Youth Volleyball on the Rise

Youth volleyball at MAC has been consistently growing over the last few years. More and more kids as young as 7 years old are joining volleyball classes and teams in the community. Many young volleyball athletes are involved in public recreational leagues like PIL Youth Sports (middle school) and private programs like Catholic Youth Organization (third through eighth grade).

It’s no secret that youth volleyball continues to grow across communities. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, beginning two years ago and for the first time ever, more high school girls played volleyball (432,176) than basketball (429,504). That trend has only continued as more junior athletes get involved with the sport earlier and earlier.

MAC sees many of these kids in their after-school and weekend classes, too! The Beginning Youth Volleyball classes (for ages 8-12) are a huge hit for kids who are just starting off in the sport or looking to develop their skills further after participating in a local recreational league. These classes introduce all the major skills of the game (passing, setting, serving, hitting, and gameplay) and are designed to gradually increase the instruction over the course of the three-to-four-week sessions. This class alone is a huge gateway for young athletes into a competitive club program. For the 2023-24 club season, MAC had about 40 12U athletes (ages 8-12) try out for their competitive club teams — most of whom started with beginners’ volleyball classes.

In addition to classes for beginners, MAC also offers middle school classes in September and October. These are good for middle schoolers just starting out in the sport and for those who have prior experience. Similar to the beginners’ classes, middle school classes are designed as three-to-four-week series which take on all the fundamental skills of the game. They also take a deep dive into each individual skill so athletes can really develop them. Even for the kids who are just trying out volleyball for the first time in middle school, these classes have helped and encouraged athletes who want to pursue a more competitive volleyball outlet.

No matter where a young athlete goes with volleyball, learning the sport itself is beneficial for all young athletes. Volleyball helps with a long list of important physical and mental developments in youth, including jumping, agility, muscle building and memory, control in body mechanics, hand-eye coordination, effective communication, teamwork, strategic thinking, and so much more. Even if a junior doesn’t become the next Kerri Walsh, their long-term development will thank them later!

Those interested in learning more about youth volleyball classes can email volleyball@themac.com for more information or to get registered for an upcoming class.