Is Volleyball a Female or Unisex Sport?

Girls’ Volleyball. via @psas_sports

This question is being asked because of the rise in popularity of male volleyball, especially among teenagers.

BOOM! The ball flies across the court at high speeds, while the other team tries to receive it. The ball goes straight up in the air, and the setter gives the perfect set to the hitter and hits it straight down on the other court! Now, when reading that, did you think that it was a female or male team?

This question is being asked because of the rise in the popularity of male volleyball, especially among teenagers. The rise of volleyball could be for many reasons. Some of these reasons would be that boys find it interesting, love to display their strength, use math and physics to set the ball, or even just want to hit someone in the face! There are many counties nationwide that don’t have a boys' volleyball team, including Duval, and this is an issue for many boys now because they want to be able to play the sport. Many schools haven’t considered that thought because it isn’t as popular as girls' volleyball or because it isn’t a male sport. This is where the big question comes in: Is volleyball a female or unisex sport?

Among other sports, men’s volleyball has started to become one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. Many men do not take part in the sport professionally due to the low opportunities that come with the sport.

“I know many good volleyball players that are guys and personally, I prefer the faster pace of boys’ volleyball when I watch it,” Carl Aurelio, a male volleyball player said.

And it’s not just male volleyball players who feel this way. Even members of the girls’ volleyball team at Paxon believe that the support should be more universal and provide guys more opportunities. While volleyball is seen as a female sport by the public eye, many players would object to that view.

Although some people oppose this argument, personal opinions shouldn’t limit others who wish to participate in this sport. Volleyball should not be considered an inherently female activity.

MojNews, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“I think it is for the sole reason that most well-known schools or most high schools within our county have a female volleyball team, but they lack a male volleyball team, I think it is portrayed as one but is not {a feminine sport},” Thomas Orf said.

Providing boys a chance at playing this sport is also championed by coaches around the school. They believe anyone is capable of being a good volleyball player.

“Volleyball is not only a feminine sport, it’s an overall sport; men, women, really everyone can play volleyball and in really Jacksonville we should really [all] play volleyball,” Coach Carver believes.

So, with everyone’s opinion, spanning from non-volleyball players to coaches themselves, it’s clearer what the answer is. Volleyball shouldn’t be thought of as a feminine sport, even though it’s heavily portrayed as one. Many men play the sport, and the majority of men playing has increased throughout the years. If you are a man interested in the sport, don’t be afraid to try it!

“I think men are just as [able] to play the sport and it’s very entertaining to watch men’s volleyball too,” JV volleyball player Savannah White said.