The MN Boys High School Volleyball Association was established in 2018 to create opportunities and support boys playing volleyball in Minnesota high schools. Its mission is to help provide a low cost league and administrative assistance to relieve the amount of responsibility and functions in the school athletic departments. With the support of Hugh McCutcheon, Walt Weaver, and North Country Region, the Association had its inaugural Boys High School Volleyball Season in the Spring of 2018 with 22 schools fielding 38 JV and Varsity volleyball teams allowing 400+ boys to compete for their high school. 44 schools registered for Spring of 2020 totaling over 800 boys participating in high school volleyball.
In of January 2022, 53 schools signed up for Spring season that began in mid April. Based on a poll of the schools, it was found that most programs would double in the number of kids trying out. There was likely over 1200 boys that were interested for the 2022 spring season.
The ultimate goal was for Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) to recognize, support and sanction boys high school volleyball as a MSHSL sport. Through the campaign to sanction the sport, they did it!
On May 9, 2023 the MSHSL 48 Member Representative assembly approved the proposal to sanction boys volleyball as a high school sport for the 2024-25 school year with a vote of 39-7-2. The MSHSL Board of Directors and Executive Staff formed a task force to research and provide a formal recommendation as to which season boys volleyball will be played, Fall 2024 or Spring 2025, as the first fully sanctioned official season. The task force assembled for 3 months, then made the decision to recommend Spring as the Official Season for Boys Volleyball.
On October 5, 2023, the MSHSL Board unanimously voted to approve the Spring recommendation. The first fully sanctioned season will take place in Spring 2025. Season start date, coaches association, and other details will be reviewed and established over the next months prior to Spring 2025.
2023-24 Transition Year
The 2023-24 School Season will takeplace in the Spring of 2024 in an Emerging Sport Status. This means MSHSL, its member schools, and MN Boys HSVB Association will operate in collaborate to offer boys high school volleyball. There are 85 schools already registered for the spring season!
If you are asking “why isn’t there boys volleyball in my state?” Here are steps and information for you to turn your question into action.
The MN Boys High School Volleyball Association eased the start up by streamlining processes and reducing affordability barriers.
Here are keys to their success that can be used in any state.
- Passionate Volleyball Icons: Each state has them.
- Athletic Directors: Find a few who are knowledgeable of the state high school league process, can guide, advise and speak up on behalf of your league.
- Have a turnkey guide to starting a team: Make it easy for a parent, player or coach by spelling it out. Have a Coaches Corner with Checklists and Resource Center Follow the steps HERE.
- Business and Marketing Plan: Use Social Media to reach people and keep them engaged. Start a website and use team communication via SE, GroupMe, Etc.
- Focus on the greater good as the priority when making decisions: go into a volunteer mindset, find people with connections, keep it simple and celebrate small wins. Do a few things “great” rather than many things “ok”.
- League Registrations and Communication Tool: this league uses JVA’s partner SportsEngine for website, registration and league management, documentation.
- Officiating and Scoring: Hire an R1, engage local officials’ association, have teams assist with line judging, R2, line-up tracking, and scorekeeping (helps learn the sport and lower costs), and keep score sheet simple.
- Registration and Insurance: Safety first, background checks and coaching safety, can use JVA, AAU or USAV insurance. This league uses JVA insurance.
- Rules and Guidelines: Let them play! No 2nd touch double calls, limited overlapping calls, use a logical and simple format and allow coaches to mentor/teach during games, especially early in the season.
The most important key is to stay Focused on the Greater Good. Use a logical and simple format as the priority when making decisions. Go into it with a volunteer mindset, find people with connections, keep it simple and celebrate small wins. Do a few things “great” rather than many things “ok”.
“We hoped for 10-15 teams TOTAL! That would be a HUGE win in our minds” shares MN High School Boys Volleyball Association Co-Director Krista Flemming. “We got 38 teams!! That was not anticipated. Response and interest was amazing. It is carrying over into 2019 for many schools that just couldn’t pull the trigger in time last year. We already have 36 schools (72 teams for Year 2) with registration deadline being Feb 1, 2019.”
Challenges to Expect
There is always hesitation to try new things. The main obstacles that MN Boys HS Volleyball Association faced were:
- Available Facilities
- Get Creative – think outside the box – share court/gym space
- Use one facility as the central hub until more established
- Scheduling
- Require equal number of JV and Varsity teams
- Have options/scenarios if teams need to forfeit
- School Administration Opposition
- Added pressures on presumed workload
- Decreased participation in other sports
- Title IV Effect
- Misconception that a boys sport cannot happen
- Not an issue at the state level
“It’s important to remember that the female and male versions of our sport help each other immensely. There are very few sports that can say that. Without question, having a boys volleyball team will help your girls team and vice versa.” ~HUGH MCCUTCHEON, Former University of Minnesota Women’s Head Volleyball Coach. Former USA/Olympic Men’s & Women’s Volleyball Coach
If you are interested in starting a Boys Team/Program at your School here is a Checklist.
- Find a Team Director/Coach
- Talk to Your Athletic Director
- Become a School Recognized Club –
- Identify an Entity to “Host” the Club
- Determine Individual Team Cost & Player Dues
- Host Info Mtg, Open Gym Dates & Recruit 8-10 Boys (minimum)
- Attend/Host a League Info Night
- Register with the HS Association (League) and JVA (Insurance)
- Find Gym Space, Set Practices, and Order Jerseys
More specific information on starting a program can be found HERE.
Data sheet on MN Boys Volleyball and the growth of boys volleyball
Questions are welcome, so please do not hesitate to reach out to Jenny, Krista or the JVA staff for guidance and advice. It is an exciting time for boys volleyball and we look forward to growing the game together, one step at a time. Click HERE to visit the MN High School Volleyball Association website.
Follow the MN Boys High School Volleyball Association on FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram @MnBoysHSVB. For more information visit the website www.mnboyshighschoolvolleyball.com
About the Directors
Jenny Kilkelly is the co-director of MN Boys HS Volleyball Association. Jenny’s diverse volleyball & business experiences havebeen essential to launching the MinnesotaBoysHigh School Volleyball Association. Jenny has experience coaching her children on various junior high and club teams. She served as an association board member for multiple sports. She held presidency for the high school volleyball booster club and managed operations for Shakopee High Schools inaugural boys high school volleyball season. Jenny attended school and played volleyball for Lakeville High School and the University of St. Thomas. While attending college, she also received and maintained her Real Estate License. After receiving her BA in Business Communications she was a General Manager for one of the larger volume GAP stores in the Minneapolis area for over 12 years.
Krista Flemming is the Co-Director of the MN Boys HS Volleyball Association. Krista has been an assistant varsity volleyball coach at Shakopee HighSchool the past 13 years. This tenure included numerous section final playoffs and 4 state tournament appearances resulting in 3 state titles and a 4th place finish. She’s also coached girls and boys juniors teams, was a local metro volleyball official, and assisted with managing/coaching the inaugural season for Shakopee’s boys high school volleyball club. Krista played volleyball at St. Cloud State University where she was an All-NCC Conference/All-Region player appearing in the 1996 NCAA Division II Elite 8. She has a BA in Urban Studies and her work history includes City Planning, Director of Development for a local home builder, and VP of Operations for a national community developer.
