Science of Volleyball

Submit Your Science Of Volleyball Entry Now! (applications can be made at the bottom of this page)

As Minnesota prepares to host the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship (December 13-25), kids across the Midwest can channel their excitement into “The Science of Volleyball,” which is a fun and unique educational opportunity designed to showcase the basics of science involved in the sport of volleyball.

To participate, students (kindergarten through eighth grade) are invited to submit a 90- to 120-second video explaining one aspect of “The Science of Volleyball.” Videos should demonstrate an understanding of a scientific aspect (physics, kinesiology, physiology, etc.) and relate it to the game of volleyball. For example, a video may explain momentum and relate it to a spike, gravity’s effect on a volleyball, or musculature used for jumping.

Submissions can be from individuals, classes, or organizational groups (science clubs, scout organizations, etc.). This initiative, developed in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota, NCAA, Molten, and local organizing committee for the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship is designed to emphasize the importance of science in sports.

How to Enter: All video entries must be public, closed-captioned, and posted on YouTube. Links to those videos should then be submitted via the competition portal below by November 30, 2018.

Criterion: Videos will be evaluated based on scientific research, creativity and communication.

Winner Selection: Entries will be organized into three age groups: kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade and sixth through eighth grade and by individual or group for a total of six categories. A panel of judges will determine the one finalist selected from each category for six video finalists. From the group of finalists, the top two video entries overall will be named the winners.

Prizes:

Finalists:

Finalists will receive complimentary passes to the Science Museum of Minnesota. Finalists in the individual category will receive four passes per participant. Finalists in the group category will receive one pass per participant.
Four finalists will receive a $100 gift card for classroom or organization supplies.

Winners:

In addition to the prizes awarded to the finalists, the top two winning videos will be posted on the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship website social media accounts.
Each participant of the winning video will receive a Volleyball Prize Pack, courtesy of Molten.
Each winning entry will be awarded a $150 gift card for classroom or organization supplies.

For any questions, contact Stephanie Davis (daviss@umn.edu).

Science of Sports - Hockey Edition Judges
	Laurie Fink Vice President of Science Science Museum of Minnesota As Vice President of Science, Laurie Fink brings her scientific training, museum experience, and passion for making science accessible and relevant to her work. Fink leads the museum’s nationally recognized research and collections staff, as well as its museum-wide initiative about water that includes both research and outreach to the public.
	Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, PhD Associate Director of the School, Interim Director of Graduate Studies Director, Graduate Studies Professor, Sport and Exercise Psychology Dr. Diane Wiese-Bjornstal's interests are in sport and exercise psychology, an area of study that examines the thoughts, feelings, and actions of participants and professionals within physical activity contexts such as competitive sports, sports medicine and rehabilitation, exercise, and physical education. One specific area she studies is sports medicine psychology, which looks at how athletes and other physically active persons psychologically respond to and recover from sport injuries. Another area of interest is youth sport science, which involves many sport sciences such as motor development, biomechanics, and sport pedagogy (teaching). In youth sport science, she focuses on how psychological, social, and physical factors affect the performance, health, and well-being of children, youth, and adolescents in competitive sports. Some of her research studies across these areas have looked at sport-related concussions, anterior cruciate ligament (knee) injuries, injuries to female athletes, and developing physically active girls. She is a professor of kinesiology at the University of Minnesota, and has been a K-12 physical education teacher as well as a volleyball and softball coach at youth and collegiate levels.
	Alyssa Schultz Sport Sales Account Executive Sports Minneapolis powered by Meet Minneapolis Alyssa Shultz is the sport sales account executive at Sports Minneapolis, working both the small and medium sports markets. Alyssa recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2018 with a degree in Sport Management. Prior to her work at Sports Minneapolis, Alyssa was working for the United States Olympic Committee, Sport Business Development Department in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During her time with the USOC, Alyssa helped to plan and organize events and partnership events for clients. Alyssa also did game day operations for the La Crosse NAHL and NA3HL teams and interned for Meet Minneapolis in 2017.

Entry Form

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