Volleyball has increasingly been one of the most popular sports in the United States since 1980, with participation increasing almost every year since then, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Especially in women’s high school sports, it has dominated the statistics and surpassed girls youth basketball in all besides nine states. So what does this mean for people who are interested in volleyball? How does the Franklin youth volleyball program compare?
The Portland Interscholactic League (PIL) youth program is a high school, cluster-based program for 6th to 8th grade students who are interested in sports, meaning all the feeder middle schools that go to Franklin will be combined into one team. Their main goal is to create a healthy but just as much competitive environment for their student athletes where they can learn teamwork and confidence through the pillars of the program.
Youth volleyball is one of many sports offered through the PIL, and is very popular among young students. Tess Martin, the head volleyball coach at Franklin, describes “Around middle school, especially in 7th or 8th grade, some athletes start to focus on one sport.” She goes on to explain a pattern in students who play for the youth programs continuing to play for their respective high school after. Despite the difficult decision of choosing a sport, Martin encourages exploring an athlete’s options through early extracurricular experiences. Youth Volleyball is a great way to become well integrated in high school even before attending, and provides room for growth and experience with sports and teamwork settings. “We keep strengthening that bridge every year so that our younger athletes feel part of the Franklin volleyball community from the start.”
One big goal of the youth program is aiming to develop baseline skills. When it comes to volleyball, the most basic skill is not letting the ball hit the ground. In the program, drills done during practice are highly interactive for the whole team and consist of quick, reaction-based movements.
According to Teri Joseph, a coach of the 7th grade youth team for Franklin and a former volleyball player, coaches have “lots of resources and the coaching training provides online modules” that all help with educating and developing the baseline skills the kids will need for the game. These resources are utilized by Franklin youth coaches to provide athletes with the skills they need to progress towards high school level playing.
Coaching has a large influence on athlete sport experiences. An effective coach has many qualities, including good tactics, fun and encouraging energy, and love for the game and one’s players. The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center affirms these characteristics, explaining, “An effective coach is enthusiastic. As leaders, supervisors and managers set the tone. Their attitude is catching. Project gloom and doom, and you will get gloom and doom back from your staff.”
Younger athletes are particularly susceptible to these negative emotions. Lack of energy or enthusiasm could be a result of lack of care from a coach and potentially drive an athlete away from their sport. Creating a healthy environment is key to kids growing into their sport and developing the good experiences they need to continue thriving on the court. On Franklin’s PIL teams, coaches create a safe space for learning and growth. This helps their athletes transition to high school. It gives the kids an understanding of the basics and makes sure they are already accustomed to the environment of the game.
Aside from the impact of coaching, volleyball builds community in many ways. At the Franklin youth program, this helps athletes as they prepare for high school. As stated by USA Volleyball, “Volleyball is a true team sport, and at the end of every point, teammates come together and encourage each other.” For incoming freshmen, having participated in the sport with people they already know can shape just how their fall season may go. Having previously made connections in the youth program, the benefits follow athletes as they make the shift into their high school career, whether that be within volleyball or beyond.
Josephine Shorb is a 10th grader at Franklin High School who played in the youth PIL program through Franklin from 6th through 8th grade before going to high school. Shorb has continued to stay friends with some of the girls she went to middle school with and also played with her for youth volleyball. She explains how everyone was very close among her youth team, even though not all went to the same middle school. “I love the people I play with, and it’s really fun to play with them.” She has many fond memories of the program, describing, “On my sixth and seventh grade teams, both times, we were so close to winning the championship. In sixth grade, it was the third set and we lost because of a bad call,” she remembers. “We were all crying afterwards. It was so funny.”
Within the youth volleyball community deciding whether or not to play in a PIL club has caused a lot of debate for many families who must weigh the benefits and costs. While clubs can provide an opportunity for increased growth, they can be very expensive. This is one of many variables that youth athletes have to consider, especially since volleyball has become so much more popular. PIL is mainly funded from participation fees and donations from members of the PIL Hall of Fame, as well as distribution of funds and fundraising through the PIL Foundation, a program to increase opportunity and accessibility through sports within Portland Public Schools.
The Youth volleyball program at Franklin provides great development for middle school athletes as well. According to NCSA Sports, “high school offers athletes an opportunity to learn the value of competing on a team to represent their school, while balancing academics to remain eligible to play, which is very similar to the college athletic experience”. With the experience through the PIL, they can be prepared for the demands of high school and have lots of experience with volleyball already. Although it is only a two month period, the youth program offers a lot for young athletes.
The Franklin youth volleyball program has had major success in their play this fall season. The standings in regular season play were 9 wins to 5 loses. 7th grade student Hazel Hoover says, “My favorite part about this year was getting a new team and playing with my friends.” The youth program at Franklin and beyond has received very positive feedback from their athletes. Anjali Joseph, another Franklin youth player, when asked why she plays, answers, “I love volleyball and I want to do it in high school.”
Youth Volleyball is a great way for middle schoolers to build long-lasting friendships, skill development, and maybe even realize how much they enjoy playing a sport. “We’ve had ups and downs I guess,” 7th grader Poppy Tunis says, “but it’s been really good, and really fun to play.”
