Volleyball

Since I was in junior high and was introduced to the game of volleyball I was forever hooked. I enjoyed serving and hitting hard and it felt so good to be a part of a team. I enjoyed it so much that as a junior in high school I began thinking of college volleyball. I however knew that my love for volleyball was much more than hitting and serving hard - it was about a team that has been together since 7th grade, it was about having fun with your friends and rejoicing in our accomplishments - I LOVED that! It became evidently clear while watching a volleyball match at NNU my senior year that being a part of a college volleyball team was going to be much different and I wasn't sure that I wanted to be transferred from an outside hitter to a defensive specialist because let's face it - I lacked the adequate height for a front row player in college. It would have taken too much of my time and I was looking forward to the social aspect of college and then there was the fact that I was going to be a part of a team that I had not even met - any of them! That was scary as an 18 year old. So - I decided against it and I have not regretted my decision.

I did however miss the game of volleyball and when I was given the opportunity to coach volleyball in Melba at the high school level I jumped on the chance. I coached for 4 years! Two years with the freshman team and then 2 years with the junior varsity team. I had a blast!! High school volleyball is what I remembered and loved and I got to coach in a small town just like I grew up in.

Once Addison was born I coached for one more year and then decided to take a break due to the time consumption of the sport and it not really fitting in with my schedule as a mom. However, last spring I got the itch to coach again, asked about it and was offered the job as the freshman coach. I was so excited at first, ready to get back into this game that I loved so much! Little did I know that it was going to take a toll on my family. I had forgotten how much time it actually took to be committed to a team for a season. It's been tough!! Childcare has become a nightmare - Rhett is struggling with the sudden seperation from mommy - Addie has had to suffer through a few practices - Jer has had to play mom more than he would like to - and I have never felt so stretched in my life.

Now as I look back on the season it seems to have flown by so fast. I truly had a blast, I loved the girls on my team and was able to enjoy the game I have always loved. It was a lot of fun!! Our team finished in third place in the disctrict which was better than I expected and I was proud of them. I don't know if I will coach next year, even though it was super fun the time away from my kids was really difficult. And if I go back to teaching full-time then I will have enough on my plate.

I'm glad I got the chance to coach again. This game of volleyball will always hold a special place in my heart.

some girls on my team relaxing between games at a tournament