Is this a normal way to coach 7th grade volleyball?

Question

I am a parent of a 7th grader who is in volleyball. This is my oldest girl, and I am confused by the coaching. Keeping in mind that 7th grade is the first year that you can go out for volleyball, is it normal for the coach to break up the girls into groups based on talent? My daughter is in the bottom group of 5 groups and only has practice once in awhile while the top 3 groups have practice everyday except for game days in which my daughter isnt allowed to play. The games she does get to play, she gets to play one game, while the other 3 top groups get to play 2. She isnt the best player, nor the worst, but she is very shy and not popular. There is some players in the top 3 groups that are horrible players, but they are popular or they come from influential families. Is this a normal way to coach, or do I have a right to be angry? My daughter has been looking forward to playing volleyball since she was in 2nd grade and is quite disappointed in her coach as am I.

Answer 1

In middle school, each kid is to play the same amount each game.  in high school the playing time gets changed.

Answer 2

Yes, you have every right to be angry, but I suggest having her sign up for a non school run vollyball program if there are any, before tackling this coach.

Answer 3

That is how sports are played. The best players are going to get the most play time. When you get into school sports they are playing to win. Most coaches do try to make sure that everyone gets to play but for the most part the best players are going to get the most play time.

What is not fair is the favortism and should not be that way but sadly it happens all the time. You could bring it to the principal's attention but there can be social consequences for your daughter (i.e. your daughter can be teased and taunted for tattling). Also it will be hard to prove. I hate to sound mean but if your daughter is not the best player it is going to be hard to prove she deserves to be playing all the time.

If your daughter really has her heart set on volleyball go to your local recreation center and sign her up for a girl's volleyball league. She can get more experience and have more fun because many people that sign up for recreation sports want to win of course but it is suppose to be fun. She can work on her skills and see if you can find volleyball clincials in her area where she can hone up her skills.

Sports are cut throat. I'm not saying it is right but it happens everywhere. As cruel as it sounds by blowing the whistle you could be setting up your daughter to be teased and tortured while at school.

Answer 4

I coach middle school volleyball and I have 18 kids on my team. I have three distinct groups according to ability. It has nothing to do with popularity. It has to do with skill level, tactical application and some on experience. I am hoping that your daughter's coach ability groups them the same way. As a parent myself of a volleyball player, sometimes things aren't as they seem.

I have found that ability grouping the kids, the lesser skilled kids are not intimidated by the better skilled kids. I can also work on similar problems within the group. I have three lineups with the best using a 6-2 offense, the second line using a int'l 4-2 and the last using "whoever is right front" is the setter. The last group is really working on serve and pass. The second group is working on serving and passing to the setter, too, but have better movement skills and are just inconsistent passers. We work on some hitting, too. The best group can fairly pretty well to target, has a great setter, and can swing.

Serving is also a deal breaker. The best group can all overhand serve and some are working on jump serves and jump floaters. The second group can all serve underhand and some can overhand. The first group is working on underhand and beginning overhand.

As you can see, it is tough to coach at this level. You almost need a separate seventh and separate eighth grade team.

I know what you mean about playing time. If you play a good team, it can be difficult to get the third team much playing time. But, I have also found out that many of them don't want to get serves drilled at them which they are unable to play due to lack of experience.

Your daughter's time will come. Try your best to support the coach and keep encouraging your daughter. After the season is over, try to play USA club volleyball. It is great experience and will add another year of experience for every season she plays. A reputable camp, in the summer, is a great way to get ready for the pre season next year, too.

Answer 5

As someone who has coached junior high volleyball for 21 years, I can say that I am familiar with the problem.   When I first started coaching and had about 18 girls try out for varsity and junior varsity, I thought that any coach should be able to find a way to involve all the girls.  However, as more and more girls tried out for volleyball, my thinking changed.  Obvously only 6 girls can play at a time, and when you let less skilled girls play instead of the more skilled girls, this creates a problems for the girl if she makes mistakes.  

    Actually, agressiveness is very important at the 7th grade level.  Coaches will also try to work with girls that have the potential to be really tall even if they are inept at the junior high level.  If the coach has 30 or more girls for one team, I'm sure you will agree that she has a difficult task.

     Here is what I suggest.  Be very positive about your daughter's volleyball experience.  Try to make the experience fun even though I know this is difficult.  Try to stay and watch the 8th graders and figure out what separates the "good" players from the less skilled.   After the season, decide if you and your daughter want to continue to pursue volleyball.  If the answer is yes,  look into some junior high summer camps in the area.  Think about getting an outdoor ball and a net for the back yard.  Volleyball takes a lot of practice, and your daughter obviously isn't getting that kind of work in the school system.  Have her go out for basketball.  That is a great sport to teach aggressiveness (if she gets to play).  Talking to the coach probably isn't going to solve anything, but if you do feel that this is necessary, make an appointment.  Do not talk to the coach in front of all the girls - this will certainly embarass your daughter.

      One really important thing to remember;  the coach-player relationship usually does not effect the classroom relationship.  I have tried to coach several girls that I could just not get to play volleyball the right way.  However, several of these girls were model students in the math classroom and we had a great teacher-student relationship in spite of our poor  coach-player relationship.

Answer 6

I understand your frustration.  Politics and popularity seem to always be determining factors in Jr. High/High School sports.  It is hard to understand why coaches make the decisions they do.  You should talk to the coach and see what the deal is.  Often times, in Jr. High/High School the parents can have some pull with how much their children play.  If nothing else, it will help you determine if your child has a legitimate chance of playing on the team.  This will also help the coach see if they are descriminating against 'non poplar' kids or 'noninfluential families.'  It is hard to for parents to watch their kids sit the bench or not get as much attention as other players.  Either way, make sure she continues to play volleyball.  You may want to even look into her playing for a different school.

Answer 7

I am a 8th grade volleyball player but i did play as a 7th grader,,,and yes the coach is suppose to put you in groups based on talent,,but not on popularity,,,i am on the A-team becausei play good but not because im popular(but i am)

you do have the right to be angry because ur daughter is not the worst so she is suppose to b in a higher level than in the one she is,,and u should not get mad because she plays only one game because at least she gets to play,,,talk to the coach and tell her but calmly. Ive been through that age so i know what im talking about,,

Answer 8

Hello, I have played volleyball for the past 10 years, just finished my college career.  This is a very different way of coaching 7th grade volleyball.  If she were a freshman i could uderstand, but not 7th grade.  When i played in 7th grade, everyone on the team got to play, we rotated through, 6 girls would play the first game, 6 different ones the next, and so on.  It sounds like this coach came from a private school background, meaning very competitve nature, and doesnt have the "fair time for every girl" mentality.... actually sounds how some of my college practice were ran!   Just keep encouraging her to play, look in to club teams, great way to improve skill, with some pretty decent coaches!

Answer 9

This is a tough question, and middle school age is a tough time to coach I think.  I coached camps this summer, and got this question a lot in Q & A time.  You have to first consider both sides.  You are right, the early years, everyone deserves a right to get the coaching and feedback they need and have fun at learning a new sport.  Especially when their bodies and minds are growing so much.  However, if I said that it doesn´t matter if you win or lose in 7th grade even I would be a liar.  I am very competitive and that is what the game is all about.  Competeing.  

Therefore, I have thought about this a lot since I am sure I will take up coaching when I am finished playing myself.  I have come up with this philosophy.  Everyone should get exposure, but keeping in mind the goal.  There should be 3 stronger players and 3 weaker players on the court at all times.  The stronger players can only be subbed for other strong players and thus the same for the weaker ones.  The court would be split equally so that the weaker players are sandwiched somewhat...but still get on the floor.  If it is a very important game then maybe 4 strong and 2 weak.  Anyway, I know you didn´t ask for my caoching philosophy but I think this is fair.  

It´s a hard place to be in because you want to win, and it´s hard sometimes putting energy into kids that you can´t really seem grasping it....although I was a late starter and am now playing professionally in europe.  I hate when politics get involved in sports...although that is inevitable...it´s frustrating especially at that age.  You have every right to be upset and raise some concerns for it but do so as a collective.  Not just you for your daughter etc.  I think you owe it to the org to make sure that things are ¨fair" to the point that everyone gets coached EQUALLY...and then when it comes times for games things will be a little different.  Not sure if that helped, but best of luck.  Unfortunately there are lots of coaches out there that aren´t fully qualified but there is just no one else.  If this is the case then consider city or club teams, switching schools or trying to get your daughter some private lessons to catch her up into the top 6!  Good lucK!

Answer 10

Personally I don't think that is the correct way to play.  I am good at volleyball and I played when I was in 8th grade.  There were players who played a year before me but we were all mixed in no matter if you were good or bad.  The only difference there was, was the grade that you were in and some of the 7th graders played on the 8th grade team.  You do have a right to be upset but dont let it get to you.  If your daughter loves to play the sport just let her play and have some fun.  Maybe one day you can ask the coach some questions about what is happening.

Answer 11

breaking up the girls based on talent is a common norm, so don't be mad about that.  However, what i dont understand is, how many teams does the school have?  The coach obviously isnt a good coach if their not willing to work with all the girls everyday.  at an intermediate level, if you want to build a good team, they would need to practice everyday.  Also, popularity and money always run everything.  there's a school down here, in hawaii, that basically runs their volleyball team based on hair color.  One of my players, is one of the best in the school, but never sees playing time because she doesnt have money or is blonde.  I mean it sucks, but there's nothing really to do.  Sometimes as a parent too, you need to take a step back.  A lot of times parents don't see things like coaches.  And, you have to remember, volleyball is a team sport, and school aren't obligated to play each girl equally, 7th grade volleyball is when the sport starts to get competitive.  But, I still think not having the girls practice everyday is stupid.  If you think its, really something that needs to be addressed, go talk to the athletic director.  Another thing, if you feel that it's becoming really bad, and she's not enjoying it anymore, then stick out for the season, use it as a learning process, and find a club or an outside league, where participation is the main goal, and have her play there.  These kind of leagues are good for kids, cause they teach basic fundamentals, and help confidence.  That way, if she does want to try out again, she will ready to conquer all... good luck.

Answer 12

this is not normal and u have every right to be angry

they should not be broken up into groups based on their ability their first year playing volleyball. This should only happen once they reach high school (freshman, jv, and varsity)

Even if they were to be broken up, everyone should at least get the same amount of practice time. how else does the coach expect the not so good players to get better??

I can understand how the coach plays the top 3 groups more during games. who doesnt want to win?? lol

but i think she plays them just a little too much more. Everyone should play every game, even if it is just for 10 or 15 minutes. they need the experience and if they dont play, then there's really no motivation for them to practice, or even be on the team.

at this age, they are doing volleyball because they enjoy the sport, not necessarily because they're good

i would complain to someone about the coach!

Answer 13

It is normal for a coach to break up girls into groups based on ability. My guess is that even though you say that some of the girls in the top group arent the best the coach has seen more room to improve for them over your daughter. It doesnt mean it's a complete popularity contest- it could just mean that the coach feels like the top three group will work harder to improve. You have a right to be frustrated but that doesnt mean you should barge into the coach's office and demand playtime for you daughter. Team sports are helpful in that they teach you to be more assertive and voice your oppinions. Your daughter needs to speak up more for herself and let the coach know she is frustrated. Being in 7th grade means that highschool is right around the corner... if she thinks middle school sports arent fair just wait until she sees JV and Varsity coaches in h.s.

Answer 14

its not right. contact the UIL. this a bad way to coach, yeah the best players should play and deserve to play. but i think what that  coach is doing by dividing players based on popularity, and influental families is biased coaching. when you are young every kid deserves a chance to play and cotntribute. girls need it more than boys especially. i think its wrong because it hurts a child's self esteem being grouped like that. i would go to the coach first. make an appointment and have a civil discussion. if that doesnt work, **** the principal or school board, they will only make matters worse. go straight to the UIL.

Answer 15

This is a version of coaching...but i think that it is a horrible way to divide players. All of these girls are on one team and they should all practice together and play the same amount of games. You should talk it over with the coach and ask her about her coaching strategies, and if you are still having problems with the team, you should go to the administration!!!