Boys’ volleyball as a sanctioned sport could become a thing at Platte County R-3 sooner rather than later.
The R-3 Board of Education (BOE) gave its support at its June meeting to study the idea of adding the sport to the schedule of activities. Superintendent Dr. Jay Harris will report back to the board at the August BOE meeting.
The state of Missouri hosted a statewide district competition and state championships for the first time this year. A total of 74 schools in the state played boys’ volleyball ball last year including 19 from the Kansas City area. A total of 11 of the Kansas City Suburban Conference schools played volleyball ball last year.
Boys’ volleyball has been a popular sport in and around the St. Louis area but just started catching on the past couple of years in the Kansas City region. There is currently only enough schools for one class and future growth will depend on schools in the Kansas City area and beyond to start adding the sport that’s played in the spring. Only three schools outside the St. Louis and Kansas City region participated last year.
This past year Platte County R-3 hosted a volleyball club which is the precursor to adding the sport. R-3 had 34 kids participate. Guy Fish, a parent of one of the players this year, spoke to the R-3 BOE in hopes of moving something forward. Fish has experience as a coach and said there were six volunteer coaches including himself. Fish said the numbers R-3 drew to the sport were well beyond what he imagined.
“I thought ‘If they get 10 or 12 boys out that would be superb.’” “For a sport that wasn’t really officially happening at the school, that’s more than some teams in some sports that have happened and have been around for a long, long time. There’s clear interest.”
Fish said there are also opportunities for kids beyond high school to keep playing but those opportunities are limited if kids don’t have some tape to show coaches.
“There are colleges who are adding it to the program,” Fish said. “There are boys this year that have the opportunity to play collegiate ball, except they won’t.”
Harris said the district has a policy that addresses adding new activities that generally has a two-year process. One of the concerns the process addresses is the amount of competition. From what Harris sees that’s not going to be an issue.
“I’m hearing next year about half of the Suburban Conference schools will have boys’ volleyball,” Harris said about next year. “It is picking up and more schools are adding it. It’s something we want to keep on our radar.”
R-3 Athletic Director Middleton said one issue the school will have will be conflicts with some kids who want to play volleyball but already participate in a spring sport. This past year kids were able to make it work because club volleyball worked around their main sport.
“Now you’re forcing those kids to choose,” Middleton said.
Another big issue would be scheduling. He said most schedules are worked out for the next two years but they could rework some things.
“Certainly not impossible,” Middleton said.
Middleton said if they add volleyball the school would also look at adding another girls’ sport for Title IX issues. One sport that was mentioned was flag football. The Kansas City Chiefs along with the North Kansas City School District started a flag football program two years ago and that sport is also growing.
Suburban Conference schools that played last year included all three Lee Summit schools, all four North Kansas City schools, Grain Valley, Belton, St. Joseph Central, and Ruskin.