I’ve been playing lacrosse for six years. I’m on varsity. I’ve sprinted a full field multiple times, taken hits from players twice my size and always been able to keep my eye on the ball. I love it. I live for it. So naturally, I thought I could handle volleyball – just for fun. That was my first mistake.
When I decided to go check out coed volleyball practice after school, I figured it would be a fun time, trying basic new skills, maybe a quick little workout.e. I thought maybe I’d pick it up fast. I mean, I’m an athlete, right? I’ve got coordination, I’ve got hustle, I’ve got grit. How hard could it be? Turns out, very hard.
It took exactly 15 minutes for me to realize I was completely out of my depth. The first thing I did was try to serve, which resulted in the ball going down to the ground quickly. The second serve, I tried, but the ball hit my foot, if that helps explain how difficult it was. Volleyball: 2, Me: 0.
And don’t get me started on passing. I was expecting some clean “bump, set, spike” action. What I got was me wildly slapping the ball in random directions. I didn’t even have my act together correctly to hit the ball. My arms still hurt. I’m not even sure why.
Meanwhile, the actual volleyball players looked like they were on a different planet, where people communicate flawlessly, move in perfect rotations and don’t hit the ball into their feet. They were setting and spiking like pros and their serves were majestic. I was just trying not to get in the way.
Even though I was clearly out of my element, the team was awesome. Watching them play encouraged me to try new things. I talked to a few players who told me about their team dynamic and what they were practicing. Junior Sofia Sossa said that at practice before game days, “it’s game play and fast,” and in other practices, “it’s slow and skill work.”
I’m not switching sports anytime soon. Lacrosse still has my heart. But I walked out of that gym with a newfound respect for volleyball and the people who play it. Just because you’re athletic doesn’t mean you’ll be good at every sport – and sometimes it’s good to get knocked down a peg or two.
So if you’ve ever wanted to try something new, even if you think you might be terrible at it, do it anyway. Worst case? You’ll walk away with a sore arm or a bruised ego. Best case? You discover something new to love.
In my case, I discovered that volleyball takes serious athleticism and also that I probably shouldn’t quit my day sport.
