Can i still join the high school volleyball team?

Question

Ok, so i'm 15 about 4'9 (i know, reeaaaalll short) i was on the middle school volleyball team when i was in grade 8 as a setter. I didn't try out in grade 9 because i got scared and doubted on myself and decided i'll do it in grade 10. I wasn't really focusing on height that much until my friend asked me, "don't they require height for volleyball players?" and i got defensive and said, "there are other qualities coaches are looking for too... i mean if a 5'9 person can't bump, set or hit.. do u think she will get in just coz she's tall?"

and now i'm losing confidence again, what are the chances they will take me? and there are short girls in the team too about 5'2 in height, but still taller than i am. Since i've played on a team before, i still remember most of the skills taught and this summer i'm trying to get better at it. I have a lot of friends who play volleyball and my friend told me she will help me(she's also on the vball team but on the other school) over the summer.

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

One word: "libero".

In case you didn't know, the libero is a player who wears a different colored jersey than the rest of the team, and can sub in for any player at any time without counting as a substitution.  The only exception is that they can't come out and go in on the same play.  Usually, the libero will just sub in for the middle blockers, and serve for one of them, to avoid having them in the back row.

The libero is one of the most important positions, and good liberos aren't a dime a dozen.  Work reaaalllly hard on your passing and defense.  Don't focus on hitting if it isn't your strong point, and only work on setting occasionally, in case you need to occasionally step in.  Without a libero, the gigantic, often uncoordinated middle blockers would have to play back row, and that wouldn't be helpful to a team.  Liberos play all the way around, and in high school, are now nationally aloud to serve. I played libero one year, and I'll tell you, it sucks at first, but you get used to it, and it becomes really fun.  I'm and outside hitter now, but I would be a libero if I had to.

Answer 3

don't doubt yourself just because you're short.

believe me, i had the same problem. i'm barely 5 feet, but when i tried out for my varsity team back in grade 9, i was one of the best because of my skill. i'm going to be a junior and captain of my team. the fact that i was shorter than most just made me push myself to work harder and play better. don't ever doubt yourself just because of what people say. :]

if you are one of the better players trying out, then you'll most definitely have better chances of getting in.

to improve in all the basic skills, i would really just play and practice as much as you can. to train, i normally run a few miles a day, maybe 2-3 depending on my mood. jump-rope is a good way to train also because it works on your entire body and helps your vertical. and just play volleyball as much as you can.

when it comes to bumping, i'd say the best advice to remember is that the power comes from your legs NOT your arms. so don't swing! use your whole body to bump the ball. you aim with the direction of your shoulders. so turn towards your target. also remember to keep your arms completely straight. if you bend, the ball will either go behind you or right into your face. you want the ball to hit your forearms, the flat surface right above your wrists and below your elbows. that is the ideal spot, called the "plank", because it's flat and allows the most control.

again with setting also. the power comes from your legs. also, remember that your hands should take the shape of the ball and you use your fingertips only. don't use your palms.

in serving, start out (if you are right handed. if you're a lefty just do the opposite foot of what i wrote) with your left foot in front and right foot perpendicular but behind your left foot. have all your weight on the right foot and as you toss and hit the ball, shift the weight to the front foot, throwing your body weight into the serve. make sure your elbow is starting out above your ears and straightens out when you serve. remember to follow through with the serve. it will give you the most power. good luck. the over-hand serve is probably the hardest for short people because we're so tiny. just don't give up. it's worth all the practice! :]

the three-step approach is pretty difficult too. again if you're a lefty, just do the opposite foot of what i wrote. i start out with my right foot in front. if this is practice, i would toss the ball to my setter. the setter sets the ball and when the ball is at the highest peak, that is when i begin my approach. make sure you practice timing. it's one of the biggest factors in hitting. i take one big step with my left foot, then 2 quick, right-left, steps. the last step, should bring your feet together just before you jump and hit the ball. when you're up in the air about to hit the ball, just swing your arm through. you don't need to put too much power into it if you're doing it correctly because you can hurt your shoulder.

the height of the women's net is around 7 feet 4 inches, while the men's height is 7 feet 11 inches.

don't stress about your height. if you have the skills, then all the coach will see is another great addition to the team.

at tryouts, the coaches want to see you working hard, being a team player and having fun. call EVERY ball with something like ''mine!" or "i got it!" something like that. call it LOUD so everyone can hear you. it shows you have the confidence to get the ball. good luck! :D

also, i'd reccommend looking up videos on youtube about these different skills. sometimes it helps to watch them being performed.

here is also a site that explains the different skills as well as the different rotations and defense strategies.

http://www.storksvolleyball.org//volleyb...

good luck!

Answer 4

Take the volleyball and set around the house...just keep doing it over and over again. I am 5'10" and play volleyball and I will be a freshman next year (HS) but I was a setter in my club team for 7th grade. They did this to work on all my skills. So I would recommend working on ALL aspects. Keep practicing. Jump rope helps the ankle for jumping. squats are good. we also tend to do frog jumping. Where you start out in a squat and jump as high as you can. You keep doing those over and over again. I can't think of the name but the thing that you lay on the ground that kinda looks like a ladder that you run through as fast as you can...that's good for quickness and staying on your toes.

Bumping the ball to the right place. You need to have a flat platform. That is key. Make sure you're hitting it on your arms and not your hands. Also make sure you are using your legs to bump and not moving your arms. Keep stiff arms :D

Overhand serving. To get used to hitting it. Slap the ball up and down on the floor using your whole palm. Make sure you open your hand wide and use the whole hand. Other than that, keep in a straight line or the ball can go wild.

3 step approach: That was hardest. You could really use a friend to help you with that. keep practicing and then have them set the ball. The main thing you want to remember is that when you take your first step it should be heel toe but your next to steps should be toe heel because that keeps you from jumping forward into the net. If you do toe heel you go straight up

If you really want to get better rent a gym out or use some sort of volleyball net.

Be confident. Coaches look for someone that stands out. If you try your hardest and give it your all most likely they'll see that (if you're not already amazing) you have a ton of potential.

You probably have a good chance if you work hard. My teammate is around your height and she made the A team because she stood out even though she wasn't that good.

Answer 5

height wouldn't matter if you're good.

in the two months to prepare, you should join a non-competitive team.

just to practice and be ready.

make sure you're skills are still good.

thats what i do every off-season.

but if you do that and have a decent serve and everything, i'm sure they won't turn you away because of your height.

you should be confident in yourself too.

just because you're short, doesn't mean you wont be an awesome player.

hope it works out (:

Answer 6

hunni hunni hunni, im a 18 year old, 5'1 or 2 volleyball player. i've been team captain my last yea & let me tell you, you sound just like me a couple of years ago, which is crazy!

i played in middle school, as a setter & freshmen yea i was totally timid to play. my sophomore came, i played & it was one of the best times. you really have to just keep practicing..

my whole team is a bunch of short filipino girls with like one tall indian girl who is MVP of our league, but anyways, the point is that we are one of the best defensive teams in our league, so don't let your height bring you down. plus a lot of college liberos are the shortest girls on the team. a thing my team definately feels strong about is just going out & playing our best to prove other schools with tall girls wrong, cause we really do get looked down on.

so hunni in the end just play & practice everyday! when passing always have your dominant foot facing your target, get down low use your legs. when setting, hand up right above your forehead making a diamond, bend your elbows & legs & push with your legs mostly!..make sure you use you thumbs & pointing fingers most!..getting comfortable rolling & sliding & just going for every ball on defense.

i hope this helps & i wish you the best =]

Answer 7

one word: LIBERO