By Molly Richards

    JO volleyball and school volleyball are two very diverse programs, from the games and practices to the over all goals, both have benefits for players of all levels.

    JO volleyball or Club volleyball can vary in the different age groups and levels of play. In the younger age groups, the schedule is much less intense than the schedule at the high school level.

    Club teams ages fourteen to eighteen, especially national and American teams, tend to have a much heavier schedule. This means having more practices during the week, and as players get farther into the season, tournaments are scheduled almost every weekend.

    During the high school season, the goal is obviously to win as many games as the team can and hopefully advance into Championships. So most of the practices involve preparing for the teams they are going to play.

    The setup is different for Club volleyball. During practices, coaches tend to focus more on individual progression and team chemistry.

     Along with the schedule, the goals of each season also tend to vary. In high school, the goal for the season is to advance as far as the team can.

    The goals each team makes during Club season can vary on the level at which the team plays. It could be about winning however many tournaments, qualifying for Nationals or even winning them.

     As far my season usually goes during Club, my teams goals in the past have been qualifying and going to Natio and also making it to the gold bracket (the top bracket) in every tournament.    

    Considering the team and chemistry between players, the school season is where I have become closest with other athletes.

    While Club season does create new friendships and close knit bonds with players who are not from an individual’s school, during the school season the team becomes a big family.

    In high school, team members are always together whether it be during practices and games or outside of school.

    The experiences may be different, but the bonds created with other players and improvements players can achieve in both seasons makes each special in their own way.    

 By: Elora Nicholas / Staff Writer

     NFL players throughout the past week have been dealing with the wrath of President Trump. Trump has been giving speeches and has been speaking his opinion about the kneeling of the players.

    The first player to kneel during the national anthem was Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick has said he sat and kneeled during the anthem because he refuses to show honor to a country that oppresses black people and people of color. His action caused much controversy among fans and others not impacted by the NFL.

    In recent news, players have started doing this action again for the same reasons stated before. This past Sunday the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and many other teams showed their stand against their right.

    Throughout the league, players, coaches and owners decided what was best for the team.

    Trump took to Twitter to say the kneeling was unacceptable.

    President Trump has been expressing his viewpoint towards the players’ behavior. He believes players who disrespect the flag should be fired from their team. However, he supported those players who chose to lock arms due to the showing of “solidarity.”

    The Oakland Raiders offensive line is the only line in the NFL made up entirely of African-American players, all chose to kneel during the national anthem joined by their team. The team hosting, Washington Redskins, chose to link arms on their side of the field. The act was shown as one of the strongest visual display of a protest today.

    Coach Jack Del Rio of the Raiders said the players would have rather stayed in the locker room, but it would have likely delayed game time.

    All protests were a viewing of solidarity against the criticism of President Trump.

    The players within each team had their own personal view of why they knelt during Sunday’s game. Most of their opinions all looped back around to their disagreeing with the president. Each player felt that if they would have stood, it would have shown support towards Trump.

    Some players even chose to celebrate a touchdown in a certain way. Odell Beckham Jr. raised his fist after scoring, a protest done by black athletes dated back to the 1960s.

    The controversy of this situation continues to expand day by day, what will our president say next? Will the players continue these actions? Viewers will see as the season continues.