By Christine Jinbo

As I read John Kessel's blog, a long-time favorite volleyball writer from USA Volleyball, about "Street Soccer," the thought came to mind, "What is the equivalent of street soccer in the volleyball community?" 

There are two similar arenas to "street soccer" in the volleyball community. The first, called various things in different regions, is most often called simply, "Open Gym.”  The second, found most often in beach communities are doubles pick up games with a hierarchy set by holding court or moving courts based on level of play.  I highly recommend finding a local high school, YMCA or beach court which hosts a volleyball night near you.  Like street soccer, there are benefits to playing pick-up and a professional contract is not the point (referenced in the "Street Soccer” post).  If one loves to play, that is reason enough.

The definition of "street soccer" as it relates to volleyball and kids, is mutli-layered.  First, the "street" part of the definition describes something, which closely resembles "kick the can."  Not the actual kicking of the can, but the freedom of playing in the neighborhood streets or yards with one's friends and neighbors. 

The second part illustrates playing a sport and a game one loves.  This part entails setting up boundaries, picking teams and sometimes recruiting a new kid – to make the teams even, a la "The Sandlot" movie.  The ability to accomplish these tasks translates into real world skills: communication, logistics, problem solving, consensus and fairness.

Growing up, I did not walk to school, nor was it uphill both ways and definitely not in the snow.  But, I did play outside, a foreign concept for many children these days. In my day (I cannot believe I just began a sentence this way), we played many games both in the house and outside, but the one we played most often was kick ball, that is, before we discovered volleyball. 

In our epic kick ball games, which sometimes lasted for weeks, we clarified the boundaries, set the rules and picked teams, amazingly without adults.  The manhole cover was home base, Melvin (I know, we thought the name was funny even then!) and Eileen's tree was first base, another tree made second base and the light post in front of the Shaw's house made third. 

Next, we clarified the rules: no bouncies (the pitch had to be flat), no head hunting (cannot throw a ball at a players head to get them out), no stealing (obvious explanation) and little Jenny's outs don't count because she's only five and she wants to play. 

The rules, outlined and enforced by children, utilized the concepts of fair play, communication and consensus.  The end of the game came when our parents called us in for dinner or it started to get dark, whichever came first.  These neighborhood games, from three flies up, to tag and colored eggs, evolved into playing sports. 

We learned basketball and played horse and one on one. We learned volleyball and played pepper, when someone messed up, they were out and the next player entered the game.  If you kept the ball in play, you stayed in the game.  That developed into actual volleyball one-on-one or doubles games played over the hedge used as the net. 

We had epic games in the front yard.  I remember negotiating the sidewalk versus the grass and then going for it anyways.  I remember laughing so hard I thought my sides would split.  I remember when it was fun.

I do not remember adults watching and yelling.

"Hey, that's not the right score!”" 

or

"Keep it in honey!”"

or

"C'mon! Look like you want it out there!”" 

That is not to say that I never played organized sports where this kind of thing took place.  Actually, I played many years of club volleyball and I continue to support youth leagues and club sports.  I believe in organized sports as a great outlet for children to learn.  I received a Division I scholarship to play volleyball in college and still hold the career assist record at my school.  I loved the game and played because I loved it.  The danger in an over scheduled agenda is taking away the part of sports kids love.