Beyond the Court: Maddy Ball's Journey to Team USA
07/18/2023
Maddy Ball coached the South Florida Volleyball Club U15 White team at the 50th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships before heading to the Netherlands to compete
By Kelsey Burr
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 18, 2023) -- Maddy Ball never thought she’d play volleyball -- let alone become a player representing her country on the international stage.
“I was born without my right arm below the elbow, so my parents always put me in soccer, sports that didn’t really involve your arms,” Ball said.
But as she entered middle school, her friends started playing volleyball.
“I started peppering with them, but I was using my feet while they were using their hands. And I fell in love with it,” Ball said.
She went to sleepaway camp that summer, where she learned to play the game on beach volleyball courts, and her new path was solidified.
“I came home and was like, ‘mom, dad, I’m quitting soccer. This is my new thing’,” Ball recalled. “I think I really liked defying the odds and doing something that not everyone thought I’d be capable of.”
She loved the different disciplines of the sport, playing both beach and indoor. Then, she learned about sitting volleyball. While at a club tournament during her high school years, she was approached by a representative who noticed her prosthetic and told her that the U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team was coming to Orlando for a tournament, if she’d like to meet them.
“I met the team, and I got called up to the developmental program. I was there for about a year and then I found out I made the national team, which was actually one of the best days ever and I’m still shocked about it,” Ball said. “Just meeting people just like me because, I’m only 22, but even when I was born social media wasn’t a big thing. So if I didn’t know anyone personally, I didn’t know any other amputees at all.”
There are a few key differences between sitting and standing volleyball. Athletes play in a seated position and they have to maintain that contact with the court at all times when handling the ball. Standing, rising, or taking steps is not allowed. The net is about three fight high and the court is smaller at 10x6 meters.
“It’s one of the fastest sports I’ve ever seen. We’re hitting the balls just as hard, just from a much shorter distance. It’s an incredible sport,” Ball said.
Sitting volleyball has been part of the Paralympic Games since 1980, and the Women’s Sitting National Team will be competing in Paris 2024. But Maddy actually opted out of the 2024 Games to pursue a different dream. She’s moving to Chicago to attend Northwestern and study prosthetics and orthotics.
“It was a really hard decision but I want to make the biggest difference that I can for people like me. I personally think the best way that I can do that is by making prosthetics and making braces or whatever it is to help athletes,” Ball said. “I’ve had the same prosthetic for everything, and recently I got one for lifting in the gym; I’m learning about different attachments for volleyball; these are opportunities I never had growing up because I just didn’t know about them.”
She’ll continue to train with the team once a month and went to the Netherlands in late June to compete.
“Hopefully LA 2028 I’m coming back for that, but right now my goal is to graduate grad school,” Ball said.
Before heading to school, Maddy spent her summer coaching the South Florida Volleyball Club U15 White team at the 50th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships alongside Lindsey Adams, the club director and owner.
“She’s really, really great with the girls. I think the girls look up to her a lot. They love hearing about her story and I think it gives them motivation,” Adams said. “Her demeanor, the way she speaks to the girls, the way she coaches. She’s very good at explaining things, she’s very positive. She’s a great impact for our program.”
Maddy and her team finished the tournament with a 6-6 record and plenty of memories.
.jpg)
“Lindsey was my coach in high school and completely changed my life -- I just want to give back to my athletes what all my coaches have given to me. I have close relationships with all of my coaches I’ve had, which is really cool, so I just want to be that person for them,” Ball said.
As for if she ever thought she’d one day be in this position, playing for Team USA, coaching youth volleyball athletes, and getting her master’s to help others like her, the answer was an emphatic ‘no’.
“I played almost every sport growing up except for volleyball. I just never thought it would be possible,” Ball said. “I was never naïve growing up, or even now. I always knew maybe I want to be a professional athlete but what are the chances that happens? So no, I did not see this happening. Did not expect to be here right now, but I’m so happy that I am.”
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 18, 2023) -- Maddy Ball never thought she’d play volleyball -- let alone become a player representing her country on the international stage.
“I was born without my right arm below the elbow, so my parents always put me in soccer, sports that didn’t really involve your arms,” Ball said.
But as she entered middle school, her friends started playing volleyball.
“I started peppering with them, but I was using my feet while they were using their hands. And I fell in love with it,” Ball said.
She went to sleepaway camp that summer, where she learned to play the game on beach volleyball courts, and her new path was solidified.
“I came home and was like, ‘mom, dad, I’m quitting soccer. This is my new thing’,” Ball recalled. “I think I really liked defying the odds and doing something that not everyone thought I’d be capable of.”
She loved the different disciplines of the sport, playing both beach and indoor. Then, she learned about sitting volleyball. While at a club tournament during her high school years, she was approached by a representative who noticed her prosthetic and told her that the U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team was coming to Orlando for a tournament, if she’d like to meet them.
“I met the team, and I got called up to the developmental program. I was there for about a year and then I found out I made the national team, which was actually one of the best days ever and I’m still shocked about it,” Ball said. “Just meeting people just like me because, I’m only 22, but even when I was born social media wasn’t a big thing. So if I didn’t know anyone personally, I didn’t know any other amputees at all.”
There are a few key differences between sitting and standing volleyball. Athletes play in a seated position and they have to maintain that contact with the court at all times when handling the ball. Standing, rising, or taking steps is not allowed. The net is about three fight high and the court is smaller at 10x6 meters.
“It’s one of the fastest sports I’ve ever seen. We’re hitting the balls just as hard, just from a much shorter distance. It’s an incredible sport,” Ball said.
Sitting volleyball has been part of the Paralympic Games since 1980, and the Women’s Sitting National Team will be competing in Paris 2024. But Maddy actually opted out of the 2024 Games to pursue a different dream. She’s moving to Chicago to attend Northwestern and study prosthetics and orthotics.
“It was a really hard decision but I want to make the biggest difference that I can for people like me. I personally think the best way that I can do that is by making prosthetics and making braces or whatever it is to help athletes,” Ball said. “I’ve had the same prosthetic for everything, and recently I got one for lifting in the gym; I’m learning about different attachments for volleyball; these are opportunities I never had growing up because I just didn’t know about them.”
She’ll continue to train with the team once a month and went to the Netherlands in late June to compete.
“Hopefully LA 2028 I’m coming back for that, but right now my goal is to graduate grad school,” Ball said.
Before heading to school, Maddy spent her summer coaching the South Florida Volleyball Club U15 White team at the 50th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships alongside Lindsey Adams, the club director and owner.
“She’s really, really great with the girls. I think the girls look up to her a lot. They love hearing about her story and I think it gives them motivation,” Adams said. “Her demeanor, the way she speaks to the girls, the way she coaches. She’s very good at explaining things, she’s very positive. She’s a great impact for our program.”
Maddy and her team finished the tournament with a 6-6 record and plenty of memories.
“Lindsey was my coach in high school and completely changed my life -- I just want to give back to my athletes what all my coaches have given to me. I have close relationships with all of my coaches I’ve had, which is really cool, so I just want to be that person for them,” Ball said.
As for if she ever thought she’d one day be in this position, playing for Team USA, coaching youth volleyball athletes, and getting her master’s to help others like her, the answer was an emphatic ‘no’.
“I played almost every sport growing up except for volleyball. I just never thought it would be possible,” Ball said. “I was never naïve growing up, or even now. I always knew maybe I want to be a professional athlete but what are the chances that happens? So no, I did not see this happening. Did not expect to be here right now, but I’m so happy that I am.”
Email
Print
