In general, children love physical activity and different types of sports. Girls can play any sport they desire—the sky is the limit. Parents can introduce their daughters to various sports so they can choose which sport to enjoy.
Between volleyball and tennis, teen girls should choose the sport they like the most and play both sports if they choose. Some girls enjoy team sports like volleyball more, and some enjoy individual sports like tennis. The most important thing is having fun, being active, and making new friends.
Learning new skills in a healthy environment among their peers benefits the teen’s mental and physical development. So, let’s dive in and learn about the differences between volleyball and tennis.
What Is the Best Sport for a Teen Girl to Play?
The best sports for a teen girl depend on her personality, interests, and talents. Teen girls can play any sport they want to as long as they are healthy. There are no restrictions or limits for girls when it comes to sports. Both tennis and volleyball are popular sports for teen girls to play.
In the last few years, female participation in sports has been thriving and growing. Female athletes like Serena Williams, Danica Patrick, Valentina Shevchenko, Misty May, and Kerri Walsh are some of the best athletes ever. They opened the door for a new generation of girls and women in sports.
So, what is the best sport for a teen daughter to play? Well, it depends on her goals and personality. Most importantly, she should be truly interested in the sport. Another thing good to know is that playing sports relieves stress in children.
Check out our lists below for some of the best sports for teen girls.
Best individual sports for teen girls
- Tennis
- Gymnastics
- Swimming
- Contemporary dance
- Figure skating
- Skiing
- Martial arts
- Cycling
- Badminton
- Table tennis
- Archery
- Ballet
Best team sports for teen girls
- Volleyball
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Softball
- Lacrosse
- Hockey
- Handball
Best sports for a teen girl to get a scholarship at college
- Volleyball
- Swimming
- Basketball
- Softball
- Tennis
- Gymnastics
- Track and field
- Golf
Best sports for teen girls who like adrenaline and adventure
- Skateboarding
- Snowboarding
- BMX
- Surfing
- Rock climbing
- Mountain biking
What Sport Is Harder, Volleyball or Tennis?
Both volleyball and tennis are challenging sports. Volleyball requires team communication and strategies and is more explosive. Tennis is mentally demanding and requires endurance and precision.
This doesn’t mean volleyball is a walk in the park. Volleyball is also a demanding sport, but compared to tennis, it is a little easier. One of the main reasons is that volleyball is a team sport, and players have a whole team behind them.
In tennis, players are alone, and they play with a racket. Using a racket requires many technical skills, while volleyball allows more creativity.
Volleyball is a fast and explosive sport with a lot of jumping. In the summertime, volleyball is played on the beach, which makes it harder. Sunlight, heat, and sand are very distracting. Volleyball players have strong and flexible upper and lower parts of the body.
On the contrary, tennis focuses on hand-eye coordination, and it requires less explosiveness but more endurance. Tennis is a mental game that is much more complex and a game of perfect execution.
Is volleyball a hard sport for girls physically?
Every sport is demanding, especially if a child is new to the sport. Volleyball is a high-intensity sport, so it will probably be challenging for them at first. If a child is interested in the sport, they will not mind a little challenge.
Volleyball requires power, strength, agility, and flexibility so players can jump high and reach their full performance potential. This way, a teen girl will have excellent body fitness and a low injury risk.
Is volleyball a competitive sport for girls? Is it hard to make the team?
Volleyball is a competitive sport, and that is one of the reasons why girls like it. Another important thing to know is that volleyball is the most popular sport among girls to earn a scholarship at college. Making the high school team will depend on the team, local popularity, and skill.
Because of its competitive nature, volleyball teaches teen girls teamwork and team spirit. To win a volleyball game, players must learn to endure hard situations and play with control.
Is it hard to make the team? Well, the answer is yes and no. To make it on the team, the child must have basic skills, a positive attitude, respect the coach, be focused, work hard, and practice. If she is motivated and works hard, she can make it on the team!
Making the volleyball team at my high school in Arizona wasn’t impossible, but it was hard. Players had to be on the club team to have a chance at tryouts. I played recreational volleyball and was one of the better rec league players. Even though I played volleyball through middle school, I wasn’t nearly good enough of a player to make the high school team.
Is tennis a hard sport for girls physically?
Similar to volleyball, tennis is a demanding sport at the beginning, but after some time, it gets easier. Volleyball and tennis are the two most popular sports among girls and women. Girls do not mind if the sport is challenging as long as they enjoy it.
Nevertheless, tennis does require a lot of focus and training. Playing tennis will tone up the muscles and help maintain bone density and muscle strength. It will also aid in the development of motor skills and coordination.
Is tennis a competitive sport for teen girls? Is it hard to make the team?
Like volleyball, tennis is a competitive sport. Playing tennis doesn’t have to be competitive. But if they want to compete professionally or get a scholarship, then it is very competitive. Making the high school team will depend on the team, local popularity, and skill.
Unlike volleyball, tennis is expensive, so talk with your daughter first about what she wants from tennis. Then, go from there.
Is it hard to make the team? Again, the answer is yes and no. The girl will need to know basic tennis skills and be physically fit. Or, if she wants to play tennis for fun, go for it.
But, if she wants to compete professionally and get a college scholarship, she must train hard and have a good coach.
At my high school in Arizona, making the tennis team wasn’t impossible, but it was hard. The teams were fairly small, and most players played tennis year-round in clubs. From what I’ve heard from local teens today, it’s pretty similar here in Utah.
Should I Play Tennis or Volleyball? How Do I Pick One?
Try playing tennis and volleyball and then decide what the best choice is. There is no wrong or right answer here; it depends on personal preference.
Whether our daughters choose volleyball or tennis, they will have great psychological, physical, and social benefits. Girls are sensitive in their teenage years, and playing sports is a great way to develop confidence, healthy body image, new friendships, discipline, and new skills.
Let your daughter try both if she is interested in volleyball and tennis. After all, they are two completely different sports.
Tennis
Tennis is an individual sport, although it can be a team sport when played in doubles. But most times, it’s individual. The hardest part of tennis is learning to control the racket. A good coach can teach her to direct the tennis ball differently via her swing, the racket angle, and other factors.
Tennis is physically demanding, but it depends on your child’s preference. Playing a softer game with friends and having a few laughs is possible. However, there will be challenges if she wants to play tennis at a higher level.
She will develop flexibility, endurance, agility, hand-eye coordination, speed, and strength. Overall, children will develop excellent body fitness due to jumping and sprinting.
Another important thing to remember that is not mentioned enough is the tennis court’s surface. The most common surfaces are hard, grass, and clay courts.
Each surface has its challenge. Playing tennis on a hard surface can be hard on the knees. A grass court is more slippery, while a clay court is more bouncy.
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport. It is a fast-paced game that requires quick thinking and solutions. It relies on cooperation and teamwork. I would argue this is the most difficult part of the game.
Players have to be a part of the team and trust their teammates. They can be the best volleyball player in the world, but winning the game may not be possible if a player and teammates aren’t functioning as a unit.
As a beginner, your daughter will have challenges, such as learning the basic moves and rules of the game. After that, she will have to execute those skills efficiently to help her team to win.
As we said before, tennis is a bit harder game than volleyball, but this doesn’t mean volleyball is easy. It’s a physically demanding sport that requires speed, power, agility, and accuracy.
Can Teen Girls Play Both Tennis and Volleyball?
Teen girls can play both tennis and volleyball if they are in different seasons. This is true whether playing at school, club, or recreational levels.
Everything depends on the state we live in. In some high schools, tennis and volleyball are played in different seasons. Tennis was played in the spring at my high school, and volleyball was a fall sport. In this case, players are more than welcome to play two sports.
On the other hand, if tennis and volleyball are played in the same season, it can be complicated. We do encourage playing different sports but not in the same season. The emotional and physical burnout would be overwhelming for any teenager.
In high school, I did 2 sports in the fall (golf and swim team) for 3 consecutive years, followed by winter and spring sports, where I only did one sport each season. By my senior year, I was badly burned out and had to cut back to only a few sports total – and there were no more dual-sport seasons.
Recovery and rest are two important factors in athletic performance—overtraining is real. Also, consider the workload. She will be exhausted with two sports, school responsibilities, and healthy social life.
Players should try different sports. Let her play volleyball in the fall and tennis in the spring. There is a possibility she will like both sports. In that case even better, as long as the sports are played in different seasons.
Playing multiple sports will improve overall athletic performance. Also, your daughter will have three different experiences, which means other teammates, coaches, and skill sets.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
The advice we give parents is to let their daughters try both tennis and volleyball. Some children are naturally more inclined to team sports and some to individual. Either way, she will experience long-term benefits from sports, like making new friends, learning discipline, and a new set of skills.
Tennis and volleyball are indeed different sports, and both are challenging. Most children like a challenge, especially if they have a good coach and teammates. Perhaps your daughter is energetic and curious and wants to play both sports.
Let her play tennis and volleyball if they are in a different season, but safety is always first. Any kind of sport is beautiful because it teaches your daughter life skills, discipline, and team spirit.
And if your teenage girl wants to try out a new sport, that’s neither volleyball nor tennis? Let her. Consider martial arts for her, and read our article – What is the Best Martial Art for A Teenage Girl?
Resources
Learning from your own experiences is important, but learning from others is also smart. These are the sources used in this article and our research to be more informed as a family of sports nuts wannabes.
- Hadlich, G. (2021, March 15). Is Tennis A Hard Sport? (By A Former Pro). My Tennis HQ. https://mytennishq.com/is-tennis-a-hard-sport-by-a-former-pro/
- Harmer, C. (2022, September 30). Is Volleyball Hard to Learn? (With Tips to Learn it Fast). Volley Expert. https://volleyexpert.com/is-volleyball-hard-to-learn/
- Parker, S. (2017, August 17). Playing Multiple Sports but not During the Same Season. Coaching Youth Football Tips, Talk, Plays. https://coachparker.org/2017/08/17/playing-multiple-sports-but-not-during-same-season/
- White, A. (2019, June 14). What is kids’ sport really about? Tennis for Kids. https://tennisforkids.com.au/what-is-kids-sport-really-about/