Getting into Volleyball 

It was a sunny warm Monday morning just a week after Summer ended, you can hear the students and teachers chatting and many students says “Why do I have to be at school!”. As I walk through the crowd to my class you can hear a group of students was talking about what they were looking forward to this school year, and other group which are happy to see each other again. The first class was over and the second block just started then the sound of the speaker made a sound “bleeep”. three other announcements have been said and the only announcement that got my attention was about the volleyball tryouts happening on Wednesday and Friday afters chools. I felt the hair on my arm and legs stand up and my mind started to show memories of my dad and other relative saying “Try sports and new things while your in Canada.”. From that I wasn’t able to get my mind of of the tryout I wasn’t able to focus on any classes and I had dreams of being in the court playing volleyball.  

A day have past and I still was not able to study so I ran and ran like a trying to runaway from a huge dog that is trying to catch me. Soon later I got home, out of breath and tired, I took my keys out of my pocket and open the door. As I open the door I instantly smell the aroma from the meat, hot dogs, onions and garlic being on the air and you can hear the exhaust and the sizzling sound like really tiny bubbles popping coming from the pan. Then I felt my stomach rumbled like boulders rolling down a hill. Then I hugged my mom and helped her cook one of my favorite food. When the Spaghetti was done I grabbed a bowl and filled it then sat down on the table. You can see the smoke coming from the bowl and the smell alone warms your body. 

As we eat our dinner I told my mom that I’m going tryout for the volleyball team, and she responded “OK go ahead *silence* oh good luck”. I was sooooo exited up to the point that I was imagining what’s going to happen on the tryout and got my stuff ready. The next day I was so focused on the clock looking at it every time, and some how I was still able to listen and pay attention in any classes, and I waited and waited and waited until the clock hits 2:55 then I started packing my computers and getting ready to leave. As soon as I heard the bell rang I ran to the change room and got ready. I made to the gym and only saw 12 guys and noticed a tall skinny guy, tall big guy, a guy who has the same height as me, two Filipino. 

As the coach walked in the gym and ask us to set up the court, and so we did. We stared counting how many people were there, then he introduced himself, asked us “how many people here played volleyball before?” most people raised their hands then he asked “how many people have never played an official game before?” Me and another guy raised our hands. He told us to “forget the word bump and use pass instead” because he does not like the word bump to be used when talking or playing volleyball.  

He taught us how to pass and set the ball. When setting the ball, just imagine your holding a two litter pop or any soda jug, then pretend to chug the jug. That was just the platform the he taught us when setting the ball square up to your target then bend your knees, cushion the ball and push to wards where you want the ball to go and when your pushing the ball, the ball go the same way as the arc of the McDonald’s M. When passing make sure your platform is straight and strong then go to athlete position and just put your arms in front of you and make sure to use your forearm to pass not your hands so you have more control on the ball and it will feel nice. Note: put the ball high into the middle of the court or pass the ball right above the setter. 

Finally we did some action. We played a drills like serving, passing and hitting. Since I was pretty new to the sport I was confused and having second thought on why I came to the try out. So I made a choice to try to copy Nate who is also short and skinny like me. And to finish the day we did a game, my serves are short, my hits are up and out of the court and my passing is always going high up in the air but its going every where in the Gym. I was encourage to come to the next tryout on Friday and I did. 

On Friday some people did not show up and three new people did and we did the same thing but more games than drills. At the end of the tryout the Coach, Mr. Brett told us that they are merging Grade 9’s and 10’s together because they do not have enough people to make two teams. From there it all went up hill, I had a lot of fun playing,  whenever I play I forget my problems, and the most amazing part of playing volleyball is when everyone is working together and you get a long rally. Because of this sports I came up with a quote “You can’t grow unless you leave your Comfort Zone”, I also made some friends because I played this game. And that is how I fell in love with the sport.