This meant that I was incredibly pleased when I found out that there is a "rock up as you are" Volleyball club in Ipswich - no registration required, check the Facebook page for time & location and go along. Luckily, fellow trampolinist Max agreed to join me for moral support.
It seemed like a good omen when a car pulled up alongside mine in the car park, and a concerned mother asked me if I was there for Volleyball. "My daughter is a bit shy - would you walk in with her, so she doesn't have to do it alone?" Ehm, yes please, because then I don't have to have to face strangers on my lonesome either. And so I stepped through the double door with a 15-year old who turned around to wave to mum whilst telling me all about how her team is in the county finals. "And how long have you been playing for?" I mumbled something about hitting a couple of balls "when I was your age", which is more than her life time ago...
The two guys busy setting up the nets in the hall were kind enough to explain how their team works:
- In the summer, they usually meet outdoors where they can play for free. These sessions tend to be quite relaxed, people just getting themselves into teams and playing independently.
- During the winter season, they gather in a school sports hall and work on drills, discuss strategies and work on improving techniques.
Today's session was in the school gym because of the weather, and with 3 newbies (Max, myself and the young Lady) they kindly took their time to explain the basic rules and moves.
By the time we stopped practising serves, we realised that two informal teams had started an easy-going game - Ladies on one court, gents on the other. I say "Ladies" - their mothers would look young to me. I felt positively ancient, and out of breath just from the few practice shots. The two-hour session stretching ahead of me seemed unmanageable.
An intense vibe emanated from the men's court: Guys with arms the size of both of my thighs (and I have sizeable thighs) were smashing balls at high speed, encouraging each other with high volume grunts. I waited for a quick gap in the game to dash past them, into the serene safety of the women's' game.
Where I originally thought that the game principally involved standing around, waiting for the ball to find you, I soon learnt that during this game, you don't stop moving. After 20 Minutes and many missed opportunities, I hung my head and admitted that I needed a break. I guess unlike other classes, it is not possible to simply slink to the back row and take a little break, especially when you're only playing four a court.
I admit that I joined the game with an internal eye-roll: After spending my working days surrounded by hormonal adolescents, I had been looking forward to a change of company. But where I expected tutting at missed balls, harsh shots to score points and petty tiffs about team allocations, these girls really did carry themselves like Ladies, and taught me a thing or two about endurance, determination and team spirit.
One moment in particular belied their age: After yet another messed-up serve from my part, a blond teen took me to one said and kindly explained that I didn't have to apologise each time I made a mistake. "Look at it from the other team's perspective" she whispered, "they can only score points through your mistakes. Rather than wasting your breath saying sorry, just cross your fingers that your counter part hits the net also."
On another occasion, a hip looking player from the opposite team walked under the next half way through a game and asserted: "I cannot watch you do it like this any more. Look, if you hold the ball lower and swing the other hand like a pendulum.... see, easy."
I didn't miss many more serves after that - and scored against her team. We met half way for a high five, because my progress was more important to her than her score.
Throughout the (very long and hot and sweaty) session, I repeatedly thought how this group was summed up in one word: Teamwork. Eve though they were playing against each other they continually encouraged each other across the court, discussed tactics used by both sides and gave opportunities to practice shots were needed.
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| What the game did not look like |
So might Volleyball be your chance to pick up where you dropped the exercise-ball?
1. You don't need any equipment beyond the usual sportswear / good bra / comfi trainers combo.
2. Apparently, across the world, Volleyball has the highest female participation numbers of any sports. The UK is a bit of an out-layer, but they'll catch up with the world eventually :-)
3. Whilst in this group, we played separate games, there is no reason why you can't have mixed games.
4. Strength and speed may be factors, but what really carries you through is a strong team spirit and tactics.
5. At a higher level, there is a lot of high jumping and hard smashing, but at beginners level this sport is fairly low impact if you are concerned about knees etc.
6. Even though you move continually and never really stand still, it doesn't feel like a "run" - you forget that you are always running until you notice that you can't breathe. Definitely better fun than watching the slowly changing digits on a treadmill.
7. Two hours felt really long, and it highlighted once more just how unfit I am. However, the girls assured me that they noticed improvements in their fitness within weeks of attending.
8. If you do manage to hit the ball just so, you feel on top of the world! (But don't take your eye of the ball whilst celebrating... I learn the hard way.)
9. Between serving, spiking, digging and blocking as well as running, squatting, jumping and lunging you get a work out for various muscle groups without focusing on it.
I really hope that I will be able to go back again one day soon!
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