NOTEBOOK Q Ask the Olympians
“How has the game changed for the better since you played, and how has the game changed not for the better and why.”
Danielle Scott-Arruda U.S. Women’s Olympic Team in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012
Well the game has defi nitely changed a lot. Let’s start with the uniforms... I am so glad we DO NOT have to wear those bun huggers anymore! I defi nitely welcome tights/spandex and the more fi tted jersey. The game has changed from sideout scoring to rally scoring. Because I played during the sideout scoring era, where one could only earn a point if serving, I really appreciated the long, knock out battles that could go on for hours! But on the other hand, with rally scoring, it brings its own level of dramatics and intensity. For instance two teams playing set fi ve fi rst to 15, but the ending score might be 31-29 — what a nail bitter!
Other changes such as continuing play with the serve
that touches the net, playing the ball with any part of the body including lower extremities, touching the net, the addition of the libero (for me the most resisted change, ask Stacy Sykora lol), they all have pros and cons. Ultimately, these changes were made with the intention of allowing for more rallies, suspense and making what could have been a 3-hour match shorter to fi t television parameters in order to grow our sport and have more visibility. If I were to have a complaint, it would be that now the younger players are specialized so early that the versatile all-around skilled players are limited to primarily the outsides. And although there is more visibility with online streaming, local and national television broadcast, there defi nitely could be a lot more. As for me, embracing the changes probably helped with me having a longer career.
Kevin Barnett U.S. Men’s Olympic Team in 2000, 2004
Personally I like the changes made to the game over the last 15 years. Due to the innate structure of the game volleyball already has too many stoppages. The rule changes I’ve seen, from the ball being allowed to contact the net on the serve to allowing for incidental nets or the loosening of contact calls have all allowed the game to produce longer and more numer- ous rallies. There’s always arguments from “purists” who want to maintain the (pick an adjective here) history, standards, sanctity, skill level, purity, credibility, history, et, of the game. These are mostly old people talking about how it was done in their day. If the NFL played the game of football today the same way it was played in 1920 it would be boring. Instead the game has gone through an evolution and that progression has helped it become the most popular sport in the United States. Volleyball is never going to be football but it must continue to evolve to create an entertaining product that people will choose to play and, more importantly, pay to enjoy. The game as it is played today is far more entertaining than the three and a half to four hour marathons that happened until the advent of rally
scoring in the late 1990’s. The net rule for serves keeps play going and makes for some interesting rallies. The Libero position has opened a whole new set of strategies for coaches and opportunities for players not over six foot four. I like the colored ball. (yes, the ball used to be white kids) Jump serving from anywhere along the end line was another posi- tive move to create variety in the game. I think there are further changes that can be made to draw more players and fans to the game. Evolve or Die, that’s how the world works. Keep evolving volleyball.
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