A Nationally Growing Sport

If you asked the average person to name the fastest growing sport in the United States, you’d likely hear answers such as baseball, soccer, or wrestling. Even if volleyball were included as one of four multiple-choice options, it probably still wouldn’t receive the majority of votes. Yet according to the NFHS, boys’ volleyball is the fastest-growing sport in the country, posting nearly 12% growth during the 2024-25 season and an estimated 51% increase over the past six years. Participation has surged by nearly 100,000 athletes, and nine states, including nearby Missouri and Colorado, have added boys' volleyball as a sanctioned varsity sport.

Once considered a sport primarily played in coastal states, six of the nine states adding boys' volleyball are located in the heart of the country. If the trend continues, Kansas and Nebraska may not be far behind. For a state that proudly calls itself the "volleyball capital of the world," it's no surprise that interest on the boys' side is rising in Nebraska. One local high school, Johnson County Central, is embracing that momentum. The Thunderbirds are currently competing in their first season under the school's name and logo.

Building a Program from the Ground Up

Because boys' volleyball is not yet an NSAA-sanctioned sport, all games, tournaments, and expenses must be privately funded. Like many emerging club programs, JCC had to figure out how to launch the team from scratch.

Coach Cody Franklin shared how the process began. He explained, "honestly it hasn't been too bad. The boys all really wanted to start it and have been great! The biggest challenges to start were getting money to pay for jerseys, tournament fees, etc. Since it's not an NSAA sanctioned sport yet, our school does not provide any funds, so we relied heavily on donations and fundraisers."

As is often the case when a program benefits local youth, the community stepped up. Franklin added, "we live in a great community and were able to get enough money for all of that. Our school has also been great with letting us use the gym and host games without any cost."

With funding secured, the next challenges were learning the game and building a competitive schedule. Each presented its own hurdles.

Learning the Game: Faster, Higher, and More Complex

"The biggest thing for the boys was learning the game," Franklin said. It's a sentiment that isn't surprising. In addition to coaching the boys, Franklin also assists with the JCC girls' volleyball program, which finished the 2025 season with a remarkable 31–1 record, one of the best in school history.

That success created a bit of a misconception for the new boys' team. As Franklin put it, "Our girls make it look so easy, so they (the boys) think it will also be easy. They were shocked at how fast the game moved and how lost they could get in the middle of the play and transitioning."

Anyone who has watched men's volleyball, from college to the Olympics, knows there are certainly differences in how the game is played. While the rules and flow mirror the women's game, the men's version is typically faster, more power-driven, and played higher above the net. Franklin noted, "the net is seven inches higher and we play with a Molten Flistatec Volleyball which is a spiral volleyball that has a different feel."

Despite the learning curve, the Thunderbirds are holding their own. Competing in a league made up entirely of Class A schools, JCC has battled to nearly a .500 record. Franklin shared that the team has taken sets off almost every opponent so far. Though most of their nine matches have been on the road, the T-Birds have hosted two home contests, including a win over Omaha Westside this past Wednesday.

Looking Ahead: A Sport on the Rise

There's no debate anymore: boys' volleyball is gaining momentum across the country. Missouri has already sanctioned the sport, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Nebraska or Kansas follow in the coming years. Franklin noted that participation numbers in Nebraska doubled in the past year, and he pointed to Colorado and Missouri as examples of states already embracing the sport at the varsity level.

As for the future, Franklin and the JCC program aren't trying to predict what the NSAA will do. They’re focused on the opportunity in front of them. "I did not have this opportunity growing up and would have loved to," Franklin said. "At the end of the day we are always just trying to grow the sport and give boys the opportunity to play."

It’s an opportunity that many boys in rural communities have never had. Thanks to Coach Franklin and the T-Birds, that reality is beginning to change. Being the first rural program in the area to field a boys' volleyball team hasn’t been easy, but one thing seems certain: they likely won’t be the last.