Thankful for Volleyball
The 2019 volleyball season is done and now honors of All-Conference, All-State, etc. begin to come out through various media publications and conferences. It is also time for teams to wrap up the year with varying degrees of banquets and…
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Continue ReadingThe 2019 volleyball season is done and now honors of All-Conference, All-State, etc. begin to come out through various media publications and conferences. It is also time for teams to wrap up the year with varying degrees of banquets and last get togethers before the holidays and basketball is in full swing.
It is also that time of the year to reflect and be grateful for all this year blessings. One particular part of my life that I have been really grateful and blessed is through the great sport of volleyball. Volleyball can you take you places you might never of thought of or have been and this is why I am thankful! Volleyball has given me so much as player, coach and now a volleyball mom! I am reminded how much this sport has given me opportunities and built lifelong friendships. Everyday as I walk out to the garage seeing my daughters play their daily volleyball game of pepper or hear a volleyball thud off my inside garage wall because she is practicing her jump serve. I love the giggles and the arguing over whose point it is. I love their drive to want to improve each and every day!
It makes me think back to all of my friendships that were developed through playing volleyball. I remember and am grateful for late night Sunday club tournaments and having to eat “supper” at 10:00 on a Sunday night. I remember the bus drives and the sleepovers after day long high school tourneys. I remember our volleyball homecoming float in the homecoming parade. After high school and getting the opportunity to continue to play in college, I met some of my closest friends playing volleyball in college. Despite none of us finishing out playing college volleyball due to various circumstances we all stuck together and also lived together as roommates in college and were in each other’s weddings.
Fast forward to graduating college, getting married and getting that first job. That first job changed my life. I remember I got my first job teaching first grade and they wanted me to coach 7th grade volleyball. I was so nervous thinking about managing teaching and coaching, but I am so grateful that I did. I distinctly remember a conversation with the head high school volleyball coach. I really wanted to coach at the high school level and he told me there would be an opportunity soon. Then the following summer there was an opportunity to coach at the freshman level. WOW! This was life changing! I developed so many great relationships with players and coaches and I got the opportunity to learn from one of the best high school volleyball coaches in the state. I saved every practice plan and wrote down, EVERYTHING! I met some really great coaches from other schools as well. This also turned into giving me opportunities to coach club volleyball as well and help me grow as a coach and stretch my comfort zone.
Then my husband’s job gave us a new opportunity to move to a smaller community and I was able to work part time, but I began refereeing and doing lines for high school games. Deep down inside I really missed coaching. Then another opportunity came about. I was asked to be the head coach of the local high school team. With lots of encouragement from my volleyball mentors, I did it! I loved every minute of it and it was definitely a learning experience. I loved all of the relationships I developed with players and other coaches throughout the conference as well. I was able to run a home team camp and despite the stress and anxiety that comes from hosting and running a camp I thrived on it. It was so fun to be able to run a great camp that players and coaches loved coming to. For seven years I got to have the whistle and clipboard in my hand and help young ladies reach their limits. We laughed, cried, yelled, celebrated and acted goofy! I double fist pumped and squatted down at the end of the service line signaling where to serve to. I even got a yellow card for being “passionate.” No regrets though, not one.
Now I am in a part of my life where I just get to be a volleyball mom and cheer on my daughters club and YMCA teams and in a few years their school team. I don’t have to do all of the not so fun aspects of coaching. I get to cheer on my daughters and help them develop into great volleyball players too and help them to be grateful and thankful and love this great game we call volleyball! Volleyball has been a great teacher for me on and off the court. It has taught me to bring energy, be a great teammate and leader. It has also pushed me to do my best and how to communicate with others. Volleyball has also taught me to fight through adversity and to trust your training. It teaches you how to perform under pressure and pick yourself up after a loss. Thank you volleyball, I am grateful and thankful for you!