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Playing volleyball every day can be exciting and rewarding, but it also puts a lot of stress on your body. When school season starts, the sudden increase in practices, games, and physical activity can lead to soreness that feels overwhelming. While some muscle soreness is normal, especially early in the season, it’s important to recognize when soreness turns into pain that could signal an injury. Managing soreness properly and preventing injuries will help you stay on the cou

Starting a new school sports season brings excitement and hope for many athletes. But what happens when, two weeks in, you find yourself benched? It can feel frustrating and confusing, but being on the sidelines early in the season does not mean your coach has written you off. This post will help you understand why you might not be playing yet and what you can do to change that. Understand Why You Are Benched Two weeks into the season, coaches are still figuring out the best

Not making the volleyball team can feel like a heavy blow. You might feel embarrassed, especially if your friends made it or if you told others you were trying out. It’s normal to want to step away from the sport for a while. But being cut does not mean you are permanently “not good enough.” It means that for this particular tryout, with this specific roster, other players were chosen. Coaches consider many factors: skill level, position needs, experience, consistency, athlet

Balancing school and volleyball can feel like juggling two full-time commitments. Volleyball practices, tournaments, and travel take up hours each week, but school deadlines, tests, and homework don’t pause for your busy schedule. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and exhausted. This post offers practical advice to help student-athletes manage their time effectively, avoid burnout, and succeed both on the court and in the classroom. Plan Your Week Ahead The

If you’ve been with Rec It Volleyball for a while, you may have noticed that Intro to Tournaments is now called Prep for Rotations. You may have also noticed another important change: there is no longer a tournament included at the end of the session. The change was intentional and came from looking closely at both how athletes progress through this level and how we can create the most consistent schedule possible for our families. Why Did the Name Change? We found that Prep

Your athlete just finished a game. They might be tired, frustrated, excited, embarrassed, hungry, or already thinking about homework. This moment is usually not the best time for a full volleyball breakdown. When the car ride home turns into a list of criticisms like, “You need to do this,” “Why didn’t you do that?” or “That girl is so bad,” your athlete may stop hearing anything useful. If you don’t understand volleyball well, constant technical criticism can make them tune

If your scrimmage is this week and you still don’t know your rotations, waiting and hoping it will click on its own is not the answer. Volleyball rotations can feel overwhelming because you are not just memorizing six spots on the court. You need to understand where you start, where you move after the serve, who you stand next to, and what your role is in each rotation. This guide will help you break down the process and prepare confidently for your scrimmage. Understand What

Mistakes happen in volleyball. You miss a pass, the set is off, or a teammate misses a cue. What matters most is how you respond. Taking accountability in volleyball is not about loudly admitting fault after every error. Instead, it’s about what you do inside your head and how quickly you adjust to keep the game moving forward. This skill separates strong players from the rest. Understanding Accountability Without Blame When a play goes wrong, your first reaction might be to

One habit that frustrates volleyball coaches is when players catch the ball during drills instead of trying to play it. It might seem easier to grab the ball when the pass is off, the set is awkward, or the ball comes at an odd angle. But volleyball does not allow catching in a real game. Coaches want to see how players handle messy balls because those situations happen all the time during matches. Catching the ball during drills takes away a key part of practice: learning to

You practice hard and nail every drill, but when the game starts, your mind goes blank. You freeze, unsure what to do next. This doesn’t always mean you are nervous. Often, it means your brain hasn’t had enough practice making quick volleyball decisions. Developing volleyball IQ is the key to playing confidently when the game speeds up. Volleyball IQ grows from experience: seeing a situation, deciding what to do, trying it out, and learning from the result. If you only focus

When you first join a volleyball team, your height or current skill set might quickly determine your position. Maybe you are the tallest player on your middle school or high school team, and the coach immediately places you as a middle blocker. That makes sense at the moment, especially if your team needs someone to block and attack in the middle. But your volleyball position today does not have to be your position forever. As you grow, develop new skills, and face tougher co

Deciding the right volleyball path for young athletes between 12 and 14 years old can be challenging. Both Club volleyball and REC It Volleyball offer valuable experiences, but they serve different needs and goals. Understanding these differences helps parents and players choose the best fit for their current skills, commitment level, and development goals. Understanding Club Volleyball for 12s–14s Club volleyball usually demands a higher level of commitment. Players often at

A volleyball camp can look busy from the outside. Athletes serve, pass, hit, shuffle, call the ball, and play. But two camps can use some of the same skills and still have very different goals. That is the main difference between a Tryout Prep Camp and an All-Skills REC It Camp. One is built to help athletes prepare for an upcoming evaluation. The other is built to help athletes grow as volleyball players overall. Both can be useful. The best choice depends on what the athlet

Summer workouts can feel like a hidden tryout. A coach posts open gym dates, lifting times, conditioning sessions, and “highly encouraged” practices, and suddenly every missed day feels risky. The short answer is this: summer workouts are usually meant to help you prepare, not automatically decide whether you make the team. Every school and program can set its own rules, so you should always check with your coach or athletic department. But in many high school programs, summe

Walking into a volleyball tryout can feel overwhelming. You might see players who seem more skilled, hitting harder, or moving faster. It’s easy to think, “Everyone here is better than me.” But coaches are not just watching who has the strongest serve or the biggest hit. They want to see how you learn, how you respond to feedback, and how you handle the pressure of trying out. This post will guide you through practical ways to stand out during middle school or high school vol