All Posts

Losing your starting spot on a team can feel like a personal setback. You might wonder why you were taken out of the lineup or feel frustrated watching someone else take your place. But a starting position is not a permanent right. Coaches adjust lineups based on what the team needs at the moment—whether that’s consistency, better communication, fewer errors, or stronger defense. The key is to understand what changed and focus on earning your spot back. A volleyball player fo

Spending a lot of time with volleyball teammates can be both rewarding and challenging. You share practices, games, bus rides, and group chats, which means you see each other almost constantly. Even if you like your teammates, this level of closeness can sometimes feel overwhelming. It’s perfectly normal to want some space without causing drama or hurting feelings. Setting boundaries with an annoying teammate is a skill that helps keep the team atmosphere positive and your ow

If your team suddenly plays better only when the coach starts yelling, you are not alone. Many coaches notice that their players seem to “wake up” only when the volume rises. The problem is that relying on external pressure to spark focus creates a fragile team dynamic. When the coach quiets down, the energy fades, communication drops, and performance slips. Good teams find ways to maintain focus without needing someone to shout every few minutes. This post explores why teams

METUCHEN/ S. PLAINFIELD CLASS UPDATE If you’re receiving this email, you’re currently on our General Subscriber List. We’ll be phasing out this list by the end of December 2026 as we move to more location-specific communication. To make sure you receive updates that are most relevant to your family, please click here to join the email list for the location where you plan to attend classes. We ask families to re-subscribe each September so we can keep our lists current and

Sometimes, teams perform better against tough opponents than against those they expect to beat easily. This can feel confusing and frustrating. Why does this happen? The answer often lies in focus, mindset, and how players approach the game. When facing a weaker team, players may relax too much, lose communication, and stop playing with the same intensity. This shift can quickly lead to mistakes and unexpected losses. Players preparing for serve during a volleyball match Focu

🏐 Atletas Principiantes: Guía para tu Primer Día de Voleibol Importante: Las clases se imparten en inglés. Empezar voleibol por primera vez puede ser emocionante y también dar un poco de nervios. Tal vez te preguntes si los demás ya saben jugar, cómo serán los entrenadores o qué pasa si te equivocas. Para eso existe nuestra clase de Beginner. No esperamos que ya sepas jugar voleibol. 🏐 Para los Atletas: ¿Qué Puedes Esperar? Estarás con otros atletas que también están aprend

🏐 Beginner Volleyball: Your First Day Guide Trying volleyball for the first time can feel exciting and a little scary. You might wonder if everyone else will be better than you, what the coaches are like, or what happens if you mess up. That’s exactly what Beginner class is for. You are not expected to already know how to play. 🏐 For Athletes: What to Expect You’ll be in class with other athletes who are still learning too. Some may have played in gym class or at camp. Othe

Mistakes happen in volleyball. You serve into the net, miss a pass, or hit the ball out of bounds. Then, suddenly, the coach pulls you out of the game. It feels unfair, especially if it was just one mistake. But there’s more to the story than that single moment. Coaches don’t react to one error alone. They watch patterns, manage risks, and try to keep the team in the game. Imagine a volleyball set like your team has $23 to spend on mistakes. Why $23 and not $25? Because a set

SEPTEMBER CLASSES UPDATE If you’re receiving this email, you’re currently on our General Subscriber List. We’ll be phasing out this list by the end of December 2026 as we move to more location-specific communication. To make sure you receive updates that are most relevant to your family, please click here to join the email list for the location where you plan to attend classes. We ask families to re-subscribe each September so we can keep our lists current and make sure y

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