MCPS is choosing to eliminate coed volleyball for the 2027 spring season and replace it with a JV boys volleyball. In January, the athletic directors in the county voted unanimously to remove the program for a variety of reasons, most of which don’t make much sense. One stated reason is that there is currently an unfair advantage for girls who play a “double season.” There is also a claim that coed volleyball creates an imbalance of competitiveness for the boys volleyball teams, which is an unconvincing argument when you consider the competitive imbalances across the board for all sports in MCPS. During the spring season, coed volleyball at Sherwood shines, and MCPS shouldn’t get rid of successful teams and a sport that has built a good amount of traction.

Coed volleyball is very different from boys volleyball. It involves different rotations, strategies, and different skill sets for the girls on the team. As for the boys volleyball teams, some schools are going to be more competitive than others regardless of whether there is coed volleyball or not. Instead of cutting the coed volleyball completely, schools should work to balance out funding to make room for more sports, especially ones that allow for greater participation by female athletes.