Basketball does rule at a lot of the public schools. Also, many of the public schools only do a Varsity and JV at the middle school level instead of a 6th, 7th and 8th grade team. Most of the catholic schools have an A team and a B team for each grade.

Im 62 and I can remember the girls in my class playing volleyball at recess and lunch period when I was in Catholic grade school . My wife played a little intermural at OLPA in the 60's and I do believe they had a league between the Catholic girls High schools in NKy back then . I believe that OLPA played their games on a blacktopped lot behind the building after school . The Girls playing then are the Grandmothers of the girls playing at the high school level now .

Point is the Catholic Schools didn't just start a volleyball program in the mid 80's when the state tournament started , and historically because Catholic Schools segregated the sexes in High School they didn't just start seriously competitive girls sports programs when title 9 mandated them . Catholic Schools were way ahead of the curve in this regard .

In my opinion, volleyball is the new soccer for the girls (and hopefully not to far away, boys).

 

10 years ago, if you drove a mini van you were parked at a local park on a Saturday morning and your daughter was out there playing soccer. Now, with the success of the women's national volleyball team (Olympic medalist almost every olympics) and the sand volleyball (AVP in Mason, Kerri and Misti, etc.) I feel a lot of young girls are taking up the sport earlier and earlier. Plus, there seems to be a lot more of the college volleyball on TV so the younger girls are being exposed to the sport.

 

I believe it is a matter of time before more of the public elementary schools begin teams/leagues for the girls to compete in. I'm surprised there are not more public schools with teams today.

 

All that needs to happen is a parent to step up and put a team together at the elementary level. Then just calling around to see if they can put their team in an existing league or work with other elementary schools on forming a league of their own. I'm sure the school would support the sport for the younger girls. I believe this is what was done when a parent of a boy formed a local elementary boys team.

 

'If you build it, they will come'......

 

Just my thought.

In my opinion, volleyball is the new soccer for the girls (and hopefully not to far away, boys).

 

10 years ago, if you drove a mini van you were parked at a local park on a Saturday morning and your daughter was out there playing soccer. Now, with the success of the women's national volleyball team (Olympic medalist almost every olympics) and the sand volleyball (AVP in Mason, Kerri and Misti, etc.) I feel a lot of young girls are taking up the sport earlier and earlier. Plus, there seems to be a lot more of the college volleyball on TV so the younger girls are being exposed to the sport.

 

I believe it is a matter of time before more of the public elementary schools begin teams/leagues for the girls to compete in. I'm surprised there are not more public schools with teams today.

 

All that needs to happen is a parent to step up and put a team together at the elementary level. Then just calling around to see if they can put their team in an existing league or work with other elementary schools on forming a league of their own. I'm sure the school would support the sport for the younger girls. I believe this is what was done when a parent of a boy formed a local elementary boys team.

 

'If you build it, they will come'......

 

Just my thought.

 

 

I agree 100%. Beechwood started their elementary program last year after parents put forth the effort and volunteered to coach. The girls came out in force to play. It definately takes PARENTS, not just one, to make it happen, as well as a school that supports them.

I was told by a Louisville SHA parent that it is a done deal that Mercy will be in the same region as the other schools Saturday at NKU!

 

I was told the same thing this weekend. I will be good news for all of the louisville teams in the opposite region

Especially Holy Cross and Presentation . I wonder if the are just moving Mercy or are really re-aligning all the Louisville schools in the 6th and 7th regions

This will also increase the chances for NKY teams to avoid the Louisville powers until the finals.

This will also increase the chances for NKY teams to avoid the Louisville powers until the finals.

 

Too bad it wasn't in place this year!!!!

 

Perhaps NDA or NCC would have made the finals!!!

In my opinion, volleyball is the new soccer for the girls (and hopefully not to far away, boys).

 

10 years ago, if you drove a mini van you were parked at a local park on a Saturday morning and your daughter was out there playing soccer. Now, with the success of the women's national volleyball team (Olympic medalist almost every olympics) and the sand volleyball (AVP in Mason, Kerri and Misti, etc.) I feel a lot of young girls are taking up the sport earlier and earlier. Plus, there seems to be a lot more of the college volleyball on TV so the younger girls are being exposed to the sport.

 

I believe it is a matter of time before more of the public elementary schools begin teams/leagues for the girls to compete in. I'm surprised there are not more public schools with teams today.

 

All that needs to happen is a parent to step up and put a team together at the elementary level. Then just calling around to see if they can put their team in an existing league or work with other elementary schools on forming a league of their own. I'm sure the school would support the sport for the younger girls. I believe this is what was done when a parent of a boy formed a local elementary boys team.

 

'If you build it, they will come'......

 

Just my thought.

I agree, but I think most public school parents still have that "entitlement" mentality in that they feel someone fromthe elementary school should organize, coach, and otherwise do it for them. They do it in some sports in some school districts. Some public schools have geat youth football programs, run by volunteers, but I doubt the same thing applies to other sports. It comes down to parents willing to volunteer their time to provide the opportunities. In parochial schools it has been going on for years. The public schools need to step up if they want to compete in these sports.

The public schools where I live just recently FINALLY added basketball at the grade school level. They had boosters for basketball which was held at one school. The success has been very good for the past 6+ years that some of the other public schools have begun their own teams which is wonderful news IMO.

Now across the river in Ohio, this has been going on for YEARS, why it took KY so long I don't know. But Ohio also supports football and baseball, albeit this is normally for boys, they have been working on the girls end also, but slower.

This is a great opportunity to keep the kids in shape and have fun. Perhaps some of our high school girls can lend their expertise and experience onto the younger girls in both public and private elementary schools. Great chance to give back to the community.

I agree, but I think most public school parents still have that "entitlement" mentality in that they feel someone fromthe elementary school should organize, coach, and otherwise do it for them. They do it in some sports in some school districts. Some public schools have geat youth football programs, run by volunteers, but I doubt the same thing applies to other sports. It comes down to parents willing to volunteer their time to provide the opportunities. In parochial schools it has been going on for years. The public schools need to step up if they want to compete in these sports.

 

I think we're missing some of the equation here. One, many of the kids that go to public schools cannot afford the cost of club ball. Two, quite a few kids get their start at the public middle school level and switch over to the private schools for high school. The public schools play with those in their districts, the private schools can build elite teams.

I think we're missing some of the equation here. One, many of the kids that go to public schools cannot afford the cost of club ball. Two, quite a few kids get their start at the public middle school level and switch over to the private schools for high school. The public schools play with those in their districts, the private schools can build elite teams.

 

I disagree with you. There are certainly public school students that can't afford to play club sports, but that exists within the parochial schools as well. Many in the public school system are as able or even better able to afford the cost of club ball than those in the Catholic Schools. I would argue that the economic difference is based more on location than it is which type of school you go to.

 

Secondly, there are very few that start in the public middle school system and then switch to the private schools. Students at the private schools are there because that type of education is a priority that their parents are willing to sacrifice and pay for, not because they have a better volleyball team. That rarely becomes a priority only at the high school level. I would bet that there are more students that go from parochial middle schools to the public high schools than the other way around.

 

I think that the difference lies more with the dedication and early skill development that the parochial schools have. There are certainly public schools that are taking measures to catch up but these early programs have existed in the private schools for decades and it will take time for newer programs to catch up.

 

As far as building elite teams, success breeds success. Whether it be Notre Dame volleyball or Highlands football. That's not a dynamic that is exclusive to private schools. With the exception of the smaller independent schools, the public schools generally have much larger enrollments and resources available to them. A better question may be, "why do they do less with it?"

I disagree with you. There are certainly public school students that can't afford to play club sports, but that exists within the parochial schools as well. Many in the public school system are as able or even better able to afford the cost of club ball than those in the Catholic Schools. I would argue that the economic difference is based more on location than it is which type of school you go to.

 

Secondly, there are very few that start in the public middle school system and then switch to the private schools. Students at the private schools are there because that type of education is a priority that their parents are willing to sacrifice and pay for, not because they have a better volleyball team. That rarely becomes a priority only at the high school level. I would bet that there are more students that go from parochial middle schools to the public high schools than the other way around.

 

I think that the difference lies more with the dedication and early skill development that the parochial schools have. There are certainly public schools that are taking measures to catch up but these early programs have existed in the private schools for decades and it will take time for newer programs to catch up.

 

As far as building elite teams, success breeds success. Whether it be Notre Dame volleyball or Highlands football. That's not a dynamic that is exclusive to private schools. With the exception of the smaller independent schools, the public schools generally have much larger enrollments and resources available to them. A better question may be, "why do they do less with it?"

 

I disagree. You need to come to one of the small rural schools and understand the kids that are there. Too compare them to the kids you say their parents sacrifice and send them to Catholic schools is not even remotely a concept with most of the rural schools children. Their parents sacrifice to buy them lunch everyday.

 

Volleyball is a well off white girls sport. I am not being mean, I am honest. I coached for 4 years at the MS level and see it everyday. Club Ball is not even a remote possibility for these girls. Not to mention it is even hard to get Coaches that know what they are doing also.

 

I can understand how your arguments seem valid. I thought the same thing before I started Coaching but reality is this:

 

1. Sports are not a priority financially for these children.

2. There are limited facilities that must be used for school sports (for example basketball takes the gyms after V-ball season)

3. Most of the Coaches are in a learning curve also.

4. Small schools have to share their athletes with the other sports.

I disagree. You need to come to one of the small rural schools and understand the kids that are there. Too compare them to the kids you say their parents sacrifice and send them to Catholic schools is not even remotely a concept with most of the rural schools children. Their parents sacrifice to buy them lunch everyday.

 

Volleyball is a well off white girls sport. I am not being mean, I am honest. I coached for 4 years at the MS level and see it everyday. Club Ball is not even a remote possibility for these girls. Not to mention it is even hard to get Coaches that know what they are doing also.

 

I can understand how your arguments seem valid. I thought the same thing before I started Coaching but reality is this:

 

1. Sports are not a priority financially for these children.

2. There are limited facilities that must be used for school sports (for example basketball takes the gyms after V-ball season)

3. Most of the Coaches are in a learning curve also.

4. Small schools have to share their athletes with the other sports.

Tell the players on the undefeated Penn State team that Volleyball is a "well off white girls sport ", or for that matter any team that has played Penn State in the last couple of years .:popcorn:

I disagree. You need to come to one of the small rural schools and understand the kids that are there. Too compare them to the kids you say their parents sacrifice and send them to Catholic schools is not even remotely a concept with most of the rural schools children. Their parents sacrifice to buy them lunch everyday.

 

Volleyball is a well off white girls sport. I am not being mean, I am honest. I coached for 4 years at the MS level and see it everyday. Club Ball is not even a remote possibility for these girls. Not to mention it is even hard to get Coaches that know what they are doing also.

 

I can understand how your arguments seem valid. I thought the same thing before I started Coaching but reality is this:

 

1. Sports are not a priority financially for these children.

2. There are limited facilities that must be used for school sports (for example basketball takes the gyms after V-ball season)

3. Most of the Coaches are in a learning curve also.

4. Small schools have to share their athletes with the other sports.

 

 

I agree and thank you for supporting my argument. It is not a parochial vs. public school issue as stated by vbwatcher. It has more to do with resources available than which type of school you go to.

 

I believe that there is a definite advantage, in all sports not just volleyball, enjoyed by students in the more populated, affluent areas.