Bump! Set! (and sorta) Spike!

Today marked the end of my second year coaching volleyball. I coached the same girls both years and I am having trouble putting into words what it was like to see these girls grow and change.

As 7th graders most of them had never played volleyball and in many cases had never been on a sports team. They started learning the basics and achieved our goals for each game which were to have fun and get the ball over the net. :)

As 8th graders the girls' skills increased and many of them had a set of "firsts" that was pretty amazing to be a part of. They learned overhand serving and the rhythm of "bump, set, and spike" (The "spike" wasn't quite as powerful as it sounds...) they appreciated the overall feel of what "real" volleyball is like and got to experience championship games.

These girls consistently amazed me. I was inspired by their looks of pride on the court, their giggles and funny stories on the bus to our away games, the thrill of winning games, the level of competition they had a love/hate relationship with and really, just seeing their sheer pleasure of playing a fun sport.

Coaching brings me such joy. To see these kids in a different space other than a classroom is a pure delight. There is a simplicity to the way that the girls hold themselves that is difficult to explain, but is deeply inspiring. I feel really lucky to be a part of their journey as women, competitors and overall superstars.

I wouldn't have survived the season without my partner in crime, Coach DeVries. xoxo, coach. :) Pictured here is the superstar "C" team that won 2nd in the city! (Talk about firsts..these 6 girls played 9 games in one night. 5 of the 6 of them are refugee students in our school and had never played volleyball quite like this...!)

Beatrice gets the game point!

Amazing photo of Beatrice serving!


Game 3...the score is 23-24 us. If we get the next serve, we win the game. The next server: Beatrice. Her name pretty much sums it up. She is a Beatrice through and through. I think I could tell this to her face, but she is the worst player on the team. Truly. She has probably had 5 serves go over the net--in her whole life! She is however, the player with the most heart. By far.

When we taught the "ready" position, she took every element to heart. She is ALWAYS the most ready. She just can't quite get to the ball and put it over the net. But. Like I said, she has absolutely the most heart of any player on the team.

So. Here we are. Game point and Beatrice is up...and just like the Hollywood version of "the" game point in ANY sports movie you have ever seen, Beatrice does it. She gets the freakin' ball over the net.


As it barely dribbled over onto the other side of the net, we all held our breath. The other team wasn't prepared for such a strategic placement of the ball :) and, as if in slow motion, the referee blows the whistle and motions his arms across his chest to mark the end of the match.

We won. We freaking won on Beatrice's game point serve.

It was incredible. I am not sure I have ever felt so elated. It wasn't so much the win, of course. It was that it was Beatrice. She marks the epitome of "most improved player" and makes coaching worth it.

Beatrice, who has very little athletic ability, experienced the most precious of athletic moments any athlete dreams of. Winning the game with HER serve!



Oh Beatrice. You truly are a miracle in the Mundane.

Being a 7th grade volleyball coach.

When I ventured out on this crazy career choice of teaching, I always had in the back of my mind my dream of being a volleyball coach. This year, my dream is coming true. I have the privilege of being the coach for the 7th grade girls at my school.

I needed to see my kids in a new light. Being in the classroom only, was almost giving me claustrophobia. I needed to see my kids find success in something that was out of their comfort zone. They are doing things they didn't think they could do. Many of the girls have never really played volleyball and most of them have never been a part of a team. It is pure magic to be a part of this 'first' for them.

I am very much in the same boat as they are. I have never officially coached before. There are 30+ girls relying on me to guide them. I too am learning a new vocabulary and I am trying to make sense of the chaos. I am confident I will not do everything right, but I am also confident that what I see in these amazing girls will help build who they are. This is the dream for me. This is what it is all about. This is my miracle.

So far it has been quite entertaining to see the girls learn to play. It is reminiscent of a summer picnic where a bunch of drunk people play volleyball...limbs flying every direction and everything is a bit out of control...but its so much fun.

Who knows what our record will be this year...we may lose every game. But it won't matter a bit. The miracle in the mundane is being their coach, and knowing that all of us are trying our best.

Go Lady Spartans! :)