Seniority

Every high school student athlete has experienced some kind of seniority in their life, unless they didn't start sports until their senior year which is very uncommon. The life of an underclassman is very different than the life of an upperclassman. If you are an underclass men their might be a few things that annoy you about all of the upperclassmen privileges or so called rules.

If you are on a team with upperclassmen you will soon come to find out that seniority trumps everything else. Whether it's that they get to cut in line when you go out to eat or choose the restaurants you eat at, this is always an issue. You are just going to have to get used to it not matter how much it sucks. Even if your team is made up of almost all juniors, the seniors will get their way.

Another thing that gets annoying is that seniors like to put all their responsibilities on you. Putting up and taking down nets or simply cleaning up is no longer their responsibility because they say "we've been doing this for 3 years, it's your turn". You just have to suck it up and do your part no matter how much you hate seniority. 

When all of this happens you are going to try and argue with the seniority rule and claim we are all a part of a team and should play equal roles. No matter how much this makes sense or how much you are right, the seniors will say you are not. There really is no point in arguing because it will just cause drama amongst the team. Sometimes you just have to go along with stupid situations no matter how annoying they are.

Seniority really sucks, but the seniors always tell me this is how I'll be. I always say I'll never be like them and that I'll be nice to underclassman. I guess everyone will find out what it's like to be a senior on their own time, and hopefully we all don't turn out to be exactly what we hated our junior year. But who knows, maybe I'll boss around the people I always said I wouldn't. Either way, one must know their role in a team and understand that things aren't always going to be easy and that it's not that hard to do a couple extra tasks if it makes everyone on the team happy. There's nothing wrong with being a team player and listening to what the seniors have to say. It's not going to hurt you to just do what you're told, unless it is extremely unrealistic and absurd of them to ask.

Music

Preparing for a game or meet is extremely important, whether it is mentally or physically. Every athlete has their own ritual or favorite thing to do or eat before a performance. Some people always eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich before a game, while others simply eat any small snack to fill their stomachs. I, for example, make a smoothie almost every afternoon before a volleyball game. It's a routine I have that gets me ready and fills me up enough with healthy foods. For some people music plays a huge role in their preparations for a performance.

Music is extremely important to some people and can speak to them. Whether you need to be pumped up or relaxed, there is music for you. Music is great because it fits every single mood you will have. There is always something you can connect with. Music is a unique way to express your personality and simply enjoy life.

It is sometimes a great idea to bring a speaker to the gym you will be warming up in and listen to some music to pump up the team. A lot of teams actually create their own playlist that they always play before games. During warmups you might have a track prepared for the crowd that pumps up everyone in the gym. Music is a very powerful thing.

No matter the situation, there is a song out there that will provide you with comfort. By listening to comforting music or pump up music, you can really strengthen your mental preparations. Creating a routine is important to training your mind and should include good habits. Remember, mental strength can outweigh physical strength. 

Not only is music a way to create a routine for game days and a way to get you pumped up or prepared for the game, but simply something fun to do. Listening to music can sometimes ease your nerves and create a more light hearted environment. Your stresses will seem to just go away and you will have more fun. Having fun is extremely important when playing a sport, because without having fun what even is the point of playing? You should really enjoy the sport you play. This doesn't mean you aren't going to get stressed or have some undesirable moments at practice. It's going to be hard and you will be pushed in practice, but the people around you and the sport itself should make it all worth the while. 

Music plays a very important role in the everyday lives of many people, especially teenagers. With the many genres there really is something for everyone. Find your song or artist and just go with it. It might make a difference in the court if you loosen up a little bit before.

Faking an Injury

If you are or were an athlete I'm sure you have had some difficult practices. You are pushed so far that you don't know if you can continue and faking an injury would give you the easy way out. Your knee started hurting, or you are having an asthma attack. I know these are actual injuries you can have, but some people use them as excuses or make up that something is hurting them. I feel like a lot of people fake injuries now a days because they don't think they can continue with the workout.

If you don't think you can continue with a workout you need to push through it. This is training your mind to push through things it doesn't think it can do. You will make your mind stronger and each time you finish something difficult it will become easier the next time. Not everything is going to be easy and it is not supposed to be. Your body is physically able of doing these things; you just need to put your mind to the test.

Another reason you should never ever fake an injury is because you are not helping yourself in any way. Yes, you get to take a break for a while in order to not feel physically tired, but it is not going to truly help you. The people around you have finished that workout and are pushing to get better every day. They don't let up. If you give in to the pain you are just allowing your opponents to get even farther ahead of you. They will have done the hard work out and be more prepared for it next time. They are becoming stronger while you remain the same.

The next time you think you are doing yourself a favor by faking an injury to allow yourself to sit out, think again. It might be difficult during the workout and you may hate your sport for that couple of minutes, but it will definitely benefit you in the end. Skipping workouts is for athletes who aren't committed and don't believe in themselves. Be strong, be committed, and most of all believe in yourself. If you don't think you can do it, chances are you won't. Your mind is a very strong thing. What happens when you actually get injured and no one believes you? Be the athlete others look up to.

Parenting

Now, I know I am not a parent and I have not ever been put in a parent's shoes, but there are some things parents need to know. Parents need to understand the way their child works and what he/she likes for input. Some parents get so caught up in their child's athletic careers that they have basically taken up a position as their child's coach. Not all kids enjoy having their parent criticize everything they do, especially in sports.

If your child is one that gets angry when you mention a mistake they made during a game, they probably do not welcome your feedback. Some players don't even like to hear the positives of the game and want to keep sports out of their relationship. Knowing how your child reacts to different things is extremely important. You could add to the stresses of your child by nagging them to do better or pointing out what they need to work on.

Other kids love to hear what their parents have to say and want to hear every little detail of how they played. While, I do not know many kids out there like this, it is something you should take into consideration. Do you show up to your child's games? Do they know how much you support them? If they do not feel supported, they might need a little more closure on how they played.

I am a child that likes to hear feedback from my parents, but not so much detail on what I did wrong. I know the mistakes I made, and do not need to be reminded. I would like to focus more on the positives, but the negatives are so much clearer in my mind. If I had a bad game you might as well just not talk to me, because I already know what I could have done to do better. It is always nice to hear your parent's input though and athletes should always show respect to their parents, no matter how angry they are.

It is extremely important that athletes and parents have an understanding of each other's feelings towards criticism. While one might think it will help, the other will not feel comfortable with it. Parents should always ask if athletes want to talk about the game or not, because just diving into conversation might make the athlete a little angry. Remember, athletes are tired from playing and a little too hard on themselves. Just try and make it easier on them, without sugar-coating it.

Men's Volleyball vs. Women's Volleyball

As you can probably tell from other posts, I am an athlete who absolutely loves volleyball. Volleyball consumes most of my life and is something I truly enjoy playing. Volleyball is a wonderful sport that takes a lot of both mental and physical strength, whether you believe it or not. The sport is extremely entertaining to watch, in my opinion. I mean, who wouldn't want to watch people fling their bodies towards a ball? I would choose to watch a volleyball game over a football game any day. While volleyball itself is interesting, it is even more interesting that males can play this sport as well. 

Most people think of girls in tiny little shorts when they think of volleyball. The idea of a male competing in a volleyball game (in basketball shorts don’t worry) slips the minds of everyday people. Only some areas in the country give opportunities for men to play volleyball. If you ever have the chance to watch a men's volleyball game, I highly encourage you to go and watch. Men's and women's volleyball has the exact same rules, except the men's net is a little bit higher up. Other than that everything is exactly the same, besides the level of play.

Watching men's volleyball for the first time is an experience you will never forget. The level of play is so much more intense and higher than most women's matches. The ball is hit five times harder and the blocks are so much higher. Watching the ball be pounded to the ground and the crowd going wild is something extraordinary. There is nothing out there like men's volleyball.

While I am a girl who plays volleyball and enjoys watching volleyball, I would have to say men's volleyball is a lot more interesting to watch. The ball moves quicker, is hit harder, and everything seems so big. The guys who play seem to be giants compared to everyone else, who have some kind of super strength. Men's volleyball is very underappreciated, yet I find it to be one of the most interesting things to watch. The more guys we can get to go out at a young age, the more popular it will be become. I guess the issue is, that guys don't think playing volleyball is cool or manly enough. Trust me, when you get six packed you won't be saying it is a wimpy sport.

Shaving Your Legs

If you are a female athlete you know the struggle of shaving your legs. Every night before a game or meet you must shave all of the hair off of your legs so that the people in the stands don't get a glimpse at the tiny forest on your legs. Being hairy for females is not looked at as a good thing in today's society. Guys don't seem to like girls who have hairy legs or armpits, but why don't guys shave as well?

Girls are expected to keep a clean shaven body no matter the circumstances, otherwise they are seen as disgusting by males. Shaving, for me, is a preference, because I am not a fan of having hairy legs, especially in sports. No one wants to rub up against a girl while going up for a layup and feel their hair legs or armpit. That is very disgusting. I am someone who definitely needs to shave my legs before a game or meet.

While I like to shave when I know people will be seeing me, or if I am in shorts or a dress, I don't always shave regularly in the winter. By no means am I skipping a whole entire week, but I do stretch out the days. Most of my friends like to shave their legs, but do not follow a regular schedule in the winter as well. Now, when girls don't shave it is not extremely noticeable so it's not a big deal as long as it hasn't been that long, but it can start to get annoying. Some girls think guys hold double standards for women and should shave their legs, but my opinion is that both men and women should do whatever they want. I have my preferences, you have yours. Stop complaining and get on with your life.

Shaving does take extra time from your night and can be a pain in the butt, but it does leave your legs feeling smooth and looking good. Don't let other people tell you how to live your life, or your teammates make you feel bad about a little hair. We all have it and it is natural. You can choose to do whatever you want and should not fall into peer pressure. Your legs are yours and yours only. Athletes are busy and are sometimes too tired, let them be.

Appreciate Life

Life as a high school student athlete leaves you with busy nights and barely any sleep. You are always extremely tired and wanting to just sleep all day every day. As the days go on, you continue with your normal routine and simply go through the motions. If there is ever the chance, you will go to sleep early. This is the average life of anyone who plays sports, but why do we let ourselves do that? High school student athletes do not appreciate their everyday life nearly enough.

The sport you have chosen to play must be important to you, otherwise you wouldn't be continuing to play it. At practice it may seem like you do the same drills every day or you start to get bored of the activities. Appreciate the coaches and athletes that surround you. Appreciate the person next to you pushing you to get better. Life is so great and wonderful, that we sometimes seem to forget because we are caught up with the stresses of our everyday life. You have been blessed to be able to compete in the sport you love and attend school in order to prepare for the life ahead of you. Athletes need to understand that other countries don't have the same opportunities as us. Other schools might not offer the same things as yours. Some countries don't even have the sport you play. Be appreciative of the situation you are in, no matter how awful it seems. There is always someone else going through a struggle much more difficult than your own.

Appreciating life isn't simply being happy all of the time, but enjoying every moment, bad and good. Making memories and being grateful for everything you have is being appreciative. High school student athletes always get caught up in how they are performing, but if you just stop for a minute and take a look that all you have accomplished you can go so much farther. Knowing that you have potential and can increasingly get better, while enjoying every second of it, is going to make you a better player. Appreciate the coach you aren't too fond of, or the teammate you don't really get along with, because they were put into your life for a reason. You are capable of anything if you have a little bit of courage and do not take anything for granted. Life is short, so make the most of it.