One of my favorite shows is Haikyuu, a Japenese anime about a high school volleyball team. This particular niche (sports anime) is not most people’s thing (I have convinced no one to watch it), but it is so good.
Watching it inspired me to pick up playing volleyball again last year in the Austin Sports & Social league after eight years of not playing at all.
Watching it also makes me regret, sometimes, that I didn’t do more to improve and stay on the court longer. Our high school team was pretty lackluster. We lost nearly all our games. My teammates weren’t particularly invested. I wanted to be, but I don’t think I can say with confidence I was either. I didn’t do everything I could to get better.
I considered playing on a club team on the offseason but after the first day of try-outs, I told my mom I didn’t want to go back. I was embarrassed at how poorly I played. Silly, now, since playing more would have helped me improve.
It’s no use dwelling too much – I don’t think I had the ambition to become a college athlete or take it further. I just love the game and want to get better at it. Now that I play once a week, I find myself wishing our team had actual practices. Instead, we improve only by playing in matches, under (light) pressure and absent of deliberate practice.
In the anime, volleyball is life. They treat volleyball games so seriously that I can’t help wanting to be a part of that. The desire to stay on the court, to be strong, to win. Plus, there’s a liberal dosage of the “team-as-family” dynamics that I crave.
“Being weak means that there is room to grow.“
Haikyuu
As I rewatch Haikyuu for the fourth time, I lean into the inspiration. And try not to binge too quickly . . . I know I can’t get anyone on board for this show . . . but have I mentioned that it’s so good?
With Love,
Natalie