Volleyball playing time?

Question

i have been playing for 5 years school, and club teams.

i'm in tenth grade and worked really hard to make the varsity team this year.

we have had two back to back tournaments, in the first one we played 11 games and i played about 5 of them and everyone on the team got about equal playing times.

in the second one we played 12 teams and i only played 1. and everyone ELSE played 6-7 games.

i literally played 15 minutes after i woke up at 5:15 in the morning to drive there and have been to every practice! i am definitely one of the hardest working players and ive never had attitude or anything.

and i know i'm better then a couple of the girls he keeps playing and i'm sure i'm equal to about half of them! i really think i deserve to play and my coach doesn't even give me a chance. i burst out crying in the middle of one game(i wasn't playing of course, and the coach didn't see) and i'm pretty sure i have been crying for the past 4 hours too. I just don't understand! i've been trying so hard and there are other 10th and 9th graders playing much more then me! but i honestly feel i'm at or above their level! Do you know how i can deal with this better? I feel so bad right now!

Answer 1

This is hard. As a parent of a high school/club player I've seen how soul - crushing it is not to play, especially when you feel you are better than some other players who appear to be playing more.

I believe the scholastic coaches are much worse than the club because it just seems like school coaches will choose to play a lesser play siimply because 1) they like that girl's family 2) the girl is the daughter of a teacher/coach of another sport or 3) if the coach has a daughter ON the team, the coach may choose to play her friends. It happens- it's not right- and we parents hate to see another adult given that much soul destroying power over kids.

Club coaches shouldn't be as bad because they have SUCH a premium on winning that you'd figure they'd play the best players hands down.  What appears to happen with club coaches is that they'll pretty much pick six to start/play and the remaining players are there to practice the starters and to help further divide the fees down to a reasonable level for the starting families.  THAT'S what ultimately what gets you as a club family that's not playing  . . . .that's the COST!  And starting parents will amazingly look at you as if to say, "What . . .you're not happy with your daughter's role here . .which is to practice my kid up to a better level and keep MY fees low?" As if they be happy with the situation if the roles were reversed!  They'll tell you (or your folks) that that can happen if you just showed the coach that you're just undeniably GOOD.  But in reality, club coaches really just like their six players, and heck, if they win, NOTHING'S going to change.

Now there are better club coaches who realize that a trained, tested and ready bench makes the entire club better, but I guess that that's more work . . .and with how busy folks are I guess msot would just rather focus on just six.

In any event, you must TALK to your coach and ask him to be as specific as possible in telling you what's preventing him from playing you.

Even though it helps you prove your points, evidently you just CAN'T point out other players as being worse.  It freaks coaches out.  Frankly I just don't think they like evidence presented to them.  Good luck. Stick with it.

Answer 2

I know that this is really hard to deal with....honestly you need to have a heart to heart with your coach...one it will make you feel better plus it will let your coach know that you really want to play...you don't want to come off as your wanting more playing time...you want to ask what you can do to see more playing time...like what you can work on...then when he sees you improving in practice you should start to slowly see more playing time...yes it sucks but in time you can fix this with lots of hard work...hope this helps

Answer 3

At the beginning of every season, I usually give a little talk about how much playing time a member of the team can expect.  My answer is:  Zero.  Nobody on the team should just expect to get playing time.  Each person has to work for it.  

Even though that was my stated policy, though, I tried to get everyone on the court as much as I could.  I need to see specific skills executed correctly in practice before I can put a player in a match though.  

I had a practice ratings sheet posted so most players knew exactly where they stood every single day.  Those who weren't getting as much playing time as others knew why.  I have learned that very few coaches are as clear and direct as I am though.  

I suggest you make an appointment to talk to your coach before practice.  Arrange to have at least 15 minutes to talk alone.  The key question you need to ask is, "What do I need to do to earn more playing time?"  

Do not disparage your teammates during this conversation.  Ask specifically which skills you need to improve to get on the court.  And avoid using any sentence that begins, "I deserve playing time ...."  Most coaches find a sense of entitlement extremely irritating.  (Frankly, I got out of coaching high school and junior girls because of the sense of entitlement that was becoming pervasive, both among players and their parents.)  

Given how emotional you are about this, I hope you have a talk with your coach soon.    

  

Answer 4

i play volleyball, and believe me i know how ot feels not to have a chance At playing....but if you really feel that you are better then some of these girl then go talk to your coach, just ask him y you are not getting as much playing time as some of the other girls, ask him what you should improve on, if it feels right you can mention that you think you are better then some of the other girl, but don't be to forward with it,try to sound like you asking 4 advice

Answer 5

put a vid on youtube of u playing and ill tell you if your coach is cra cra or if you need to work on some stuff btw the other comment was too harsh

Answer 6

Trust me I know exactly how you feel. I spent the entire year last year on varsity sitting on the bench. I talked to my coach but it didn't make much of a difference. My advice is to stick with it because your coach will turn around. Keep practicing hard. But also talk to your coach because at least then you know what to expect. If he says you wont be playing much this season, look at it this way you have two more years to get his attention,at least you wont be so disappointed

Answer 7

I have a few ideas actually. When you get a water break take a drink really fast and go practice with a volleyball, it will show your more devoted. Show aggressiveness it shows your trying even harder. Cheer for your teammates during the games you don't get to play. I'm sure once he sees you pushing it even more he'll know you stepped up. Playing 5 years though that's a lot!