INSIDE THE GAME Take chances, M
y fi rst collegiate sand volleyball season is here with Coach Rita “The Rocket” Buck-Crockett at Florida International University in Miami. I’m so excited! It’s the same excitement I’ve had with the beginning of every new season, includ- ing club, middle school and high school: the anticipation of competition, travel, training and peaking at the right time to do what needs to be done to win while making life-long friends and amaz- ing memories.
When reading messages about
my blog, I’ve noticed a common theme. Many of us are fi ghting for a dream to continue to play. We are passionate about playing time. We get anxious about tryouts for school, club and high performance. We overcome the disappointment in team selection or positions and are overjoyed when we win a long rally, a championship or even a warm-up game.
The majority of volleyball play-
ers aren’t born with perfect volley- ball physiques like Haley Eckerman, a 6-3 outside hitter for University of Texas, or beach pro standout Summer Ross at 6-2 or Branden Clemens, a 6-6 outside hitter on the Harvard men’s team. Most of us have to work extra hard to com- pensate for what we lack in natural ability. You’ll often hear coaches say, “I can’t coach height.” My response to that is, “But can you coach a fi recracker?” I am 5-7. I will never be taller. I have a kidney disease. I wish I didn’t, but I do. I had a major knee injury. It happened. I am certain that you, your parents or coaches evaluate your natural ability against a list of “ideal attributes” for a volleyball player. My advice: Don’t let this defi ne you. Vol- leyball is for everyone who wants to play. You can make it to the next level. It might not be easy, but that’s part of the journey, part of the memories, part of the fun. Hang on to what you know to be true and remember when you knew you loved the game.
For me, it started with playing on a 12U
with my fi rst club team, Eureka Fire, for East Side Volleyball Club in Peoria, Ill. It was a
24 | VOLLEYBALLUSA • Digital Issue at
usavolleyball.org/mag
time when hair ribbons and shoe strings were more important than wins and losses. For me, it is also remembering a practice game my coach enthusiastically called “Red Rover Vol- leyball Style.”
Our coach would split the team in two. Before we could shout out “Red Rover, Red Rover send (fi ll in the blank) over,” both teams would choose a player to compete in a
by Emily Podschweit make mistakes, get sandy
VolleyballUSA’s former junior columnist is in college now, but her approach to the game is the same. Full-speed ahead.
Hulk Smash due to this trained skill where scrapes and bruises were worn as a badge of honor. Firecracker … you bet!
FIU FRESHMAN: Emily Podschweit saw early season action against Pepperdine. (Photo: Peter Brouillet)
As you progress in your dreams, goals and desires, you will continue to face challenges, disappointments and setbacks along with the wonderful feeling of taking a step forward. You might face being overlooked, not due to skill but due to height. If this happens, just keep fi ghting for your place. Never stop working because it’s too hard or you feel it doesn’t matter because it does. It will matter to you. Don’t look back with regret. Fight through and fi nd your dream again. Fight for your love of why you play. We have three volleyball events in the Olympic Games for both men and women. All three add elements of physical and mental challenges. Take the time to learn, enjoy and play doubles in practice, in the yard and the sand. For a great physical challenge with an incredible core, arm and shoulder workout, play sitting volleyball. And if you do, take pictures and send them in. We’d love to see them.
The key point to make at this time is to work through the ob- stacles, have fun and never let go of the reason you love this game. If you fi nd yourself sitting on
serving, speed and diving drill. The team that was fi rst to get its serves in, sprint to the net and swan dive under it to the opposing team’s 10-foot line would win the right to choose a player from the other team. We would then re-group, play three points with our new teams and the battle would begin again. The crazy cheering, laughter and speed in which we had to play gave me hold-on-to moments that allowed me to defeat thoughts of “I’m not good enough.”
This is when I learned that speed and fl ight were important elements of how to play, both mentally and physically. I may not be tall, but I knew I could be fast and that I could train myself to fl y vertically and horizontally. With that, an accumulation of nicknames. I was known as Flying Squirrel, Super Man and
the bench, understand that this is still part of the team and your role may not be a starter on the court but an encourager, another set of eyes for your team, a motivator. We all have short seasons with new begin- nings, so make the best out of each opportu- nity. Hang in there, and your time will come. If you are at any of our collegiate sand doubles matches or the USA Volleyball High Performance Beach tournament in Hermosa Beach, Calif., this summer, give me a shout out with your best crazy dance moves and a smile on your face. And don’t be surprised if you fi nd me playing indoors just for the digs. Love this game, all of it and I want to ask you to make a promise with me. Never stop fi ghting to be better than anyone expected.
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