realize there are still a lot of things that have stayed the same.
There have been a number of single-day tournament day events for both girls and boys.
We have been lucky enough to get back in the gym and have tryouts, form teams, practice, and now are getting a chance to compete against other teams and clubs. For sure the events look really different. There are limits on the number of spectators who can attend. Players, coaches, refs, tourney staff, and spectators are masked. There is no shaking of hands pre- or post-match, just a quick wave of acknowledgment.
Streaming of matches has become more important than what is available at the concession stand and how far away Starbucks is from the facility. All of this is now what we expect at events, but at the end of the day there are still kids playing volleyball, which is what it has always been about. Allowing these kids to get a chance to do something that they love is so important. At a time when some players are only attending school virtually, their club volleyball team may be one of the few in-person social activities that they have. The joy that you can feel when the players are there in the gym, far supersedes any championship that a team may win. It is about so much more than just volleyball.
As a coach, I am still working with my teams to get better and improve individually and as a group each and every day, as I would in any year. I am hoping that the 12s continue to grasp the concept of a 6-2 and will get to base and transition every point. I am confident the 15s will keep working hard and grow mentally on and off the court, as well as keep working on our serve and serve receive game and the connection with the setters and hitters will improve. However, it is about so much more than just volleyball.
I have been lucky enough to coach at various tournaments at various events, and even watch some volleyball streaming as a parent and spectator. Seeing the players line judge and during time outs, feign playing a full-on tennis match back and forth using an invisible ball and rackets is something to really appreciate. Hearing a coach deliver a passionate pre-match speech hoping to inspire his young and inexperienced team going into their first match of the season was great. It was even better when one of those young players when asked at the end of the speech by the coach if anyone had questions, raised her hand, and responded with, “Do we have an ace cheer?”. Not to be forgotten are the boy’s events I have seen. The boys getting on the court and figuring out a way to congratulate each other without high fiving one another is a sight. They can always revert to flexing like The Hulk and yelling “Let’s Go”! No mask or virus is going to bring an end to that. Yes, Sir!
I coached a team at the first weekend of the Badger Region Power League. It was a return to what we normally expect when playing early on in the season. The ups and down of early season competition, with struggles and successes on the court. However, again it brought me to realize again that it is about so much more than just volleyball. The BRPL schedule got a bit chaotic at certain sites. Teams from all over the state stepped up and took or shared reffing assignments in order to move the schedule and day of play along. Referees took matches on that they had not originally been assigned to them or on their schedule.
Teams were more than willing to move courts. Players, coaches, spectators, refs, and tourney staff were patient and worked together to problem solve and get everything solved as efficiently and as quickly as possible. There are not too many places where you can get that real life experience like that. Learning how to handle a crisis situation and problem solve when conditions are heated and keeping your wits about you and remaining calm, is a skill that we can all improve on. One of the few ways you can practice this is in a live situation. The players who were a part of this experience definitely took away a valuable lesson. Being a part of a club volleyball tournament could be a resume builder for sure in my opinion.
Those of us who appreciate youth sports for all that it entails know that there is more value to the experience then just the competition and wins or losses. At any club volleyball tournament, lessons are learned, fun is had, and friendships grow stronger. It is about so much more than just volleyball!
