Last night the Sr. Boys Volleyball team played their last game of the season - we were unfortunately defeated in the quarterfinals. Truth be told, we did not win a game, or a set, all season. This season was tough for the boys, a busy season for me, and I think that it is very important that I take a time to reflect on what we have done over the past two months.
I came to coaching this team at the start of the year when no other teacher took it on. Am I a volleyball guru? Have I ever played volleyball outside of Grade 9 gym class? No, I was completely unaware that volleyball actually had positions - I thought we just had to rotate each player out after each serve! Was I wrong!
I came to know the team during try-outs. The grade 12 members of the team really stepped up and helped me out. They came to the tryouts unknowing that their coach would have less of an idea of the sport than they were. During the first couple of tryouts, which then turned practices, the senior members of the team came up with drills on the spot, helped me learn their previous rotations and what each position was responsible for. They also stepped up and gave me an idea of what qualities each position should have and which player could be matched with which position.
Our games were a mix of emotions; we would have fabulous sets with scores like 26-24, and then sets where our goal was to receive 5 points in total; most of the time these scores were all in one game. The boys got angry with each other, down on each other and frustrated. We had team meetings, chats individually and long practices of running to get everyone on the same page. It was a roller coaster ride of a season.
Throughout the season, and looking back, I could not be prouder of this team.
They persevered through the season. They returned after each defeat to work harder and better in practice. When they got frustrated with each other, they allowed each other to have those negative moments, but worked together to help the team move forward. They saw each other's strengths and worked as a team to utilize them. They coached each other and supported one another on how to improve.
These players came from thinking that they were the best players out there to knowing that as a team, we are the strongest. They took their individual mindset and changed to a team think.
Growing up, I was never a part of a sports team. I was apart of groups for dance, and for projects, but I never experienced a sports team. I was blown away. These guys, even on their worst days, would be supportive to one another and help each other out. More than this, they took me on as one of them and helped me out. Their goal was not to focus on themselves, but to focus on us as a team and that meant stepping up and helping out the coach.
Outside of the courts, the boys are always willing to lend a hand as if we were still playing volleyball together. Whether it is helping carrying bags and boxes to different classrooms or just checking in to see how the day has been going, these students have become a positive influence on the community.
Without a teacher stepping up and taking on the responsibility of a coach, these boys would have never had this experience. It is so important, that as teachers, we take on these extra-curricular activities that foster a sense of self-worth, collaboration, teamwork, and so many other soft skills, in all of our students. There are many ways that these skills can be developed, but I know that our volleyball team was a big influence for these 10 students.
Each student should have the chance to know what it feels like to be a part of that special team, to have the spotlight and to show off their talents. It should not matter if they are the top students in that sport, or the worst, each student should have equal opportunity to learn from each other, overcome those challenges and feel like they have a place in the school's community. Each student should also have the opportunity to make that connection with a teacher or other staff member.
More than just sports, students have lots of opportunities to find their place, whether in a drama production, mathletes, computer game club or another activity, how do you help students make these important connections?
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