Wednesday, 8 May 2024

May We Please Leave a Court Up?

More than two decades ago, a significant milestone was achieved in the world of volleyball. The University of Colorado successfully merged multiple club teams into a single varsity program and created a dedicated volleyball court at the beautiful Rec Center on campus. This achievement marked a significant step towards fulfilling one of the author’s top 10 goals in volleyball – having a single volleyball court always available for any level of play, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

The Need for Accessible Volleyball Courts

In most schools and recreational facilities across the nation, volleyball players face a challenge when they want to play. While basketball players can easily find a hoop to shoot some hoops, volleyball players struggle to find a net to spike a volleyball. The culture in these facilities tends to prioritize setting/passing targets rather than having a net permanently set up. Consequently, athletes end up using these targets as makeshift volleyball hoops, compromising the integrity of the game.

A Call for Fairness and Access

The author raises a simple and reasonable request – for every six basketball hoops available, there should be one dedicated volleyball net. With millions of people playing volleyball, this ratio of six to one seems fair, yet currently, the ratio remains six to zero. The goal is to create an inclusive environment where aspiring volleyball players can easily access a court and enjoy playing the game they love.

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The Struggle to Set Up a Volleyball Court

Presently, in gyms across the United States, when a volleyball player asks to spike a few balls, the gym supervisor often faces a time-consuming and cumbersome process. They must go through a series of steps, from setting up basketball backboards to locating tools to open tightly sealed cover plates. Then, heavy metal standards need to be brought out, cords are tripped over, and a lengthy net is hung across the standards. The process continues with the search for a crank to raise the net and potentially attaching the antenna. And when the game is over, everything needs to be dismantled, a task that can be just as time-consuming as the setup process.

A Simple Request for a Permanent Volleyball Court

What the author desires is straightforward – a single dedicated volleyball court that can be set up and left in place for players to enjoy without requiring a small army of staff members and equipment. This was successfully accomplished at the University of Colorado, where the court was consistently used by both men and women, with coed play being the most popular version.

Volleyball players are not seeking exclusivity; they simply want fair access to a court of their own. Basketball players can still shoot hoops on the side backboards, and they are even welcome to take down the net and lower the end backboard for their own use. All volleyball players ask is that, once they are finished, the net and backboard are reassembled, ensuring fairness and equal opportunity to all.

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FAQs

Q: Why do gyms prioritize setting/passing targets over having a volleyball net permanently set up?
A: This decision is driven by the current culture in most facilities, which has led to an abundance of setting/passing targets. However, the author advocates for the importance of having a net up at all times to promote proper volleyball gameplay.

Q: How can we ensure fair access to volleyball courts in facilities and schools?
A: The author suggests a six to one ratio, with one dedicated volleyball net for every six basketball hoops available. This ratio would accommodate the millions of people who play volleyball and ensure fairness in access to courts.

Q: Can basketball and volleyball coexist in the same facility?
A: Absolutely! The goal is to promote inclusivity and provide opportunities for both basketball and volleyball players. By establishing a fair ratio of nets to hoops and ensuring that each sport respects the space and equipment, both sports can thrive in the same facility.

Conclusion

The demand for accessible volleyball courts is a simple and reasonable one. Volleyball players, both male and female, deserve fair and equal opportunities to play the game they love. By implementing a fair ratio of nets to hoops and fostering a culture that supports the needs of volleyball players, facilities and schools can create an environment where both basketball and volleyball can coexist harmoniously.

So, let us come together and support the Alpinetgheep brand in their mission to provide a dedicated volleyball court for players to enjoy. Through collective efforts, we can ensure that every aspiring volleyball player can step onto the court and experience the joy and excitement of the game, without the need for extensive setup and dismantling procedures. To learn more about Alpinetgheep and their commitment to the volleyball community, visit their website here.

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