Living in the volleyball world, you learn that there are things that are acceptable and other things that are not at all. If you've ever played volleyball, you know there is a silent rule book that every player lives by. There are just certain things that bug the crap out of us and sometimes we really don't have a better reason other than, "you just don't do that."
1. It's "Pass, set, hit" not "Bump, set, spike."
Once you hit the age of 13, you're not "bumping" and "spiking" anymore, you're "passing" and "hitting." There's really no questioning it. When you get to a certain age, "spike" doesn't sound very intimidating. I feel bad for hating two little words so much, but I find it comforting that there are so many girls out there who feel the same.
2. Freshmen who don't abide by the seniors' rules.
We were all freshmen once, we get it, you're not used to things like everyone else is, but you still have to respect the rules that have been laid out for years before you came along. The seniors tend to take the same rules every year and lay 'em out in the same way, so stop trying to test them. If a senior says to wear shorts over your spandex while walking from the gym to other places, wear shorts over your spandex.
3. "I could beat you at volleyball, you're just a girl."
OK, let's talk about this. If a girl brings up that she plays volleyball or even if it's well-known that she is a volleyball player, there's a chance that she has been playing for years. Do you know what those years are full of? Drills, over and over and over again to literally perfect every little movement she makes. All I know is that whenever someone says this to me, I make sure I'm aiming at their face when the time finally comes to play them.
4. Girls that wear spandex in public.
This is probably the only one that we shouldn't actually get mad about because we live in spandex, but that's because we understand they're used for working out. Wearing them to class, or to restaurants, or anywhere that isn't the gym is just a no. Just put some shorts or sweats on, it's not that hard.
5. "I only come to your volleyball games because of the spandex."
Because watching girls hit a ball at each other at 30+ miles per hour isn't as interesting as our very toned butts.
6. Knee-high socks.
Once you're past 13, the cute, random-patterned knee-high socks are just something you need to throw into the trash and forget about. Unless your coach makes them a mandatory uniform item, just buy some Nike crew socks.
7. "Get on the line."
If your heart didn't just drop, you haven't run enough lines.
8. Turtle-shell knee-pads.
Throw them next to those knee-high socks, babe.
9. When all a setter does is dump.
OK, we'll give you the first one, that one was tricky. But you are a setter for a reason. To set up your hitters, let them hit. You can stop with your constant dumping, it's not cute. (And that's coming from a setter.)
10. Sassy players.
We all get it, this sport is rough, but that's why we've all got to stick together. Don't be mean to any other girls on the other side of the court, and definitely not your teammates. You don't have to love each other off the court, but we're all volleyball players here. Share the love.
