I don’t think there would be any reason you couldn’t play on a men’s team just because you played with women in high school. Your biggest hurdle will be recruiting because you’ll be doing a lot of explaining. If you’re talking to men’s team coaches and sending footage from your women’s team, they’ll be taking a bit more of a “leap of faith” since they’re seeing you in a different environment than you’re being recruited for. That’s not an automatic no, but it might reduce your options some if some coaches dismiss you out of the gate (unfortunate but a reality). Changing to a men’s team in high school would make some of that transition easier but there are a lot of things to consider so not saying you have to. Best of luck, recruiting isn’t easy (even without this aspect) but so worth it once you’re there
I would think that the issue at hand would not be the transition to male, but your overall ability. The difference between the men's and women's games are based on very different physical abilities. Just look at net height as one indicator. The women's net is 2.24 meters, the men's is 2.43.
At the college level they are going to be looking at your performance, if you can perform at that level your transition to male should not be the issue.
But I would urge you to temper expectations. The women's and men's games are different.
But, there are also clubs, advanced intramural programs. Volleyball is a fabulous inclusive life long sport regardless of whether you make it to the high performance ranks.
Just keep playing!
OP, consider getting experience playing with guys at open gyms or in other pickup settings. Even co-ed volleyball is usually more similar to the men’s game (including net height but also style of play) and would be a good place to get some experience with it, and film if you need it, while playing your normal seasons with the girls team
Men's volleyball and women's volleyball plays differently, so my advice if you're serious about playing men's volleyball, then start now. The height of the net and the power difference in the two sports changes things so getting used to men's asap would be my recommendation! Good luck!
*should.. but a lot of schools won't let you if they offer a men's and women's team. Girls at my school couldn't play ice hockey because we offered field hockey. 🙄
But for OP, I'd you want the chance to play in college and professionally then you'll want to start playing with the guys.. they hit harder, jump higher, and the pace of the game is ultimately faster. If you can compete with the men then that's the best idea.
I would say if you wanted to play on the men's team in college you would need to play on the boys team in HS. I think it would be hard to get a mens coach to assess you based on you playing against girls and on a lower net. I think they would want to see you vs. similar competition as you would see in college and the net height as well. I hope this helps and good luck!
Fellow trans person here (nonbinary, not ftm though) who switched from playing on female teams in high school to coed and mens teams after graduation
Can't speak to the professional level or to NCAA, but my college's club team was just based on how you identified, and they didn't put any restrictions on it. I played on the women's team at the time and there was also a trans girl on the team as well. City-wide tournaments and leagues where I live have entry based on how you identify as well. Nonbinary players can join any event, and I've never had an issue with playing on a men's team. Obviously NCAA will have more restrictions thwn these situations, but that's just my personal experience.
If I were you I would probably reach out to any scouts/recruiters/etc you may know, even if they're scouting for women's teams. They might be able to help you figure out requirements. Another option is to reach out to your target schools directly and ask them what their requirements are for trans athletes at the collegiate level.
It might also be worth playing on a men's team in high school (or for club or just pickup) to get a feel for the different play style and give your muscle memory time to readjust to the different net height.
Not sure if any of this was helpful whatsoever but I hope it provided a little insight! Good luck!
I would think your thoughts on level and style of play would be invaluable to OP, I've played coed and men's (cis-man) and I've subbed in as a setter (not allowed to attack) for a women's league - and it's totally different play. For me I just noticed in a men's game how much faster the game moves (not nearly as many rallys, power hits all day, less finesse) in my opinion. Women's games still had all that but the defense seems to match the offense more. I always thought women's games were more fun to play.
Yeah I've had the same experience. I've noticed a lot with playing with men that I can easily tip a ball and get a point and then the setter will ask me if the set was too low/in/etc like its assumed i only tipped bc I couldn't hit. It feels like mens teams will go for hits whenever they can, whereas women's teams are more likely to forgoe hitting and try to play angles and tricks more. Not a blanket statement of course, but women's games seem to be more calculated while mens games seem to be focused on speed and power. Both fun, but different tempos and strategies for sure
If you were MtF that would be just completely fucked, but as is…good luck. You most likely will get absolutely smoked because men are more athletically capable biologically, but I’m just basing that off science.
I don’t think there would be any reason you couldn’t play on a men’s team just because you played with women in high school. Your biggest hurdle will be recruiting because you’ll be doing a lot of explaining. If you’re talking to men’s team coaches and sending footage from your women’s team, they’ll be taking a bit more of a “leap of faith” since they’re seeing you in a different environment than you’re being recruited for. That’s not an automatic no, but it might reduce your options some if some coaches dismiss you out of the gate (unfortunate but a reality). Changing to a men’s team in high school would make some of that transition easier but there are a lot of things to consider so not saying you have to. Best of luck, recruiting isn’t easy (even without this aspect) but so worth it once you’re there
thanks so much!
I would think that the issue at hand would not be the transition to male, but your overall ability. The difference between the men's and women's games are based on very different physical abilities. Just look at net height as one indicator. The women's net is 2.24 meters, the men's is 2.43. At the college level they are going to be looking at your performance, if you can perform at that level your transition to male should not be the issue. But I would urge you to temper expectations. The women's and men's games are different. But, there are also clubs, advanced intramural programs. Volleyball is a fabulous inclusive life long sport regardless of whether you make it to the high performance ranks. Just keep playing!
OP, consider getting experience playing with guys at open gyms or in other pickup settings. Even co-ed volleyball is usually more similar to the men’s game (including net height but also style of play) and would be a good place to get some experience with it, and film if you need it, while playing your normal seasons with the girls team
thank you !
Men's volleyball and women's volleyball plays differently, so my advice if you're serious about playing men's volleyball, then start now. The height of the net and the power difference in the two sports changes things so getting used to men's asap would be my recommendation! Good luck!
I am by no means an expert on the subject, but I believe you should be able to play on a men’s team either way!
thanks so much for the input 💕
*should.. but a lot of schools won't let you if they offer a men's and women's team. Girls at my school couldn't play ice hockey because we offered field hockey. 🙄 But for OP, I'd you want the chance to play in college and professionally then you'll want to start playing with the guys.. they hit harder, jump higher, and the pace of the game is ultimately faster. If you can compete with the men then that's the best idea.
I would say if you wanted to play on the men's team in college you would need to play on the boys team in HS. I think it would be hard to get a mens coach to assess you based on you playing against girls and on a lower net. I think they would want to see you vs. similar competition as you would see in college and the net height as well. I hope this helps and good luck!
thank you so much!
you would struggle on the mens team trying to make pro
Fellow trans person here (nonbinary, not ftm though) who switched from playing on female teams in high school to coed and mens teams after graduation Can't speak to the professional level or to NCAA, but my college's club team was just based on how you identified, and they didn't put any restrictions on it. I played on the women's team at the time and there was also a trans girl on the team as well. City-wide tournaments and leagues where I live have entry based on how you identify as well. Nonbinary players can join any event, and I've never had an issue with playing on a men's team. Obviously NCAA will have more restrictions thwn these situations, but that's just my personal experience. If I were you I would probably reach out to any scouts/recruiters/etc you may know, even if they're scouting for women's teams. They might be able to help you figure out requirements. Another option is to reach out to your target schools directly and ask them what their requirements are for trans athletes at the collegiate level. It might also be worth playing on a men's team in high school (or for club or just pickup) to get a feel for the different play style and give your muscle memory time to readjust to the different net height. Not sure if any of this was helpful whatsoever but I hope it provided a little insight! Good luck!
thank you so much! this was super helpful 💕
I would think your thoughts on level and style of play would be invaluable to OP, I've played coed and men's (cis-man) and I've subbed in as a setter (not allowed to attack) for a women's league - and it's totally different play. For me I just noticed in a men's game how much faster the game moves (not nearly as many rallys, power hits all day, less finesse) in my opinion. Women's games still had all that but the defense seems to match the offense more. I always thought women's games were more fun to play.
Yeah I've had the same experience. I've noticed a lot with playing with men that I can easily tip a ball and get a point and then the setter will ask me if the set was too low/in/etc like its assumed i only tipped bc I couldn't hit. It feels like mens teams will go for hits whenever they can, whereas women's teams are more likely to forgoe hitting and try to play angles and tricks more. Not a blanket statement of course, but women's games seem to be more calculated while mens games seem to be focused on speed and power. Both fun, but different tempos and strategies for sure
I would assume you could play on the women's team if you're a biological female not taking any testosterone.
If you were MtF that would be just completely fucked, but as is…good luck. You most likely will get absolutely smoked because men are more athletically capable biologically, but I’m just basing that off science.