The love of volleyball has vanished. (Plus Im hurt!) What do I do?
Question
I've been playing volleyball for about three years and now and just recently did club. I'm a ds/L and just recently had tryouts and made my high schools JV team. I was super happy and excited to playing volleyball for another year and to keep my love for it going. But now, i've seem to have come to a crossroads. I find myself dreading every practice, and I really just don't want to play anymore. I've also come to a lot of problems with my hip, recently. I started experiencing a painful popping when getting in a low position or running side to side for digs. I really don't know what to do anymore. My love for volleyball seems to be gone and has been replaced with a emptiness towards it. Every practice seems agonizingly long and I just want to leave. My hip hurts a ton and I don't know what to do. I don't want to quit because I feel like I would've wasted the coaches time. My high schools volleyball program rivals the best in the state and I feel like if i quit, Im stealing someone much more deserving's spot. Yet at the same time, I find no joy in volleyball, anymore. It's just not fun and not something I want to do. Any suggestions?
Answer
Good afternoon from Virginia...on the other side of the USA!
Welcome to www.allexperts.com.
I have a few things to tell you.
a) Do you have an athletic trainer at your school? If so, SEE THAT PERSON MONDAY! Or, if they live near you, do it today. You have to know what's going on with your hip. It may be something serious. Or it may be something that 2 or 3 days off will fix.
b) You need to discover why the love has vanished. There are some possible things. Is it:
- The coach? - your teammates are bullies? - you have a new bf? - your bf is getting you in trouble? - your parents are divorcing? - school work is MUCH harder this year, and you're staying up until 1am doing homework? - you're involved in something illegal?
Something has changed.
Find out what it is. Then, can it be fixed? avoided? solved?
c) You didn't mention what your parents think. Have you told them about the hip? If not, why not? If so, most family pediatricians can't treat athletic injuries properly. They're favorite phrases are, "Ibuprophen, ice, and 2 weeks rest." Most of the time, that's not the correct treatment. What do you parents think about your loss of volleyball-love? Have you told them? If not, tell me why not. Unless you and your parents argue 24/7, I think they should help you with this.
d) Finally, have you spoken to your coach? I'm not recommending it b/c for some girls, that would make everything worse. (My stepd refused to tell her college coach when she was hurt.) But, for some players, their coach is like their 3rd best adult friend in the world, after mom & dad, and that coach would help them with their problems. Does your coach know you're hurt?
OK, I know I've asked you a lot of questions. :)
If you wish to answer them, you can follow up here or find me on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/coachhouser.
Hope this helps sort some stuff out. Please contact me if I can help you any more. Your parents can contact me as well. Anytime.
Also, if you have a moment, please visit me at www.coachhouser.com. I think you'll LOVE the smiling faces!
Should I quit?
Libero lineup and replacement