As Varsity volleyball and Varsity soccer began their seasons for the 2025-26 school year, both faced the trials of building a starting roster. With volleyball losing seven seniors and soccer losing 12, enough to fill fields and courts, a significant number of new players were introduced. Although this can be a difficult adjustment for teams, it also comes with new opportunities for growth. Varsity Soccer Assistant Coach Julian Asta noted that losing a significant
number of players creates opportunities for younger players.
“Time is spent instilling the program’s values into players, and when those players leave, you have to start from scratch, but it creates an opportunity for players who previously haven’t had the opportunity [to play on varsity] to step up,” Asta said.
Varsity teams can be made up of 9th through 12th graders, so younger players have the opportunity to learn from older team members. Varsity volleyball player Kate ’29 values the lessons given to her by older teammates.
“[Being on Varsity] showed me a different side to the game, but the older players helped me grow as a player,” Zhang said.
Varsity Volleyball Head Coach Nicki Holmes explained that although the seniors are missed, starting younger players on Varsity is a great way to drill the values of the sports into the younger athletes.
“It creates a foundation with good people playing the sport,” Holmes explained.
To ensure that the younger players are able to bond with the captains and seniors, both teams have done various team bonding activities. For example, Varsity soccer implemented a buddy system between freshmen and sophomores, as well as juniors and seniors, in order to encourage friendship and ensure teammates get to know each other.
On the volleyball side, there have been many team bonding events, such as hikes in Temescal Canyon and game nights. Furthermore, carpooling between seniors and younger players to these events helped to strengthen the bonds being created.
Both teams throughout their seasons have learned to rebuild, welcome and restore the balance that the Class of ’25 left behind. These activities have instilled a sense of community, allowing new players to feel comfortable as they navigate being on a team with older, more experienced players. Benefits of these activities also extend to the court, such as better communication and understanding among teammates. Tata ’26 acknowledges the positive effects that team bonding had on the team, explaining how it instills a sisterly relationship between players which helps to prepare young players for leadership positions in the future.
“Because I’ve already been through the classes they’re taking and having been in the volleyball program before, it was nice to be able to share my experience and bond with them,” Kate said.
Another result of team bonding is a stronger connection between younger and older players outside of their sports. Kate talked about the lingering effects of team bonding on her relationships with older teammates while outside the volleyball season.
“I made friends with a lot of the upperclassmen,” Kate explained. “They helped me understand what the expectations were and helped me through hard practices.”
The guidance from upperclassmen ensures that younger players have the right mindset and confidence while playing with older players, which can be intimidating. Kate explained how the connection that she fostered with older players allowed her to feel like she could step into a position of leadership and step onto the volleyball court with confidence.
Overall, “young” sports teams allow younger players to step into a new environment and enhance their skills. In addition, older players, such as incoming seniors, have the chance to step into a position of leadership and guide their team to a successful season, while also paving the way for younger players to step onto the court or field.
