Racking up over 325,000 views in the NCAA competition, professional volleyball has risen in popularity in recent years. Women receive more recognition for this sport, but both men and women enjoy watching and playing it. Men’s volleyball should have a bigger presence in the sports community, especially within high school athletics because unlike football or certain types of gymnastics, volleyball is a sport that can be played well by both men and women.
According to studies conducted by Kountouris Laios, men’s volleyball is more competitive than it’s female counterparts. “Men in the 2008 Beijing Olympics volleyball games had significantly higher efficiencies in the skills of the pass, reception, and attack, while women had significantly higher efficiencies in the skill of the serve.” they stated.
Because people enjoy watching more competitive sports, men’s volleyball could add a different element, unseen in the world of high school volleyball.
Individuals’ passion for playing sports begins in their youth. During their high school years, they are able to play these sports at an accelerated level in order to find true passion and continue in college and beyond.
Not having school-sanctioned men’s volleyball presents a problem for PVHS students who are on a volleyball team outside of school, such as Liam Kelley. “[This] has put me and my club team at a disadvantage during tournaments against teams that are able to have more productive clinics,” he explained.
By dismissing men’s volleyball, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) is also making it significantly more difficult for male students to play the sport they love in college or professionally. Kelley agrees with these claims. “I think that we should have a men’s volleyball team to give people opportunities to play and possibly open new doors for college,” he said.
D’Anne Kroemer, the Athletic Director at PVHS, believes that men’s volleyball should be part of high school sports but finds it difficult for the IHSAA to agree with this. “The IHSAA sends out an interest survey to see if high schools would have an interest in fostering men and women’s sports as state- sanctioned sports. While there is interest in men’s volleyball along the coasts of the state, many parts of the state aren’t believed to have an interest in men’s volleyball therefore making it more difficult for the state to sanction it,” she explained.
In states like California, men’s volleyball is booming with division one scholarships being awarded to star high school men’s volleyball athletes. The University of Southern California men’s volleyball coach, Jeff Nygaard, makes $4 million for his services. Even in Katowice, Poland, over 10 million viewers tuned in to watch the 2022 Men’s Volleyball Championship.
There is interest in men’s volleyball, but until it becomes sanctioned in the state of Iowa, no one will ever know.
John Levin • Jan 2, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Nice article Nikhil!