Volleyball or crew for North Texas 8th grader?

[Anonymous]

DD goes to an all girls school in North Texas. Has been playing club volleyball and has developed good skills as setter but is only 5'6" and probably won't grow more. And is not super fast (and does not jump high) so generally does not do great in tryouts. She tried a rowing camp this summer and loved it. The all girls' private school she attends has a great rowing team starting in high school. I think it's competitive to get in, but perhaps not as competitive as volleyball? She definitely has a shot at JV volleyball in high school; not sure about varsity volleyball since the teams only take 2 setters. She has a quick response time and works well in a group. Not sure if she will be the tallest or strongest.

I think after a lackluster tryout experience in club volleyball, she really wants to devote more time this year to rowing/crew. My question is would she have better prospects in rowing (which also seems competitive - like the high school rowing team cuts seniors, but the volleyball team does not cut seniors)? It's been frustrating that volleyball in this area is insanely competitive, and there is a huge focus on height or speed in tryouts.

We've invested a lot of time/energy in volleyball, and so (1) it seems hard to walk away after all this time sunk in; but also (2) is it wise to transition to crew, which also seems so competitive ?

I really want her to try a no-cut sport like swimming or running, but she doesn't want to. DD really wants to do sports in high school but I also want to conserve our time/energy.

[Anonymous]

I am acquainted through mutual friends in rowing to a Hockaday grad and very successful rower (if you’re a parent of the school you can probably figure out who so I won’t say more). She’s short for a rower and her official height is definitely exaggerated but she is taller than your DD. I was also a short volleyball player who eventually was cut my junior year, so I can see both sides of your DD’s sports dilemma.

Volleyball, in my book, is a sport of early heartbreak and it’s crazy dependent on height and club politics and the luck of having not-too-many setters and libreros in your cohort. It takes one girl a year younger than you who the coach has decided is a more reliable setter, and boom, you’ve lost your short girl quota spot.

Rowing does get really competitive but your DD will have a spot and be able to participate for sure all the way through HS. And if she is truly devoted and has some genetic luck that results in her discovering crazy strength or aerobic capacity, she could row beyond college. Sure, if she doesn’t grow it will be a walk-on, 3 or 4v boat somewhere or a D3 program, but that’s ok.

The beauty of rowing is that it buys her time and opportunity. Right now, American HS and club rowing programs aren’t built to find the best 8th grader and keep them going, but to take someone raw and hard-working and turn them into part of a strong boat by their junior and senior years. For longevity reasons alone, I would consider rowing instead of volleyball. Your DD is at a school that could set her up for success. And as for cuts, yes, the 1V boat might not include seniors, but seniors who are getting cut from the entire team aren’t putting in the work or did something really egregious.

[Anonymous]

I’m a rower, so l’ll always advocate for rowing! You can row all your life long, so if she loves it, encourage it. She is short for a rower, so she may find a challenge with making a varsity boat, and if she wants to row in college it may need to be club. But so what?

Some programs do have lightweight boats, and that would even the playing field for her.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know anything about Texas. I grew up in a different area of there country and rowed in HS. Now that I’m an adult, I know some people who are on recreational crew teams and some that are on adult volleyball teams. Both have options at different levels for as long as you like. Very few people that I know from HS played or rowed in college and no one did anything past college besides coached their own kids or did it for their own enjoyment. Have your daughter pick whatever sport she likes the best.

[Anonymous]

I just read a couple of articles on how girls basketball is way down in participation and volleyball and track and field are increasing in popularity.

The articles claim that the girls don’t want to exert themselves so much and want a more “girly” sport as they put it. I’m not sure where they got the info on why less girls are playing. My daughter plays basketball.