Club Volleyball

I know club sports can kind of get a bad wrap these days. It’s expensive, time consuming, and it makes me sad that some high school sports have become so competitive that if you don’t play club in the off-season, you're probably not going to make a high school team. 

It also makes me sad that the cost prevents a lot of families from even having the option to participate. Yes, there are scholarships, but as far as I know, they only pay a portion, maybe half of the club dues so even at the less expensive clubs, on a local team, you would probably still be looking at at least $1,000 in dues. 

But I like to focus on the positive and that is what today’s post is about. I love watching my girls play volleyball. I love seeing them gain confidence and bond with their teammates. I love watching their skills improve week after week with their coaches help. And I love getting to know other families that also show up week after week to cheer our girls on, to love and support them, to feed them and fill their water bottles, and to comfort them when they need a shoulder to cry on (just kidding, I don’t think either of my girls have ever “cried on my shoulder”, but I am there to encourage them when they are feeling down.

Here’s what chat gpt has to say about the benefits of club volleyball:

Club volleyball can offer numerous benefits for teenage girls:

 * Physical Benefits:

   * Improved Fitness
   * Reduced Risk of Obesity
   * Stronger Bones

 * Social and Emotional Benefits:

   * Teamwork and Collaboration
   * Leadership Development
   * Increased Self-Confidence
   * Stress Relief
   * Friendship Building

 * Skill Development:

   * Enhanced Volleyball Skills
   * Improved Strategic Thinking
   * Increased Focus and Concentration

 * College and Career Preparation:

   * Time Management
   * Discipline and Commitment
   * College Recruitment Opportunities

These are all great benefits, and I think it is also huge for our daughters’ to have an activity where parents show up and spend all day (or sometimes all weekend) cheering them on, supporting them, and encouraging them. I wish I would have had that support as a teenager, but I’m so, so thankful that I have the means, the time, and the desire to be there for my daughters in this way, and encourage them to be the best versions of themselves. I think this type of encouragement and support is huge for the mental health of our kids.

So thank you club volleyball, through the ups and downs, I appreciate you. I just wish parking (and WiFi) was better at some of the facilities. And if there was a way to bring the cost down, that would be great too. lol 

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