Volleyball vs Basketball

[vbnerd]

The AVCA newsletter had a link to an article in a Louisiana paper about how basketball and soccer are killing girls basketball.

blog.nola.com/tpsports/2009/01/high_school_girls_are_moving_m.html

They have some reader response posts at the bottom that I'd like to quote for everyone.

The real problem is kids being taught the fundamentals of the game in both PE as well recreational programs early. Basketball is much more fundamental than Volleyball and kids just don't get the time in. When they get to High School that is not the time to start and be good enough to compete with the few who have done so at an early age - Captsky

The problem with the club volleyball is that most clubs are run by high school volleyball coaches. If for 4 months, Aug. -Nov. a kid is told they must play club or you won't be good enough to play next year, what do you think the kid will do?...The state could fix this problem very easily, once you report to high school you can no longer play club during the school year. The club season should be during the summer months. There is no reason why volleyball needs to be year round ( high school Aug.-Nov., club Nov.-Aug.) Like the article said, most clubs had try outs the Sunday after the State volleyball tournament. Make try outs quick before the kids have a chance to try another sport. Volleyball & soccer coaches in general are the most selfish. Plus most only coach one sport. - Whatajoke199

I wonder about the "olympic" effect on some of these kids. They saw Misty May and Kerrie Walsh winning gold medals in the olympics a couple of times playing beach volleyball. As they were already successful winning lots of prize money even before olympics and seemed to be showcased a lot on tv coverage, it makes you wonder if this had influence on a lot of younger girls. - BigAlHeBDMan

[edrooney]

Eh. The commenters act like it's only soccer and volleyball that make kids play one sport. Basketball has started to get actual competition for players, and they don't appear to like it.

[1wvb]

I read this article and it sounds like all of us in cities where basketball is the primary sport.

I would like to know how basketball is more fundamental. Last time I checked anybody could shoot a basketball and run and dribble. I havent found many people who could walk into a gym and pass a volleyball or set one, more less run, jump, and hit one.

[mango]

I don't like the way club programs force kids to select between volleyball and basketball. Some clubs have made accomodations for the multisport athlete but typically these are the "blue and red" squads rather than the gold and silver premium squads. Thus, they dumb down the program and force kids pretty early on to declare an allegiance to one sport or another.

[Chance]

What in the hell makes that person think the "state" can ban club volleyball during the school year? Isn't club volleyball generally a private institution?



Are basketball and volleyball so different that playing both (instead of more of just one) wouldn't be much benifit?

I know as a lacrosse coach i would rather my athletes play some basketball or hockey part of the year than just play lacrosse year round.

[vball2313]

As a former club coach and a current college coach I understand some parents frustration with this issue. Mango I don't think it is dumbing down the clubs. What you have to realize is that club volleyball has gotten to be a me me me......thing. Kids and parents could care less about the team half of the time. I know every club is different but a lot of them try and offer different teams to fit the need of the consumer. Red, blue,training team, elite...etc. I don't think clubs are forcing kids to play at all. Just look at how the cost has gotten out of control. If anything they are forcing kids out that can't afford it. Just because little Susie can't be on the best team and show up when it is convenient for her doesn't mean the rest of the team should suffer. Life is about making commitments and sacrifices. If they want to do both then they play on the team that is formatted to that need.

[simplycurious]

Jan 21, 2009 20:15:58 GMT -5 mango said:

I don't like the way club programs force kids to select between volleyball and basketball. Some clubs have made accomodations for the multisport athlete but typically these are the "blue and red" squads rather than the gold and silver premium squads. Thus, they dumb down the program and force kids pretty early on to declare an allegiance to one sport or another.

mango, I know that Club Fusion's 18 Black (their top team) has at least one player on their team that plays on her high school basketball team (which is very good and went to the State Championship last year). They're quite accommodating to her schedule and commitment to this team. While you may choose to argue whether this is the exception, rather than the rule, not all "top club teams" frown upon multi-sport athletes.

[silversurfer]

Let's face it. Competition will force kids to choose. Why? Because enough kids are willing to play just one sport, it ups the ante. Kids didn't use to want to do that.

[baywatcher]

Jan 21, 2009 23:21:28 GMT -5 simplycurious said:

Jan 21, 2009 20:15:58 GMT -5 mango said:

I don't like the way club programs force kids to select between volleyball and basketball. Some clubs have made accomodations for the multisport athlete but typically these are the "blue and red" squads rather than the gold and silver premium squads. Thus, they dumb down the program and force kids pretty early on to declare an allegiance to one sport or another.

mango, I know that Club Fusion's 18 Black (their top team) has at least one player on their team that plays on her high school basketball team (which is very good and went to the State Championship last year). They're quite accommodating to her schedule and commitment to this team. While you may choose to argue whether this is the exception, rather than the rule, not all "top club teams" frown upon multi-sport athletes.

But that has to be a very rare exception. Most club programs that show "flexibility" have trouble getting consistent court time, or switch available courts among multiple teams. Changing practice times is a pain for other parents, and most multi sport athletes miss multiple club practices, then appear at tournaments to play; bad for morale and practice. I would agree club season should be much shorter.

[FUBAR]

In my experience in northern California, Club Fusion would have fit right in with most of the top clubs. We were all constantly missing players in practice, and on Saturdays of tournaments. This was especially true in 16's and lower, but also very true in 18's. Maybe this has changed since I left...

[ugopher]

Jan 21, 2009 17:57:15 GMT -5 vbnerd said:

The problem with the club volleyball is that most clubs are run by high school volleyball coaches. If for 4 months, Aug. -Nov. a kid is told they must play club or you won't be good enough to play next year, what do you think the kid will do?...The state could fix this problem very easily, once you report to high school you can no longer play club during the school year. The club season should be during the summer months. There is no reason why volleyball needs to be year round ( high school Aug.-Nov., club Nov.-Aug.) Like the article said, most clubs had try outs the Sunday after the State volleyball tournament. Make try outs quick before the kids have a chance to try another sport. Volleyball & soccer coaches in general are the most selfish. Plus most only coach one sport. - Whatajoke199

Although, AAU basketball plays in the summer, correct?

I find that in MN most younger girls are introduced to basketball and soccer at a much earlier age than to volleyball. As for try-outs being right after the state tournament as an effort to stop players from trying out for another sport, that's a joke. While I don't think try-outs should be so early, it's not to stop players from doing something else.

If basketball feels it is losing players to volleyball it may be due to the fact that girls find volleyball more exciting and fun to play. Also, women's basketball is becoming much more physical which some girls don't like.

[mikegarrison]

Jan 22, 2009 0:23:40 GMT -5 ugopher said:

Also, women's basketball is becoming much more physical which some girls don't like.

In fact, that's one of the reasons I stopped being as much of a fan of women's BB. I used to like that it wasn't as much of a push-and-shove game as men's BB.

[Chance]

"Favalore said teams need to play a more exciting brand of basketball to attract kids who are deciding what sport they want to play. "If coaches would play a more exiting type of basketball, if we had 70-68 games instead of 30-28 games, maybe more kids would come out. Volleyball went to rally scoring and it got more exciting. We need a 30 second clock in girls basketball. If some of the coaches would join the 21st century it would help."






What the hell kind of girls high schools basketball teams can put up 70 points vs even opposition? IIRC it's pretty rare for guys team's to score that many points, let alone chick teams.

[mikegarrison]

When I was in high school, more than 20 years ago, our girls team had a 30 second shot clock. I know, because I was paid the princely sum of $10 a game to operate it. I'm not sure that a 30 second shot clock means basketball has "joined the 21st century".

Byt then again, I also don't think rally scoring made volleyball more exciting.

[bluecollar]

My kids have friends that play basketball, soccer, baseball, and hockey on club or travel teams that practice or compete most of the year. Some parents and even some kids are very serious about becoming the best and feel that training year round in that sport is the way to achieve their goal. I don't think it is right but many youth sport coaches encourage their kids to play one sport.