LONGMONT, Colo.—Three years ago, Taylor Huffman was sitting in his high school cafeteria when an unfamiliar coach approached him.
Offered a competitive outlet and some buffalo wings, the lanky basketball player was a perfect fit for this sport, where athleticism and height are highly valued.
But boys playing volleyball? Something just didn’t sit right with Huffman.
“I mean, it’s a girls’ sport,” the Niwot High School senior said. “I kind of looked at him like, ‘Are you serious?'”
It may seem like an odd fit, but it’s a concept that’s gaining steam across the country. Although males playing competitive volleyball isn’t exactly a novel idea—it’s a staple in the Olympics and college athletics—it’s not a sport that has caught on at the high school level, at least in Colorado, until recently.
The Colorado Boy’s High School Volleyball Association was formed about 10 years ago to promote the sport in an effort to get sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association. Locally, Niwot and Skyline are vital parts of the now 35-team league that spans the state. They are about four weeks into the 2009 season.
“Right now, it’s something that’s under the radar,” said Skyline coach Rachael Ayers, also the head coach of the CHSAA-sanctioned Skyline girls volleyball team. “We really have to actively recruit because it isn’t a CHSAA sport, but the (athletic directors) are very hesitant to add another sport.
“But this one, I think they should consider.”
If only it was that easy.
The CBHSVA has been petitioning for years to become a mainstream sport in Colorado’s high school athletics. Its biggest hurdle isn’t interest, necessarily, but Title IX might be.
Because of laws spawned by the 1972 women’s rights amendment, high schools and colleges are required to have a proportionate number of girls and boys sports offered.
So, if boys volleyball is to become a sanctioned CHSAA sport, there must be another girls sport introduced at the same time—and there’s not likely to be as much interest in a girls sport that isn’t already offered.
“In many cases, boys volleyball really wasn’t as popular in previous years as it has been in the past 10 or 15 years,” CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann said. “The popularity is growing, but there may be too many factors impeding it from becoming a sanctioned sport.”
Many East and West Coast states offer boys volleyball as a sport, and studies have shown that within the past three years, interest in boys high school volleyball has grown significantly throughout the country. According to a report by Middle Hitter—a Web site devoted to men’s volleyball—the number of America’s high schools offering boys volleyball grew from 1,716 to 2,045 between 2006 and 2008.
But Borgmann pointed to finances and the impact on existing sports as other issues to consider.
“My point for adding it is that it’s one of the few sports that you can play for a lifetime,” Ayers said. “Just like tennis, it’s a sport people play into their 60s, so it’s a great foundation for fitness.”
The fact is, boys volleyball is alive and thriving in Colorado. Every year, the CBHSVA gets requests to add more teams. In fact, Skyline joined just two years ago.
“It’s a completely different game than the girls game,” Niwot boys volleyball coach John Baumgartner said. “It’s so much about power and kills, while the girls game is more about finesse. It’s extremely fun to watch and participate in.”
Huffman eventually learned that.
Hesitantly, he gave the “girls’ sport” a try, and it has been a perfect fit. He even admits enjoying volleyball as much as basketball.
“It’s not like we have to wear little tight shorts and stuff,” Huffman said. “I was terrible at the beginning, but it wasn’t that hard for a bunch of us to pick up. It’s been a lot of fun.”
The Cougars have developed one of the most successful programs in the CBHSVA. Niwot has won two state titles and has been to the state semifinals each of the past three years. For now, though, they can only count on competing for pride. No athletic letters, no banners and no school recognition await them at the end.
“It’s a sport I’d consider playing in college,” Huffman said. “I never would have thought that a few years ago, but I’m glad I’ve gotten the opportunity to play.
“It’s a lot more fun than I ever thought it would be.”
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On the Net:
Colorado Boy’s High School Volleyball Association:
Colorado High School Activities Association:
Middle Hitter:
