Let’s face it, when a kid sits the bench game in and game out they start feeling like a failure. I started playing volleyball in the 7th grade. I probably made the team because I was tall for thirteen years old. I worked out and practiced with passion but the better athletes prevailed. We had a total of sixteen girls on the team and six to eight of them got most of the playing time. That season was long and hard but I loved the sport and had no intentions of giving up. I thought my 8th grade year would be different, but nothing changed with the exception of me becoming stronger and taller. Even when I tried to imitate my better teammates, coordination and skill did not come easy. I probably got to play two or three times during that season. It is awful to sit on the bench. I would not wish it on anyone. I felt worthless. …show more content…
I watched instructional videos on-line that helped me with technique. For Christmas, I asked for a volleyball net to set up in our back yard. I was ecstatic when I opened that gift Christmas morning. My Dad set up the net and I began doing reps while trying to replicate what I saw in the videos. My Dad and I would stay outside for hours no matter the weather. He would toss the ball up, I would do my approach and spike the ball to the ground. I can’t even imagine how many reps I did. I would wake up incredibly sore the next morning, but would get right back to it every afternoon. Later, I added serving and passing to my routine. I also started to do small workouts where I’d do box jumps, ladders, and lift weights. As time went on, I could tell I was getting better. I was hitting the ball harder than I ever had before. It was