Former professional Volleyball player Marv Dunphy said, “Volleyball is a game of intuition. Imagination. Improvisation. But most of all, of reciprocity. Of teamwork. There is no way to freelance in volleyball.” This is a defining factor of Madison’s new varsity Boys Volleyball Team. Implementing a new varsity sport is an immense commitment for players and coaches alike.
Madison is renowned for its impressive and accomplished varsity sports. While this provides an incredible legacy to live up to, it can also lead to immense pressure on varsity athletes. With the introduction of a new varsity sport, these athletes are held to a higher standard not only within the team but by outsiders as well. When facing Madison, other teams immediately have high expectations, placing further pressure on the athletes.
“It’s a double edged sword, you see all the trophies and everything and you see the football team do really well like every year and girl’s volleyball is doing really good,” Varsity boys volleyball coach Katie MacDonald said. “It makes them strive to want to do well and want to win but also puts on that high expectation. I want them to feel the expectation that Madison has really high achievement and good sports but not the pressure.”
Creating a varsity team starts with student interest and support from the school. If there’s enough demand, the school checks if they have the resources, like funding and coaching, to make it happen. A coach is then hired, and tryouts are held to pick the best athletes. Once the team is chosen, they start training and competing against other schools. The team officially represents the school, and students and the community show their support during games and competitions. Another important aspect of the implementation of a new varsity sport is the creation of team chemistry that is a vital factor of success in team sports.
Having each member of a varsity sports team with their own personal skills to contribute to the team is critical to the growth and success during games and tournaments. However without a strong team connection, the growth of the team spirit will not be as strong. The chemistry between the members of a work team is just as important as the combined talent of each member. Good communication, trust in each other, shared values, and even humor influence performance. Having a strong connection to each member in a team will promote healthy interactivity between individuals, including the knowledge of how to act during times of stress and the awareness of how to communicate with others during daily game and practice environments.
“I didn’t set out to go and win states immediately, I think the main thing is building a good foundation,” MacDonald said. “We have five seniors and this opens five spots for next year.”
The first year of the sport has been focused on building a strong foundation to set it up for success in the coming years. The challenge of a new varsity sport means players do not get to develop together through the years as they would have in other previously established sports. Coaches hope for the team this year to be a positive environment. For a first season this year the team has an overall record of 7-6 making it a good start for the years to come.
“I try to instill in them don’t fear losing the game, Fear not playing your best. So I want them to play their best and be their best person.”