Friends, fun on the volleyball court
Volleyball for adults leads to friends, fun and fitness
“It’s just a really fun time. It’s a nice way to meet people.”
— Karen Gordon, of Pottstown
A group of about 15 adults entered a school gym one by one on a weeknight, took off their winter coats and immediately occupied a spot on one side of the volleyball net; ready for the games to begin.
An adult recreational volleyball program takes place every Tuesday evening from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Ringing Rocks Elementary School in Lower Pottsgrove.
The program is open to residents and non-residents of the township every year from September through June. The weekly game isn’t part of a competitive league and beginners are encouraged to join.
“It’s just fun,” said Joan Wetzel, the volleyball coordinator for the recreational program.
She said normally about 12 to 16 adults attend the friendly volleyball game every week. There are typically six people per team. Wetzel said if there is a particularly large number of participants one week, then players will rotate in and out of the game.
The game begins when one player serves the ball which means hitting it to the other side. Then the goal is to keep the ball in play by preventing it from hitting the ground or going out of bounds. Players often use their hands or arms to keep the volleyball in motion.
Wetzel said the program used to be an all-women activity but now includes a mix of men and women as well as people of different ages.
Karen Gordon, of Pottstown, has been participating in the volleyball program for several years. She said the adult recreational activity has been offered for more than 40 years in Lower Pottsgrove.
“It’s just a really fun time. It’s a nice way to meet people,” Gordon said.
Gordon has an outdoor volleyball court at her home. Many of the volleyball players will use her court in the summer when the school gym is closed.
She said her whole family plays the sport which is how she became interested in the recreational program.
“My husband played volleyball. He played on a league in town here,” Gordon said. “We always were a big volleyball family.”
Gordon even added that she participated in the volleyball program with her mom for several years.
“She played until she was well in her 80s,” Gordon said.
Gordon said she’s not as fast of some of the younger volleyball players but still finds it enjoyable since the game is more friendly than competitive.
“We really do have a nice group of people,” she said.
The cost to participate in the adult volleyball program is $70 for Lower Pottsgrove residents and $80 for non-residents. Participants pay half in September and the remaining balance in February.
“We’re always looking for players,” Wetzel said.
For more information about the adult volleyball program, email director@pottsgroverec.com or visit bit.ly/AdultPottsgroveRecreation.
The history of volleyball
William G. Morgan invented the sport of volleyball in the 1890s, according to the Olympic Games website olypic.org. Morgan was a physical education director at the Young Man’s Christian Association in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He created volleyball to combine aspects of basketball, baseball, tennis and handball.
Morgan specifically designed the game of volleyball so it wasn’t as physically demanding as basketball. He wanted to create a game that a variety of ages and fitness abilities could enjoy.
The benefits of adult sports
A 2015 report called Sports and Health in America was created through a collaboration between National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard Chan School. The report includes findings from interviews with 2,506 adults.
The report found that personal entertainment and health benefits were the main two reasons why adults play sports. Interviewed adults responded they played sports to improve their health, get in shape and to lose weight.
The report also stated that adults who played sports said it did improve their health.
“More than half of adults who play sports report that is has reduced their stress, improved their mental health, or improved their physical health a great deal or quite a bit,” stated the Sports and Health in America report.