I was sort of cut from my volleyball team. I don't understand??

Question

OK Well this will be my second year playing volleyball (10th) grade. I was on the developmental team my freshman year. I went to all the weight training from Feb. to May. I worked out this summer and went to team volleyball camp. I volunteered at all the varsity practices.

And now at the last day of tryouts my coach gives me some talk saying I'm a really great asset to the team and I'm really determined, but I need to improve on serving, which I have been working on. I'm pretty much good at anything else. (for a JV level) So she says she's not going to let me play in any of the games this season because I'm not a great overhand server. This doesn't make sense to me. Not to be cocky or anything but I'm one of the best hitters/blockers on my team. Then she tells me that I should keep score because I'm smart. Idk what to do, I want to play but should I just waste my time being able to practice and not play?

Answer 1

You might as well still practice with the team, improve your skills further, and keep working on that serve! Once you think you've mastered it, ask her to give you another try, and proove yourself. OR, make this suggustion. What if one of your liberos, or smaller players was a really good server? You could go in the front row, and when it's time to serve you can sub off? I've done this as the smaller person and love it (because liberos can't serve, you feel kind of ripped off).

At least by staying with the team, you still have your foot in the door for next year and there's still a slightg possibility.

Answer 2

Let's assume you will "have to" attend your current school, and your coach has to be "the coach" :)

I can smell competition in your school, and see lots of good players on your varsity team.

I had a similar scenario when going into college, when we had a "core five" freshman group (we never played together before meeting in the college) that almost took over the whole team. The coach wanted the oldest players to enjoy their last season with good chemistry, so that we were left off... but we took over the next season and got the first championship in team history, and we stayed as the core for the following three years...

I would appreciate that the coach had given you a chance to stay in practice. Being in 10th grade with such a dedication as you have described, you should have a bright future and you should not feel too bad about not being able to play real games. Show the coach your good attitude, dedication, and ethics, keep working hard in practices. Focus on your serves and work on it as if it would cost your life had you made a bad serve. Remember bad serves could kill team chemistry!!

Try this and see whether you can impress your coach. Call any possible spot on the other side of the net and hit that spot with five consecutive power serves then five floaters... by saying any possible spot I include setter's spot "underneath" the net (possible means if another player can hit the spot, even "accidentally"). Once you can do this, and you keep working hard as you have described, I don't know why you cannot join the team (or any team). I had a teammate who made the team because he was able to serve 18 consecutive balls to "experienced" varsity players without having one returned (even though his hitting was really so so)!!!

Answer 3

simple: if you love volleyball you'll do whatever you can to play as much as you can

by the end of the season, if you feel like you should be playing in those games then YOU HAVE A FUTURE IN VOLLEYBALL whether your coach thinks so or not. practice because you LOVE the game, join a club because you WANT to play. if volleyball is something that is important to you, DONT THROW IT AWAY just because of one bad experience. I can see how youre extremely discouraged but i personally cant stand to see someone give up something that means that much to them just because a coach doesnt know what shes doing. I mean if she was a good coach, she'd be able to COACH you into being a better server. Ive seen people who have never been able to serve in their lives become acers [including me] so dont lose hope. Volleyball is for the mentally strong players who pick themselves up when theyre down. I can tell you're a dedicated player and you cant let someone make you feel like youre not good enough.

Answer 4

well i would go to practice with them.  I know a girl who got cut from the team 7th, 8th, and 9th grade.   All three years she practiced with the team anyway.  Then in 10th grade she made the team as second setter and started on the next to years of varsity for her junior and senior years.   So basically I wouldn't give up just yet.  Get yourself to a few more camps and keep practicing.  you'll get there, no worries

Answer 5

wow your coach is messed up. That's like so weird. I dont even know what to tell you. Except, honestly, if I were you, I would quit the team. What's the point of keeping score for that team who doesnt appreciate your hard work and dedication you're willing to give if you played?!

Answer 6

I am sorta in the same situation as you. This is my first year playing volleyball and I got cut but they wanted me to be manager, but still do all the drills and stuff. But I really had nothing to do in the fall, and that really doesn't matter. But I would do it just so you can get better at the sport and hopefully make it next year.

Oh yeah, I stink at overhand serving too.

Answer 7

sorry to say but you need to learn how to serve to really be a good volleyball player. Work on your overhands and practice different ways to do them until you find a way that you can get them over!

Answer 8

I can see your coach is trying to fill JV with younger players to give them more playing time to improve.  This is really the way it goes:  if you are a senior and can't start or play 3 rotations you're out, if you're a junior and can't contribute to varsity, you're out.  If you're a sophomore you must start JV or you're out.  If you are a freshman you must contribute to JV or you're out.  Now this is what I did with my teams and they were very successful.  But, you have great pontential to be a front row player.  And, you are only in 10th grade.  Keep practicing all parts of your game.  I am also a coach who loved to see players evolve and I kept a girl like you once and watched her play the best game of her life her senior year-her last game.

Answer 9

that stinks...if you love it, show your determination and practice...hard!...If not then why bother....find something you love...

Answer 10

no it stinks I think the coach is doing you wrong I would complain to someone if you have that option.