VOLLEYBALL in the island has become ’static’ but plans are in place to get it moving. So says Richard Skipper, the sport’s new development officer. He was the chairman of the Guernsey Volleyball Association until he stepped down last year to concentrate on the new role.
He does not think that volleyball is in a crisis but he has come up with a number of ideas and schemes, including a new development league, to help kick-start it.
‘We’ve recognised that we’re not really growing as a sport,’ he said.
‘It’s static. It’s not blossoming as a sport and to provide an avenue to turn it all around, I wrote a strategy plan to raise the profile.
‘It just needs a bit of a kick as there is so much competition with different sports. For the last 10 years we’ve not seized on the opportunities that we’ve had.’
The main feature of the plan is the creation of a development league. Starting in September and continuing throughout the winter at Beau Sejour, the competition will take place on a Monday night.
Skipper hopes that 10 mixed teams will take part, mainly made up of players from the social league.
It seems that it will follow a similar sort of format to the basketball development league that has been very successful.
Also open sessions are going on throughout the summer.
The volleyball nets will first go up on Wednesday at 6pm at Cambridge Park. Skipper said that anybody can turn up and have a go.
That will be followed by a number of other sessions next month including one at the Rocquaine Regatta on Saturday 4, back at Cambridge Park on Friday 10 and at Port Soif on Wednesday 15.
The NRG beach tournament is again taking place this year at Grandes Rocques over the weekend of 1-2 September.
Coaching courses have also been organised when the new season kicks off.
Sixteen people are taking their level one or two qualification and some are sitting their officiating qualification.
Skipper also stated that the junior development officer, Pete Walden, would continue with the good work that he has been doing.
The junior club on a Friday afternoon from 5 to 6 at Beau Sejour has been hugely popular and it is carrying on again this winter.
From September, an after-school club is also going to be run at St Sampson’s.
Skipper said volleyball was at a disadvantage because it was not one of the main sports in schools.
‘It’s not like football,’ he said.
‘We don’t have the same avenue in, so we have to look at other ways.’
For more information, contact Skipper on 07781 441289.
Article posted on 21st July, 2007 - 12.00am
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