Day 25 - Volleyball Monday

Here's a shout out to all the beauties (and boys) who spent a Monday night or two in our yard this summer!  I used to dread Mondays, until the creation of Volleyball Monday.

We did a trade off this summer, we were summer league softball dropouts in exchange for backyard volleyball. 

If you build it, they will come was the theory, and it worked.  We rigged up a net in our yard, mowed the grass super short, and spray-painted lines to make a regulation size court.  Every Monday we would invite as many players as we could text for some informal backyard volleyball.  We made up the rules as we went, divided up into teams with not much rhyme or reason, Ted tried to protect his cornfield, Bella was pleased by all the extra friends in her yard, and the Richies even showed up to boost the competition level.  

I had a theory in the back of my head when we started the summer....the girls liked volleyball so I wanted to give them a fun atmosphere to play in.  I also wanted to help them develop their skills and enjoy the sport on a fun, but competitive level.  So we invited friends, family and teammates over and called it Volleyball Monday.  

Without even realizing it, VBM turned into therapy for me, a weekly reminder to have hope that my beautiful niece was going to be ok regardless of what the doctors said.  You see, each week Calyssa would show up and somehow maneuver her team's rotation so that she played her middle front position at least 90% of the time her team was on the court.  She would get a few spikes or block one of mine, place a wicked serve from ten feet behind the back line, and I'd tease her about being on steroids.  Love you tall skinny girl!

Volleyball Monday also allowed for the opportunity to invite new players to the court that were previously unfamiliar with the game.  Everyone needs to know how to play volleyball.  It's a social thing, like foosball, cards, or golf.  We loved it when baseball season paused and made room for the boys to join us.  The 7th grade girls squad especially enjoyed beating them. 

Sore moms, trash talk, new cheers, finding the ball in 4ft corn, finding the ball in 12ft corn, socializing, being with friends when we need eachother for a 90 minute break from realities of life.  All things good at Monday night volleyball.

Ok, so there was a little in it for me too.  It felt really good every once in awhile to pull off a spike or a good serve like the glory days of high school.  And to beat Bill Richie's team, that was good too.  My favorite quote on the court came from Bill to the beginners on his team, "ok boys, you need to take this a little more seriously, I don't like to lose."

Fall softball season began and it's been harder to squeeze in Volleyball Monday's.  Luckily Labor Day provided us with one last opportunity to close up the summer season in style.  VBM moved to its new improved location, sporting a bigger yard, tree lines for sun and wind protection, a swimming pool cool down station, and an old fashioned potluck picnic atmosphere.  Mies Farms will be the permanent location for all future volleyball events.  Love, love, love it!