Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Volleyball Mom's Survival Guide: How You and Your Daughter Can Be Victorious on and off the Court
    Volleyball Mom's Survival Guide: How You and Your Daughter Can Be Victorious on and off the Court
    Volleyball Mom's Survival Guide: How You and Your Daughter Can Be Victorious on and off the Court
    Ebook147 pages2 hours

    Volleyball Mom's Survival Guide: How You and Your Daughter Can Be Victorious on and off the Court

    By Janis B. Meredith

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    This survival guide is written for a single purpose: to help both you and your daughter be victorious on and off the volleyball court. The tips and suggestions, varying from the practical to the emotional--safety, nutrition, sports equipment, team drama, mental toughness, dealing with dad--will help you get the most from your daughter's volleyball playing experience. And that will help your daughter get the most out of her volleyball experience. The two are closely tied together.

    Just one note: This book is based on my first two eBooks, The Softball Mom’s Survival Guide and The Football Mom’s Survival Guide, and was specialized for the sport of volleyball. Although there are some issues that cross over all three sports, I’ve covered several that are unique to the sport of volleyball.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookBaby
    Release dateNov 27, 2013
    ISBN9781483514260
    Volleyball Mom's Survival Guide: How You and Your Daughter Can Be Victorious on and off the Court

    Read more from Janis B. Meredith

    Related to Volleyball Mom's Survival Guide

    Related ebooks

    Sports & Recreation For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Build Your Core

      Dec 28, 2018

      Pilates is much more than an exercise form. It is a sequence of well-designed movements, performed properly, with focus, concentration and correct deep breathing. These exercises not only develop a strong core, which is the powerhouse of the body, bu

      2 min read

    • Article

      Stiff Bows, Stiff Joints?

      Apr 16, 2021

      Stiff Bows, Stiff Joints?
      6 min read

    • Article

      Shooting From The Hip

      Oct 15, 2018

      Shooting From The Hip
      3 min read

    • Article

      Ask 220

      May 16, 2023

      US swim coach Andrew has been helping people improve their swimming for over 20 years. He specialises in helping triathletes improve their swimming skills through online coaching. Rehabilitation strength and conditioning coach Nick is also a former B

      6 min read

    • Article

      3 Keys To Pain Free Running

      Sep 22, 2019

      1 Runners fall into three categories when it comes to foot strike: heel, mid foot and toe. Each of these have a pre-determined effect on the body. The landing position I advocate for pain free running is midfoot. Midfoot strike patterns significantl

      3 min read

    • Article

      Your Feet Talk

      Sep 21, 2020

      Your Feet Talk
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Joint effort

      Mar 21, 2024

      Stiffness, swelling and pain – these are all common signs of arthritis, something that is often a part of ageing. But by getting clued up and adopting a few easy exercises into your routine, it is possible to help ease any potential symptoms. Arthrit

      3 min read

    • Article

      Pain In The Back!

      Dec 8, 2019

      Pain In The Back!
      2 min read

    • Article

      STAY INJURY FREE On Your Run

      Aug 7, 2019

      STAY INJURY FREE On Your Run
      2 min read

    • Article

      To A Healthy Spine

      May 5, 2021

      To A Healthy Spine
      2 min read

    • Article

      A Wobbly Start

      May 12, 2022

      A Wobbly Start
      5 min read

    • Article

      Ask The Experts

      Apr 17, 2020

      Lisa-Jane Holmes is a personal trainer and fitness blogger (wildcatfitness.co.uk). QI used to love trampolining when I was a teenager and as I’m self-isolating, I thought I’d order one so I can exercise at home. Is there a greater risk of injury tho

      7 min read

    • Article

      Avoiding A FALL

      Aug 8, 2019

      Avoiding A FALL
      2 min read

    • Article

      Building A stronger You

      Jan 27, 2024

      Building A stronger You
      7 min read

    • Article

      Beat BACK PAIN For Good!

      Dec 23, 2021

      Beat BACK PAIN For Good!
      3 min read

    • Article

      Feel Great

      Sep 5, 2023

      My hope in writing this column is that you are developing a fitness routine for yourself that suits your lifestyle and gets results. Why? Because strength training places a demand on muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments, which makes them get stronge

      2 min read

    • Article

      The Doctor Is In

      Dec 14, 2021

      Q: Around a year ago I broke one of the vertebrae in my spine. Although it’s healed, it’s left behind an unsightly stoop which makes me look far older than I feel. I’ve seen back braces advertised on Facebook that claim to fix posture—are these a goo

      1 min read

    • Article

      Managing And Preventing Lower Back Pain

      Mar 15, 2024

      Lower back pain is the most common reason people visit a physical therapist and an orthopedic surgeon. Most kayakers will face lower back pain— if they haven’t already—and if not dealt with correctly, it can extremely limit a paddling career. The goo

      3 min read

    • Article

      Feel Great

      May 2, 2023

      Fitness isn’t just about having a healthy heart and lungs, climbing mountains or being able to hold a plank for two minutes without crying (although all of that is wonderful!). It is also – as my chiropractor likes to tell me on each visit – about lo

      2 min read

    • Article

      Ask the Doctor

      Jun 18, 2020

      Why does my neck sometimes hurt after cycling? Neck pain is common in cyclists. The most common reason is usually poor riding position. If the front of the bike is too low, then in order to look ahead, the neck has to be over-extended, resulting in n

      2 min read

    • Article

      A Case Of Heel Pain

      Apr 10, 2019

      A young woman spoke to me about excruciating pain she was developing under her left heel. As she was a tour guide in various Asian countries, she was on her feet all day and the problem was increasing. When she woke in the morning it was not painful

      3 min read

    • Article

      Knee Pain

      Feb 18, 2021

      Knee Pain
      5 min read

    • Article

      Oh Knee, Not Again!

      Dec 15, 2017

      Physiotherapist FRANCIS ROGAN explores strategies for rehabilitation of the top three knee injuries for runners. Three common knee conditions that torment runners are iliotibial band syndrome, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and osteoarthritis. These a

      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Volleyball Mom's Survival Guide

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Volleyball Mom's Survival Guide - Janis B. Meredith

      Introduction

      When Holli started playing volleyball in sixth grade, I knew absolutely nothing about the sport. Even though I’d watched her older sister play, I had never followed very closely because I knew softball was her older sister’s real love.

      It became very apparent after a few years, however, that Holli’s love for volleyball was steadily growing and I knew we would be in this for the long haul. So I started paying closer attention and asking more questions. In the process, I grew to love watching her play the game.

      Holli played for eight years—through middle school, high school and two years in college—and even though I was a veteran sports mom when she started playing, being part of her volleyball journey still had a huge impact on me as a mom.

      Through camps, clinics, AAU teams, and the college hunt, I cried and prayed and groaned and cheered her every step of the way. I became a very dedicated volleyball mom, driving to tournaments and games and working the snack bar. Despite the many trips, tense moments, money spent, crazy schedules, and frustrations of being a sports parent—, time, team drama, coaching issues—I can honestly say that I loved being a volleyball mom.

      I truly hope that, whether you are just beginning your volleyball journey or are well into it, you will experience as much joy from seeing your daughter play as I did. That’s why I’ve written this book. I want to help you get the most out of your daughter’s volleyball playing experience. And by doing that, I know that I am also helping your daughter get the most out of her volleyball experience. It’s funny how those two are so closely tied together.

      The tips and suggestions in this book vary from the practical—safety, nutrition, sports equipment, volleyball rules—to the emotional—team drama, mental toughness, dealing with Dad. It’s a survival guide written with the single purpose in mind: to help both you and your daughter be winners on and off the court.

      Just one note: This book is based on my first two eBooks, The Softball Mom’s Survival Guide and The Football Mom’s Survival Guide, and was specialized for the sport of volleyball. Although there are some issues that cross over all three sports, I’ve covered several that are unique to the sport of volleyball.

      I’d love to hear from you after you’ve read the book. Please feel free to email me at Sportsparents@jbmthinks.com.

      Chapter 1

      The Perils of Volleyball

      Volleyball is not one of those sports that people normally think of as dangerous. But even though it isn’t a contact sport, collisions do occur—with other players and with the ball. The injuries that do happen in volleyball range in severity from fingernail injuries to broken bones. In between there are court burns, blisters, bruises, jammed fingers, shin splints, pulled or strained muscles, joint sprains, and overuse injuries.

      Every year, more than 460,000 high school students, including more than 410,000 girls, participate in interscholastic volleyball. Increased participation means more injuries, even though volleyball ranks low in injuries for all major sports.

      So although you may not be as fearful for your volleyball-playing daughter as you might be for your football-playing son, there are some things you should know about the types of injuries your daughter could have in volleyball and how she can help prevent them.

      Volleyball Injury Facts

      Research indicates that sprains and strains account for two-thirds of the volleyball injuries in all age groups.

      The most common injuries are to the ankle, hand/finger, knee, and shoulder.

      Net play is more risky than back row play, mostly because of injuries sustained from jumping.

      Blocking and attacking (hitting/spiking) are most associated with injury. Blocking injuries center on the finger and ankle, while spiking injuries tend to center on the shoulder, knee, and ankle.

      Most Common Volleyball Injuries

      Shoulder/Rotator Cuff

      Volleyball involves repetitive overhead motions like spiking and blocking, and players who play hitting and blocking positions are more prone to overuse injuries in the shoulder. This kind of injury can also hinder serving.

      When serving and spiking, the rotator cuff muscles generate power to move the shoulder. These muscles can get irritated or fatigued when over-used. Rest and physical therapy may resolve the pain, but if it persists, talk to a physician.

      Finger

      A volleyball player’s hands are her main weapon, and it’s no surprise that fingers are especially vulnerable to injury when a player is blocking, setting, and digging. Common finger injuries include fractures, dislocations, and tendon and ligament tears. If your daughter cannot bend her finger, she should see a doctor or athletic trainer.

      Ankle

      As my own daughter knows, ankle injuries are the most common mishaps to volleyball players and responsible for the most loss of playing time. My daughter, who’d just returned to play in her junior year of high school after recovering from a broken toe, injured her ankle in the first practice and was forced to sit out for another two to three weeks.

      Usually ankle injuries can be treated with bracing and physical therapy or home rehabilitation exercises. Occasionally, however, ankle sprains can be associated with subtle fractures or cartilage injuries. Continued pain after several weeks should prompt further evaluation, including X-rays and/or MRIs.

      Return to play is usually allowed once players have no pain and are able to support their body weight while standing on the toes.

      Knee

      Patellar tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the tibia (or shin bone). Patellar tendinitis is common in athletes who do a lot of forceful jumping. Occasionally, patellar tendinitis persists despite therapy, and surgery is required.

      The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is another part of the knee susceptible to injury. The ACL is one of the most important of four strong ligaments connecting the bones of the knee joint. Ligaments are strong, dense structures made of connective tissue that stabilize a joint. They connect bone to bone across the joint.

      The function of the ACL is to provide stability to the knee and minimize stress across the knee joint. An ACL tear results from overstretching this ligament when certain movements of the knee put too great a strain on the ACL.

      Most ACL injuries in volleyball occur when a player lands awkwardly after jumping. When a player hears a pop and there is immediate knee swelling, it could mean problems. Because ACL tears do not heal, those wanting to return to sports are encouraged to have the ACL reconstructed. Recovery time is usually at least six to nine months.

      Check with your coach or physical trainer for training techniques that may decrease the risk of ACL injuries in jumping athletes.

      Another common knee injury is the meniscus tear. The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your knee. Each knee has two menisci—one at the outer edge of the knee and one at the inner edge. The menisci keep the knee steady by balancing weight across the knee. A torn meniscus can prevent the knee from working properly.

      A meniscus tear is usually caused by twisting or turning quickly, often with the foot planted while the knee is bent.

      With a minor tear, your daughter may have slight pain and swelling. This usually goes away in two or three weeks.

      A moderate tear can cause pain at the side or center of the knee. Swelling slowly gets worse over two or three days. This may make the knee feel stiff and limit how the knee bends, but walking is usually possible. These symptoms go away in a week or two but can come back if the athlete twists or overuses the knee. The pain may come and go for years if the tear is not treated.

      In severe tears, pieces of the torn meniscus can move into the joint space. This can make the knee catch, pop, or lock. The player may not be able to straighten it and the knee may feel wobbly or give way without warning. It may swell and become stiff right after the injury or within two or three days.

      Low Back Pain

      The lower back is a common source of chronic pain for volleyball players. This pain is commonly caused by muscle or ligament stress and usually resolves with rest, physical therapy, and an athletic trainer’s treatment.

      If low back pain is accompanied by pain that radiates down the legs and numbness or weakness in the foot or ankle, it may be from a herniated disk. In most cases, volleyball players can return to play once the pain, numbness, and weakness resolve.

      If the doctor suspects a herniated disk, your daughter may need an MRI to determine further treatment.

      Volleyball players may also be at increased risk for a sort of stress fracture in the lower back, called spondylolysis. If pain persists more than a month and is worse when the player bends backward, consider consulting a physician.

      Tips to help prevent volleyball injuries

      There are more than 190,000 volleyball injuries reported each year in the United States and it is estimated that 60 percent of them are preventable with proper training. There are steps your daughter can take to reduce her risk of volleyball injury.

      Mike Caza of Premier Sport Conditioning in Ohio, suggests some guidelines specifically for volleyball players.

      Warm-ups should be active, not passive. Sitting on the ground and stretching does not stimulate muscles required for jumping. Caza suggests active stretches and drills to prepare the body for the demands of volleyball.

      Learn proper athletic position. Instead of rounding her back, your daughter should bend from the waist and flex her knees. This keeps her back in a neutral position and reduces stress on the lower back.

      Build core strength. The core consists of many different muscles that stabilize the spine and pelvis. These muscles run the entire length of the torso. When these muscles contract, they stabilize the spine, pelvis, and shoulder and create a solid base of support. When this happens, athletes are able to generate powerful movements of the extremities. When the core is weak, the body compensates by placing stress on the lower back, shoulder, knee, and ankle joints. Your daughter should consult her coach or trainer on exercises to increase her core strength.

      Build leg and hip strength. If your daughter wants to jump higher, hit harder, move more

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1