When my son approached his school with enthusiasm and passion to try out for the volleyball team, his hopes were shattered when he was told that volleyball is offered exclusively as a girls’ sport. This experience not only discouraged him but also highlighted an important issue of unequal athletic opportunities for boys in our school system.

In Lake County, Florida, school volleyball is currently offered as a girls’ sport, leaving boys without the opportunity to participate in an organized school volleyball program. Boys should have the same opportunity to participate in sports they enjoy and are passionate about.

Volleyball is a sport that develops teamwork, communication, strategic thinking, discipline, and physical fitness. This is not just about my son—it is about every boy in Lake County who dreams of playing volleyball but currently has no school team to join.

Our schools should provide meaningful athletic opportunities for students of both genders. If girls have the opportunity to participate in school volleyball, boys should also have the opportunity to compete in their own volleyball program.

Therefore, I am calling on the Lake County School Board to make the necessary changes to provide boys with a school volleyball program.

At the middle school level, I would like to see boys given the opportunity to participate in volleyball through a program that allows them to compete alongside other boys, whether through a boys’ team or an appropriate co-ed format.

At the high school level, I am specifically requesting the creation of separate boys’ volleyball teams, giving male students the opportunity to compete as their own school team, just as girls have their own volleyball teams.

This request is not about taking opportunities away from girls. It is about creating opportunities for boys as well. Every student should have the chance to participate in the sport they love and represent their school.

By signing this petition, you are supporting boys in Lake County who deserve the opportunity to play volleyball through their schools. Together, we can encourage the Lake County School Board to expand its athletic programs and create a more equitable environment where students can pursue the sports they are passionate about.

Please sign this petition and share it with other parents, students, coaches, and community members who believe boys should have the opportunity to play school volleyball.

This petition applies to school volleyball programs only, not private volleyball clubs.