And1: Boys volleyball not a varsity sport

Boys volleyball will enter its third season since its creation at South Lakes in 2010. The team has gotten off to possibly the best start in its history and is currently 2-0 with straight set victories over McLean and Langley last week. 

 As a member of the team, I can vouch for the fact that boys volleyball is just like any other sport. We have multiple practices a week, games on a regular basis, and it takes commitment and skill to make the team. The only difference is that boys volleyball is not recognized as a varsity sport in Northern Virginia.

Some people might ask what difference that makes, however it is a big difference for us. Since we are recognized as a club team instead of a varsity sport we are not eligible for access to the athletic funds that are available to every other team in the school. Due to the lack of funding we have to pay for everything out of our own pockets, including uniforms, league fees, and every other possible expense imaginable.

If the girls varsity volleyball team did not donate the use of one of their courts to us for practices we would have to rent a court from one of the local gyms and that would cost even more money.

The problem is that the high school community does not view boys volleyball as a sport, but almost every college in the United States has a team and there are numerous professional leagues throughout the world. Even in other areas of the country high schools boys volleyball is a varsity sport, but not here in Northern Virginia.

The Virginia High School League needs to make the announcement that boys volleyball is a varsity sport. Without the support of VHSL students from several teams in the area will be forced to continue to pay for equipment, uniforms, and court fees out of their own pockets.