John Vo What is your favourite sport? In the world today, sports have become a part of everyone’s life. It can be played outdoor, indoor, recreationally, competitively, in the summer, in the winter, in water, on snow. Some sports required pure strength and power, some required control and finesse, while others required a combination of these. For the past 10 years, I have tried many sports, and I enjoy some of them. However, volleyball is my favourite because it is a game that demonstrates amazing athleticism, requires mental toughness, and allows me to work with a team. Indoor volleyball is my favourite sport to play and to watch because of its dynamic nature. Even though volleyball is non-contact, and players don’t tackle anyone, the game is quick paced and full of actions. Unlike many other sports, volleyball players are not allowed to pause and hold on to the ball, which means they constantly have to react to the opponent’s moves. The ball can move so fast that even a tenth of a second behind can be too late. It is not unusual to see players sprinting and jumping all over the court. The sport places emphasis on one’s speed, agility, strength, explosiveness, and balance. A player must be balanced when passing. He needs to be quick on transition from defence to offence. He needs to be explosive when taking his approach, and he needs strength to make a powerful swing. Another unique feature of volleyball is that it’s always a battle against gravity. Almost every move is performed at or above the height of the net. Whether it is hitting, or blocking, or jump serving, or jump setting, gravity is a force to overcome. Because of its fast-paced nature, volleyball athletes possess the athleticism and skill that no other has, a blend of quickness, coordination, and explosiveness. The game if full of spectacular attacks and saves, which is why volleyball is impressive and entertaining to watch. As much as volleyball is a physical sport, it is also a mental sport. It’s not about pounding the ball as hard as possible, but it also required the right attitude and mindset. Whenever I play volleyball, I am challenged to do better and to improve. One of my coaches had pointed out to me that the game is designed for players to make mistakes because every point is a mistake for someone. It is important for me to realize that mistakes are inevitable, so I can stop blaming myself after every loss. I need to reset my mind before the whistle is blown before every rally. What I really like about volleyball is that its outcome is always unpredictable. No team is guaranteed to win and no team is guaranteed to lose. Each rally is a different game itself. The belief that anything could happen at any time during the game keeps pushing me to give my best. I have always preferred team sports over individual sports. This is mostly because I like to practice and compete with other people. We give each other energy and we pressure each other to perform better. There are not many sports where teams work so closely together. One incredible player cannot keep the ball to himself and carry the team to victory. In many other team sports like soccer, basketball, water polo, or hockey, a player’s outstanding performance might be the reason that his team win the game. This is never true for volleyball, only three touches are allowed on each side before the ball must cross over the net. In another word, everyone is depending on everyone else. Even when I want to stop, I can’t, I have to keep going because the other players need me. Watching players working together to keep the ball alive and then kill it on the other side to me is breathtaking. You win as a team and you lose as a team. All the talent in the world won’t take you anywhere without your teammate. When athletes compete as individuals in sports like gymnastics, tennis, track or cross country, they have no one to share the pressure and the excitement. I am a very competitive player, I like to win, but the look on my teammates’ faces after a tight victory can make it even sweeter. Every sport is different, and each of them is unique in their own way. Volleyball is my favourite sport for various reasons. It is full of actions, its outcome is always unpredictable, and it puts emphasis on teamwork and communication. There is something about the intensity of the game that every player and spectator can feel. The first time I touched a volleyball, I was hooked, and I never look back. For me, volleyball is not just a game, it’s a passion, it’s a way of life.
