A conversation with pro player, Julia Scoles…
By FP contributor, Savannah McGowan.
On a bright Monday morning in California, our west coast team traveled to El Segundo Beach and hit the sand for a lesson in the basics of beach volleyball led by our very own FP Movement ambassador and professional beach volleyball player, Julia Scoles.
I had the opportunity to speak with Julia and learn more about her and her (amazing!) volleyball career, her goals for the future, and the FP Movement pieces she loves to wear while working out.
Savannah: How did you start playing beach volleyball? What drew you to the sport or made you want to play? Were you involved in any other sports previously?
Julia: I started playing beach volleyball in college. I originally played indoor volleyball for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill but then I sustained several concussions. Beach volleyball was a safer alternative that allowed me to continue my collegiate athletics career. So, I transferred to a school with a beach program and the rest is history.
S: What would you say is your favorite part about beach volleyball?
J: My favorite part about beach volleyball is how it brings people together and the relationships I have because of it.
S: Other than playing beach volleyball, what are your favorite ways to stay active?
J: Looking after your body off the court is the most important thing you can do to be able to perform on the court. I stay active and care for my body by strength training, doing Pilates, stretching, and cycling. I also love to hike as an active form of recovery.
S: How do you stay mentally sharp while managing the pressures of competition? Do you have a wellness routine that you stick to?
J: The mental side of beach volleyball is one of the most important components of the game. This is an ongoing process and I am always striving for growth in this area. I work with a sport psych, journal, and do visualizations/breathing exercises. What helps me handle the pressures of competition most is knowing that in the grand scheme of life volleyball is pretty insignificant and the fact that I’m even out on the court with a healthy body that’s able to compete is a total blessing.
S: What are a few of your favorite volleyball moves/training moves that you think everyone should incorporate into their workout, even if they don’t play?
J: I think everyone should do sprints on the sand. The uneven surface works on your stability, strengthens smaller muscle groups that aren’t normally used, and increases your endurance. You can sprint the length of the volleyball court, take 15 seconds recovery in between, and repeat 10 to 20 times.
S: What are a few of your favorite FP Movement pieces to workout in?
J: I love to workout in the Good Karma Leggings and sports bras.
S: What is your proudest moment?
J: By the grace of God, my proudest moment was winning the Atlanta Gold Series AVP exactly 5 years after sustaining my last concussion. I thought it would end my athletics career and affect my health for the rest of my life.
S: What is a goal that you have for yourself and your professional beach volleyball career?
J: A goal I have for myself is to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal. But the even bigger goal is wrapped in the journey of that pursuit— I want to inspire future generations and have a positive impact on the lives of everyone around me.
S:Lastly, do you have any advice for people who might think it’s “too late” to start playing a sport?
J: It’s never too late to try something new and if it’s challenging then that means you’re putting yourself in a position where you can grow and that is a victory in and of itself. Growth comes from discomfort, so get comfortable with being uncomfortable!!
On a bright Monday morning in California, our west coast team traveled to El Segundo Beach and hit the sand for a lesson in the basics of beach volleyball led by our very own FP Movement ambassador and professional beach volleyball player, Julia Scoles.
I had the opportunity to speak with Julia and learn more about her and her (amazing!) volleyball career, her goals for the future, and the FP Movement pieces she loves to wear while working out.
Savannah: How did you start playing beach volleyball? What drew you to the sport or made you want to play? Were you involved in any other sports previously?
Julia: I started playing beach volleyball in college. I originally played indoor volleyball for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill but then I sustained several concussions. Beach volleyball was a safer alternative that allowed me to continue my collegiate athletics career. So, I transferred to a school with a beach program and the rest is history.
S: What would you say is your favorite part about beach volleyball?
J: My favorite part about beach volleyball is how it brings people together and the relationships I have because of it.
S: Other than playing beach volleyball, what are your favorite ways to stay active?
J: Looking after your body off the court is the most important thing you can do to be able to perform on the court. I stay active and care for my body by strength training, doing Pilates, stretching, and cycling. I also love to hike as an active form of recovery.
S: How do you stay mentally sharp while managing the pressures of competition? Do you have a wellness routine that you stick to?
J: The mental side of beach volleyball is one of the most important components of the game. This is an ongoing process and I am always striving for growth in this area. I work with a sport psych, journal, and do visualizations/breathing exercises. What helps me handle the pressures of competition most is knowing that in the grand scheme of life volleyball is pretty insignificant and the fact that I’m even out on the court with a healthy body that’s able to compete is a total blessing.
S: What are a few of your favorite volleyball moves/training moves that you think everyone should incorporate into their workout, even if they don’t play?
J: I think everyone should do sprints on the sand. The uneven surface works on your stability, strengthens smaller muscle groups that aren’t normally used, and increases your endurance. You can sprint the length of the volleyball court, take 15 seconds recovery in between, and repeat 10 to 20 times.
S: What are a few of your favorite FP Movement pieces to workout in?
J: I love to workout in the Good Karma Leggings and sports bras.
S: What is your proudest moment?
J: By the grace of God, my proudest moment was winning the Atlanta Gold Series AVP exactly 5 years after sustaining my last concussion. I thought it would end my athletics career and affect my health for the rest of my life.
S: What is a goal that you have for yourself and your professional beach volleyball career?
J: A goal I have for myself is to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal. But the even bigger goal is wrapped in the journey of that pursuit— I want to inspire future generations and have a positive impact on the lives of everyone around me.
S:Lastly, do you have any advice for people who might think it’s “too late” to start playing a sport?
J: It’s never too late to try something new and if it’s challenging then that means you’re putting yourself in a position where you can grow and that is a victory in and of itself. Growth comes from discomfort, so get comfortable with being uncomfortable!!
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