In the beginning, I understood. I was a pretty terrible player. I couldn't serve over the net most of the time. I wouldn't spike because I didn't know how to put force behind my hit. I would regularly shank the ball into the not-that-nearby street. I just didn't set. I get it, I sucked.
This week marks 11 weeks that I've been working out with a coach. For those of you who aren't pregnant and, like me, cannot really comprehend large amounts of time given in weeks, that means that I started in mid-July, so it's been about two and a half months. And I've noticed a drastic difference in my playing in that span of time. My setting still needs a lot of work--I mean, everything does--but my passing and hitting has been much improved, especially in the last month or so.
Yesterday, it was "Pick Your Partner" day, and my friend and I ended up on an awesome net full of players who not only play well, but who also have a vast amount of knowledge to share. Since most of the pairs that my partner and I played with were guys (and hard hitters), I ended up playing setter or defense for all four games. On a lower net, I'd be kind of pissed that they stuck me there--because women can hit, dammit!--but on this net, I was well aware that I was the weakest hitter. So I took it as an opportunity to practice playing defense and work on my passing and digging.
And I was awesome at it.
Sure, I didn't get everything--I'm still learning--but I passed with great control most of the time. And that means something on an upper net. Good passes are so much more valuable because you can count on a great set and hit to follow. That's the thing about playing with people who can hit and block and move. Who are always in the right place. It makes your job as the defense that much more important...and that much more satisfying.
My setting wasn't the best. But I got to practice with people who wanted me to hand set, who would call my bad hand sets without judgment of me as a player, and who gave me a ton of advice. It was like I was being coached by nine other people for an hour and a half.
And they were awesome at it.
At the end of the tournament, my partner and I ended up in last place. We lost three games and tied one. But I had so much fun playing that it didn't even matter.
Our volleyball group is full of different levels of players. Some just started, and some used to be pro. And what I've learned is that my best option on the path to great play is to surround myself as often as I can with players who know more than me. It's how I learned to speak French as well as I did. It's why I chose to pay boatloads of money to go to UVA over getting a scholarship at a small school in Georgia. As a teacher, I spend most of my day with (small) people who know less than I do about pretty much everything (except maybe Minecraft and One Direction), and while I find myself personally satisfied with the relationships I form, I also find myself intellectually stunted by the actual information I teach. Because you never want to be the smartest kid in the class. You never want to be nicest house on the block.
Volleyball has given me an opportunity to learn and grow in a way that my job can't, and I love it. I love getting better at things. I love sucking at something and then becoming great at it. For me, it's a rush, like falling in love or cliff-diving. I love the fact, too, that volleyball gives my height and arm span a place and purpose. Being tall means being out of place most of time, being a "giant" among men, but in volleyball, it's a huge advantage. It's a gift.
I know that I can't always be the learner. Sometimes, like the people I played with yesterday, I'll have to take a step back and share my knowledge. But for now, I'm just going to revel in the opportunity to grow.
Good for you, Beckah. I appreciate how you weave connections through all parts of your life. Life-long learning is the best, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt definitely is!
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