My Kid Got Cut From the Volleyball Team — Now What?
Getting cut hurts. For a kid who loves the sport, it can feel like a door slamming shut. But in our experience coaching young athletes in Traverse City, it's often the beginning of something better — not the end.
First Things First
Let Them Feel It
Before you talk about next steps, give your child a moment to be disappointed. Getting cut is a real loss — of a team, a routine, a social group, and an identity they've built around the sport. Rushing past that feeling doesn't help. Sitting with them in it does.
When they're ready — usually within a day or two — that's when the conversation about what's next becomes productive. Kids who feel heard are far more open to new ideas than kids who feel managed.
The Opportunity
Getting Cut Might Be the Best Thing That Happened
We've seen this more times than we can count. A kid gets cut from the volleyball team in the fall, picks up a tennis racquet out of curiosity, and by spring they're competing in their first tournament — loving every minute of it. The volleyball skills transferred, the competitive drive was already there, and they found a sport that actually fit them better.
Getting cut from one team doesn't mean your child isn't an athlete. It often just means the fit wasn't right — and there's another sport waiting that will suit them far better. Tennis is one of the best candidates for that sport.
💡 Some of the best junior tennis players we know started because they got cut from another team. The chip on the shoulder is fuel.
Why Tennis Specifically
Why Tennis Is the Perfect Next Sport for a Volleyball Player
Volleyball players are already halfway to being tennis players. The footwork, the hand-eye coordination, the competitive mindset, the overhead motion — all of it transfers. A kid coming off a volleyball season won't be starting from zero. They'll be starting from ahead of most beginners their age.
Beyond the athletic transfer, tennis offers something volleyball doesn't — individual accountability. In tennis, there's no hiding on the court. Every point is yours to win or lose, and that builds a different kind of mental toughness. For a motivated athlete looking to prove something, that's exactly the right environment.
The Timeline
How Fast Can They Get Good?
For a volleyball player with good athleticism and competitive drive, the progress in tennis can be remarkable. With consistent lessons and practice, many kids can go from first-time players to competing in their first USTA junior tournament within six months to a year. That's not typical for most beginners — it's specific to kids who bring athletic background and a hunger to improve.
The key is starting with proper instruction rather than just hitting balls around. Good coaching from the beginning instills the right habits, prevents the bad ones, and accelerates everything that comes after.
💡 A motivated volleyball player with good coaching can be competitive on a tennis court in a matter of months — not years.
What You Need to Get Started
The Barrier to Entry Is Low
One of the best things about tennis is how accessible it is to start. You need a racquet, some balls, and access to a court — all of which are readily available in Traverse City. You don't need a full team, expensive gear, or months of lead time. You can be on a court this week.
Stop into TC Tennis & Pickleball and we'll get your child sized for the right racquet, point you toward courts and lessons in the area, and answer any questions you have. We've helped a lot of kids get started in tennis under exactly these circumstances — and it almost always goes better than expected.
The Long Game
Tennis Gives Them Something Volleyball Can't
Volleyball is a team sport with a limited competitive window — high school, maybe college if they're exceptional. Tennis is a sport your child can play competitively for the rest of their life. Junior tournaments, high school varsity, college recruitment, adult leagues, senior divisions — the ladder goes as high as they want to climb, and it never has to end.
A kid who finds tennis at 12 or 13 after getting cut from another team has decades of competitive play ahead of them. That's not a consolation prize. That's a gift.
💡 Tennis is one of the only sports where you can compete at a high level at age 15 and still be playing competitively at age 65.
Let's Get Them on the Court
We'll fit them with the right racquet and point them in the right direction
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