You know, when you first get into UIL volleyball, or any school league really, the talk about the “official game ball” is always a big deal. It’s like this one specific ball holds all the magic. That’s what I thought at first, anyway.
Getting Hands-On with “The Ball”
I remember my early days coaching; we were so careful about that UIL-stamped volleyball. We’d budget for them, guard them like treasure. The first time we bought a fresh batch, it felt like a major step. We told the players, “These are the game balls, treat ’em right!” It felt super official, very by-the-book.
But then you start playing more, going to different schools, different tournaments. And you see things. You quickly realize that even with an “official” ball, there’s a bit more to it. Some host schools would have balls that felt almost brand new, really firm, perfect. Others, well, their main game ball looked like it had been through a war or two. Still UIL approved, mind you, but definitely broken in, softer, maybe even a tiny bit lighter from wear. It makes a difference, you know?
The Whole Practice Ball Versus Game Ball Thing
This was the part that always got me. We’d have our pristine game balls, the ones we only used for actual UIL matches. We’d lock them up. Then, for daily practice, it was a free-for-all. We used everything else:
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Older UIL balls that were past their prime.
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Different brands we’d accumulated over time.
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Balls that were maybe a little under or over-inflated because, hey, practice time is precious.
So, the team gets used to this mixed bag. Then, come game day, we pull out the “perfect” UIL game ball, and sometimes it felt almost strange to them. That super consistent, just-right feel could actually throw them off a bit initially if they weren’t re-acquainted. I saw it mostly with setters and servers; they’re the ones who really need that consistent touch.
I even remember one time at an away game, the other team’s coach was very particular about THEIR specific game ball. It looked identical to ours, to the ref’s, but nope, had to be that one. Maybe it was superstition, maybe they just really liked how that one was broken in. Who knows? It just added to the whole fuss over a ball.
Figuring It Out in Practice
So, what did we end up doing? We realized obsessing too much over keeping game balls “perfect” and separate wasn’t helping as much as we thought. Sure, you need to follow the rules and use the approved ball for games. But the real work, the getting good part, happens in practice.
We started to rotate our newer UIL balls into practice sessions more often, especially the week leading up to a game. We wanted the players to be familiar with that specific feel, not just the random assortment. We still used our older balls for drills, of course, gotta save money where you can. But we made sure they got plenty of reps with something very close to, or exactly like, what they’d use when it counted. It wasn’t a perfect science, but it was our way of trying to make practice actually prepare them for the real deal. Just my experience with the whole UIL volleyball game ball situation. It’s one of those little things you figure out as you go.
