Gaining confidence?

Question

I just started my fourth year in volleyball, this year i'm a sophomore. I've had the same coach all four years; I have been on the same team with the same group of girls. I know I was one of the weaker players of the group, but not the worst. I couldnt play off season club with the group, so i didnt have the chance to improve much, whereas they did. This year my coach placed me on jv (this will be my second year on jv). Almost all of the other girls moved up to varsity. The thing is, a few of them aren't as good as me (not to be vain) and im pretty sure they were just put on varsity just because they are juniors. And a freshman also got on varsity. Now jv is me and a second year player (sophomore) and the rest are all freshman.

I'm just feeling discouraged and a bit embarassed that i did not make varsity. I'm trying to swallow my pride and just do my best, but i am feeling kind of down about it. Does anyone have any encouragement or advice?

Answer 1

i know what you mean. im a sophmore too and they put me on the freshman/sophmore team while most of my team from last year got moved up to jv. ive been told so many times that i should be on jv but my coaches don't think so. i know that i am better than at least 2 players on jv yet im happy to be of fr/so cuz im gettting more playing time and hopefully i'll be captain. look at it this way: you get more playing time on the court and you become a leader. those are definitely pluses to your situation and your coach would remember that when picking next year's teams

Answer 2

You have 2 choices.  Do you want to PLAY on the junior varsity or sit on the bench for varsity.  

Even though you will practice against the varsity, you will not get the chance to show off your abilities like playing on the court for the JV.  You are not permanently on the JV.  You are  only on the JV for today.  Show the coach where you really belong.

Answer 3

THE THING ABOUT VOLLEYBALL IS EVEN IF THE PLACE YOU ON JV THEY CAN MOVE YOU UP IF THATS HOW THEY FEEL...IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MOVE YOU UP YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM YOUR ALL ALL THE TIME AND SHOW THEM YOU BELONG ON VARSITY...AND EVEN IF YOUR NOT ON VARSITY YOU GET MORE PLAYING TIME ON JV AND YOU STILL PLAY JUST AS GREAT SO WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOUPLAY ATLEAST THEY WONT SAY EWW SHES BAD THEY WILL PROBLY SAY SHES GOOD SHE SHOULD BE ON VARSITY...DONT GET DOWN ABOUT IT JUST THINK OF IT AS YOUR ON VARSITY AND GIVE IT YOUR ALL

Answer 4

Stick it out.

More than likely, the ones that are Juniors are on varsity for the simple fact that they are Juniors.  Sad, but true.

Just because you were placed on jv doesn't mean that you are stuck there for the entire season.  Nothing is set in stone.  If I were you, I would take it as a challenge, and work my butt off during practice and games, and get myself noticed by the coaches.  If you show dedication, and make yourself noticed during games, they will move you up.

Take this to heart:  Michael Jordan didn't make his high school basketball team his first year out.  And he played JV his junior year.  And this is the same one that is debatable one of the greatest that has ever played the game of basketball.  I always used that as my drive - and you should, too.  JV means practice extra, and get yourself noticed.  You may get more play time on JV, and that will give you a better advantage to those that made varsity this year, but will end up riding the pine because of those ahead of them that are better.  Use it, and make it work for you.

And just to give you a bit of insight:  I also played JV for part of my sophomore year.  But I worked, and moved to varsity about half way through the season, and never looked back.  I played varsity, started, and got a nice scholarship for volleyball to a very good school.  I still play today - a husband and kid later.

Good luck!!