For Audrey Hall, volleyball has never been just a game. After graduating in the class of 2024, Hall has made a return to the court, now as the new assistant coach for JV volleyball.
Spanning her sophomore year to senior year, Hall, a Fauquier High School (FHS) alumni, played varsity volleyball for FHS. As a mentor for volleyball, her new role pays forward all she’s learnt to the next generation of players. “I played for three years here and I really missed it.” Hall stated, “So, I decided to come back and help out, then I ended up becoming a coach.”
Transitioning from player to coach has been far from simple. Hall quickly discovered that coaching requires quite an effort. “Coaching is much more demanding than most realize,” expressed Hall, “A lot of thought and hard work goes into the littlest things.”
To Hall, the reality of coaching is a careful devotion to planning and much practice. “It’s so much more than just showing up and running drills.” She continued, “ …I think that a big misconception is that people think it’s not a contact sport, but it is a contact sport…”
Beyond just planning practices, Hall also works to change how people perceive volleyball. In her eyes, the sport carries a reputation in which Hall believes doesn’t give off the true nature of the sport, “Not enough people take it seriously. They just think it’s a fun game to play, but it gets very competitive.” She states that while “anyone can pick up the basics, excelling takes persistence, routine and passion.”
When it comes to what Hall searches for in a player, she emphasises commitment over raw talent. Stressing that, “as a junior varsity coach, is especially important in strengthening a new player’s skills.” Hall believes that the strongest players are those who show dedication and perseverance.
As Hall sees it, lessons learned on the court shape players outside of the game, a crucial part of her philosophy. “Especially in this community at FHS, it’s like a family. It’s not just a team. You turn into a better person; more than just a player, you meet lifelong sisters rather than just teammates.”
