Going Clubbing
My wife and I always said to each other, “We would never place a high priority on our children’s sports” – until it happened. Our daughter started playing volleyball (for fun and something to do) in our local recreation department at the ripe age of 7. It was a sport that we enjoyed watching and that we didn’t have to sit in 90-degree temps for ten innings or have to watch her getting hammered trying to collect a rebound. It was also a sport (after 8 years) in which we find ourselves emotionally, mentally, and physically drained by the end of a long season. Oh yeah… did I also mention financially?
She improved each year of playing and started to love the sport to the point that I began to hear the hitting of the volleyball against the garage late at night, or I would get asked to “pepper” with her in the backyard for hours on end. I found out really fast that we were in this sport for the long haul.
Back in my day (…isn’t that what all old people say?), we were able to play and be successful in multiple sports by just shooting hoops in the driveway or local gym. With today’s youth sports, kids are recommended to begin training in sports performance programs before middle school. Crazy.
As for her volleyball commitment:
- Recreation Leagues
- Skill Camps
- Open Gyms
- Privates
- Performance and Weight Lifting Clinics
- Middle School Volleyball
- High School Volleyball
- Club Volleyball
It brings a tear to my eyes to watch her try and keep up with basic high school homework at odd times of the evening with an ice pack or massage gun on her sore muscles. Just to compete in a sport that thousands play in tournaments around the country.
What else was recommended to us in the 5th grade as she improved?
Enter – CLUB VOLLEYBALL. The highs of highs and the lows of lows. The anxiety of making the “best team” and the drama of losing close friends to other clubs or “not being selected” after tryouts or open gyms. The club scene is competitive – sometimes brutal. In the past, there were weekends she stood on the sidelines and cheered more than she played, with long car rides home filled with frustration and quiet tears. And there is pressure – so much pressure – to perform, to win, to prove she belongs on one of the top teams in Colorado.
Family vacations during club season have become out-of-state volleyball tournaments. Usually nothing luxurious, and they always consist of loud convention centers with whistles blowing and parents shouting. It is such a tight window to fit any type of travel between high school and club seasons anymore. Our family has almost given up. Our international all-inclusive resort with fine dining has turned into Acai bowls and chicken tenders rushed before a 3-set match during an afternoon wave of games.
With all of this negativity, why continue to pursue a passion that seems to be draining? Why not try and coax her out of playing? Through it all – the wins, the losses, the drama, the grind – it has developed her into the woman she is today. Complete.
Volleyball has taught her how to advocate for herself, how to stay committed even when things weren’t easy, and how to bounce back after setbacks. She has made some of her BEST friends from the many different tournaments and schools she has traveled to around Colorado. It has also strengthened her in how to be a leader on and off the court. She wouldn’t be who she is today if it weren’t for volleyball.
My wife and I have recently talked about how we would feel once volleyball is over. We both answered the same way – sad. We would miss the adrenaline rush of a hard-fought 16-14 win in a tight 3-set game or being able to witness an ACE against another local club team. Heck, who are we going to say ROOF’D to once she is done playing? Volleyball is a drug, and we would both miss it as much as she will.
Whether she keeps playing competitively in college, the court has already given her more than I ever expected: confidence, character, and a love for something that betters her both physically and mentally. It’s amazing what a ball, a net, and a team can do. Volleyball isn’t just a sport for her – it’s helping shape her into the woman that she is today. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.
Sincerely,
🏐 Volleyball Dad