BlackGirlsVolley

My Sister’s TOO Good!

By Sabrina (BGV Blogger and Rec Volleyball Player)

I have an older sister who’s 15 now and has been playing volleyball for almost seven years. She started at a local recreational club and played there for years. Coaches and players could see that she was good. Next, she played for her middle school and she started playing club volleyball and got even better. Then last year she started playing as a freshman at high school for her JV team (before the end of the season she was playing varsity).

This year, she’s the only sophomore on varsity and she plays a LOT because she’s really good.

But my sister may be a little too good and here are a few reasons why:

My mom and sister can talk for hours and hours and hours about volleyball (even though my mom has never played the sport)
Because she plays both school and club, I think she gets a lot of attention and we put of lot of time into it (even though my brother and I play other sports)
Volleyball games and tournaments can take priority over other things (practices, friend’s birthday parties, etc.)
And those tournaments and games mean early mornings and late nights (sometimes I can’t watch my favorite shows)
Because she’s playing varsity in high school sometimes we have to sit through HOURS of games (five sets sometimes)

That said, I am proud of my sister and here are some things I appreciate about her being SO good:

I get to support her/her teams and cheer them on
Soccer is my main sport, but I play volleyball too and I learn a lot from her and from watching her play
Because she’s plays club we get to visit cool places and stay in nice hotels with pools and hot tubs and nice people who give us candy and ice cream socials, etc.
We also get to spend time as a family – we laugh and have fun (and we’re there for her when things don’t go so well during games)
She’s really good so she plays a lot and it’s always fun just seeing her do so well

Even though it can be a struggle, I know soon she may be off to college, hopefully playing volleyball and I won’t be
able to see her all of the time so I’m going to enjoy this time right now. Love you, Teia!

Underclassmen Playing Varsity Volleyball

Posted on September 30, 2015October 26, 2015 by BlackGirlsVolley in Girls Volleyball, High School Volleyball, Volleyball

By Teia (BGV Blogger and High School/Club Volleyball Player)

I’ve been playing volleyball for almost seven years – playing rec, school and club. During my freshman year, I made my JV team and before the end of the season they brought me up to the varsity team.

This summer, I thought about tryouts a lot and was excited because I thought I had a good chance of making varsity again. Our tryouts were three days long and on the third day I found out that I made the varsity team again. I was so happy!

We started playing games and as the season progressed I started to have some challenges. I really liked the idea of playing with the “best of the best” at my school, but being an underclassman on varsity isn’t as easy as one might think.

Most of the girls on the team have already played together before. They have already gelled together and an underclassman is coming in new.
Coaches may take it easier on younger players. This might have an effect on the younger players’ development.
A younger player coming in with the same skill level as an upperclassman can be interesting to say the least.
You aren’t always heard and listened to. Not heard because other people can’t understand your challenges…they only think it has to be great playing varsity. Not listened to by fellow players, coaches and managers.
The age difference can take a toll in a lot of ways. Friends your age may be on the freshman and JV teams and you may not be able to talk and hang out with them as much. Also as a sophomore you’re still figuring out how to balance being a student-athlete; most upperclassmen have figured that out.
Because you’re young everyone assumes you don’t know as much or that you don’t understand.

But, there are good points too:

I get a lot of encouragement from players and coaches.
I get a lot of support from my teachers who understand I’m playing this sport at a higher level; teachers get excited and come to see me play.
I’m playing against teams with older, more experienced players and that helps me become a stronger player.
Having come on varsity as a freshman, if I continue to play, I’ll definitely build my leadership skills by the time I’m a senior.

Being an underclassman on varsity is not all that it seems, but if you’re made the offer you should take it. This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you so DO IT!

The Dreaded Overhand Serve…

Posted on September 23, 2015October 26, 2015 by BlackGirlsVolley in Club Volleyball, Junior Volleyball, Volleyball

By Sabrina (BGV Blogger and Recreational Volleyball Player)

One of the toughest things about volleyball for kids my age is going from underhand to overhand serving. It’s hard because with underhand serving you don’t have to worry about throwing the ball in the air or timing when to hit it. Most kids also think it’s easier because you don’t have to have a lot of power. If you aren’t tall or you’re just starting volleyball, overhand serving can be really intimidating to even try.

But if you’re a little serious about volleyball and you want to get better, it’s a good idea to change to overhand serving. When you underhand serve, the ball can stay in the air a long time allowing the other team a lot of time to get to it, but overhand serves can be lower to the net making it harder for the other team to receive the ball. With a lot of practice you can learn different types of overhand serves, like a float serve.

When I first started playing volleyball three years ago I was eight years old and of course, I started serving underhand. Underhand wasn’t that hard for me because I served with a lot of power, but I really wanted to serve overhand so I started trying last year. And even though I’m not perfect with it, I’m more consistent this year.

Here are a few tips to for overhand serving:
• Practice, practice, practice!
• If you’re very short, throw the ball up high and make contact at a higher point on the ball
• Use your arm to follow through completely as you swing
• Follow the coach’s suggestion – start close to the net when trying the serve and then back up each time as you get better and better
• Don’t do a lot of EXTRA! Get the basic overhand serve down before trying jump serves and other stuff
• Lastly, don’t rush your serve. Take your time!

The biggest thing to remember is not to give up. If you can get your serve over the net with an overhand serve, but not all the time, DO NOT GO BACK TO UNDERHAND SERVING! You won’t get better if you do that.

Good luck and more importantly, have fun!

I Don’t Know How She Does It!

Posted on September 16, 2015October 26, 2015 by BlackGirlsVolley in Club Volleyball, Girls Volleyball, High School Volleyball, Kids Sports

By Tee (BGV Blogger and Multi-Sport/Multi-Kid Mom)

So, I realize this site and blog is geared toward volleyball parents and players; by now you can see my plate is pretty full with just my oldest playing competitive school and club volleyball, but that’s just a fraction of my life. I’m actually a working mom of THREE kids – my oldest plays volleyball (for now, she’s looking like she could be a pretty good tennis player too); my youngest daughter plays recreational soccer and volleyball (with dreams of playing travel soccer) and then my youngest kid plays recreational soccer and basketball (who knows what he’ll hone in on…he’s only eight!)

And I do this as a divorced mom; my ex-husband doesn’t live in the area so I can’t exactly divide and conquer. I have an awesome support system of friends and my mom, but I rarely pull them into my madness because candidly, I feel like I signed up for this, not them.

So you can imagine, I’m constantly on the go and almost every week I have a conflict. When we started club volleyball, there would be weeks when I would cry because I didn’t know if I was coming or going. But as I learn tomanage this “multi-kid, multi-sport” thing, I’m finding things a little easier than they were two years ago. I will never have this perfected and people may even judge the decisions I make and why…heck, I even wonder at times! A few things I keep in mind to keep my sanity:

Life isn’t going to be fair all of the time. I think my biggest struggle is the time we invest in volleyball-related “stuff” over other things. Club in particular is a commitment of money, real dollars and with that sometimes a club volleyball game will trump a recreational basketball game for another kid. That said its instances like this when I ask for help from my support squad, but there are still very rare occasions when things can’t be helped. I’m doing a better job of not beating myself up when we can’t make everything all of the time.
Everyone is getting older! And thank goodness! Two years ago, I couldn’t imagine leaving my younger daughter at a practice to take my oldest to a school game so I would literally drive across town twice over. Now, my younger daughter is more responsible, I have a great relationship with her coach and it makes life more bearable. I light at the end of the tunnel is a bit brighter (and my oldest will start driving soon and she can help out too!)
I don’t beat myself up as much. When I can’t make someone’s game for whatever reason, I’ve stopped getting upset about it. I can’t divide my body in thirds to be everything to everyone. I give everyone plenty of notice when there’s a conflict.
I LOVE watching my kids play! I know everyone believes their kids are pretty good, natural born athletes, etc. but mine really are (lol) and much like I love watching them perform in school plays, play music and sing, I thoroughly enjoy watching them develop in sports. There’s nothing like seeing my oldest make a kill, my younger daughter save a goal or my son block a shot.

And because of this, I do what I do and wouldn’t have it any other way. These years are fleeting…I’m going to enjoy them now (I can rest when I retire!)

Go for everything and have fun!

Posted on September 9, 2015October 26, 2015 by BlackGirlsVolley in Girls Volleyball

By Sabrina (BGV Blogger and Recreational Volleyball Player)

Hi, my name is Sabrina and I play rec volleyball at a local club here in Northern Virginia. I’m eleven years and I’ve been playing for two years (four seasons), but my sister Teia has played for over six years and has taught me a lot! My mom says because of that I may be better than the average ten year old rec volleyball player.

I also play another sport which is soccer and it is my favorite sport. I hope to make a travel soccer team this spring. But with all sports I feel like you need to give 100% effort.

Volleyball isn’t the easiest sport especially when you are a kid. You aren’t going to be perfect in the beginning, but this is the time to learn so pay attention and be patient because it will come. Even if you haven’t played for a long time, you should go for every ball and listen to your coach because they are going to help you a lot.

If you do know how to play volleyball, help out the people who don’t know how to play as well or who just started. You can encourage them, show them how do things, but try not to be bossy.

Most importantly have fun because there is no use playing a sport if you aren’t having fun.

See you later!

How it all started

Posted on September 2, 2015October 26, 2015 by BlackGirlsVolley in Club Volleyball, Girls Volleyball, Junior Volleyball, Travel Volleyball, Volleyball

Well, we’re here! Over six years ago, I was picking my oldest daughter up from our local Boys and Girls Club when she came running up to me, asking me if she could play volleyball. I’d actually been thinking she should be involved in some activity since she stopped dance two years before (no excitement for it…)

At the time, volleyball was for 9-12 year old girls and my daughter wouldn’t be nine for four months. I asked the director, “She’s not nine yet…would she be able to play?”

He gave her the once over, “Yep, she’s pretty tall, pretty athletic…I’ll let her play up, if it’s okay with you?”

That’s how it all started and I had no clue that years later she’d be the dynamo she’s become.

Teia played recreational volleyball for four years (averaging about two seasons per year), then moved to a developmental club two years ago. The past three years she’s played for her middle school team and just finished her first high school season where she started on the junior varsity team, but ended on the varsity squad. This winter marked her move to an open travel volleyball team (after playing on a regional team last year based in the Northern Virginia area). She’s also participated in several clinics associated with volleyball clubs, high schools and colleges.

Now, let me be truthful, my daughter has something, but she also has a LOT to learn about various techniques and about the sport, in general. But the past three years have been filled with coaches whispering that she has a lot of potential. She’s always been among the best on her team, but she was looking for a challenge this year. I agreed if she kept her grades up, I’d support her as much as I could.

The past two years, Teia has tried out for several clubs; all making her offers to play for them – one of which is consider one of the premier clubs in this region. We are all very proud of her.

But one thing was evident, especially as Teia attended tryouts: there weren’t too many girls who looked like her on the court. What was more interesting for the second year in a row, she was the only African-American on her team (last year she was one of two girls of color at all). I remember asking her if she thought this would be a problem…her response, “Mom, I just want to play with girls who will challenge me. I don’t care what color they are.”

I’m not sure why there aren’t more black girls playing volleyball at the travel level, but money could be a big factor. I’ll write a separate post about that, but it definitely is an investment both in money and time.

So this website, our blog posts (yes, that will be a family affair as well) and the information we provide, hopefully will encourage more girls who look like my daughter to consider playing – and excelling – in this exciting, exhilarating sport.

Pass, Set, Hit!