Some anonymous players have said the game is not inclusive enough.
I've responded to that.
The basics go back to the 2 mascots thing--competition and cameraderie.
There is a balance. Maintaining that balance is delicate, and difficult.
Some players who are new to 4ft of water can step in to the mix and dominate. I was not one of those players.
With things being the way they are today, if people want to play, and are trying to do things right (practicing, showing up regularly, putting up shirts, etc.), let them in, on mixed teams, in small numbers.
See the example of Argosy 2's--that side of the pool is yours, all yours! I wish you luck. Because you will get picked on. Just keep the ball in the air, and we'll see what we can do after that.
Same with Riata. The only line I have for the new people is that everyone fights, no one quits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh-vuomKdRg
If you're skills aren't up to the game you came into play, we can help you to an extent. Shadow you, try to limit the amount of court you have to cover. That's what teammates do.
The alternative is to let you be "that guy." The new Riata term. Argosy phrase was "Soul hole" wherein a bad bully is gonna rip you on every play until you cry uncle.
The question appears to be whether you're excluding people by helping them on defense or being "Shellfish" by stealing their plays.
Debatable, say I, as a smaller player on the net. Help is welcome, as long as I know it's coming, and you don't jump on or over me.
On a "mixed" team, I don't see anything wrong with a couple of experienced players trying to run plays to help their team. As long as they are successful...
That's the rub, ain't it? How much do you trust your team, and how much do you work around the less skilled players on the same side to set up plays with the player(s) you know for a better chance of success?
Do you think the "scrubs" know any better? Or care if your performance, dastardly as it may be, gets your team a W? They want to keep playing, and you're an experienced player who can make that happen for them. Do you think they'd want to hear you did something less than try to win on their behalf, like serve to a better player on the other side, to make things "fair?"
So far this post has been about defense. I hate to turn to offense because I get so much crap about it. Who gets the set. Everybody wants one. Who can deliver off the set to a kill?
Opinions vary. And there are many variables. What I will concede is that this is a tall man's game. But all tall men are not alike.
Some tall rookies start with spaghetti arms--Slim Jim, Kyle, I'm looking at you. That doesn't mean they shouldn't get set. What it means is that they need some instruction on how to hit agressively, so that they will get more sets. Make sense?
That's not exclusive, it's inclusive. I'm still of the mindset that it takes 5 years to develop a player who may be an athelete but doesn't have outside volleyball experience.
See preseason NFL. We have enough good players out there that we don't feel like carrying rookie's bags. They're being given an opportunity to play. They best keep coming out, take their beatings, learn, and maybe show a little respect along the way.
Showing up drunk, mouthy, with 6 of your friends, or less, and expecting to win against experienced players is no way to go through life, son. That will justifiably get you killed.
That's not being mean. It's just the way of the world.
Encouragement is fine, but the new players also must be warned what they are getting into. They wanted this, game on.
I've been playing Johnny Appleseed for a long time--encouraging good players to come out again, distributing videos, letting them know this is a regular thing.
But we don't play with beach balls, there are no ribbons for participation, and this may not help your self esteem everytime you play.
There are two pills you can take... and you will either get it, or you won't.
Maybe Slim Jim can't remember whether he ordered blue pens or black at work. I don't care, because he has the opportunity to be a God out there for at least one play.
What we do in 4ft of water is NOT what we do in the real world. And that is something, actually...
Just remember what it takes to keep it going:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vET7Ef3RNMA