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Although the school volleyball season is winding down, the club volleyball season is just getting started. Organizers with Swift Current Club Volleyball are beginning to plan for the 2012 club volleyball season which runs from January – early May.

The club volleyball program offers 13-18 year olds the chance to be involved with the sport of volleyball through a variety of weekly practices and tournament settings. Players are placed into age categories based on their year of birth versus their school grade, so that they are playing with/against individuals of the same age. Depending on the number of players available, organizers are hoping to have teams in a minimum of the 14 and under, 16 and under, and 18 and under age categories in both male and female divisions.


Teams in the Swift Current club volleyball program are named the Jr. SunDogs due to the tremendous support and sponsorship of the Great Plains College athletic program. Great Plains has been involved in the program as a means to support the development of young volleyball players.


“We are very excited as we look forward to another year of club volleyball for our teenagers who enjoy the sport,” said Morgan Halyk, one of the coordinators of the Club. “Although the female division has seen participants in all age categories over the past number of years, we want to get the male divisions running again this year.”


Halyk added that the benefits of club volleyball extend to not only the players but also to the school volleyball programs across the city and southwest Saskatchewan. “Volleyball is a very active sport which promotes physical activity that all of us require. However, winter club volleyball also provides additional chances for players to further develop their skills and knowledge of the game, which is a huge benefit for the players and their school teams when they begin each fall season.”


Players will be instructed by qualified coaches who have personally been involved in volleyball as a player and a coach for many years. A Level 1 National Coaches Certification Program (NCCP) coach’s clinic is planned for December 2-3 in Swift Current to provide the opportunity for interested coaches to become NCCP certified. Organizers are recruiting interested coaches for the upcoming season, and an application must be completed prior to November 25th by anyone interested.


A Level 1 Theory coach’s course will also be offered in early January – interested coaches are asked to watch for further details regarding this opportunity.


Interested players are encouraged to attend a series of tryouts at Swift Current’s Irwin School in early December where organizers will be able to determine how many players there are to fill the various age categories. The female tryouts will occur on December 4th and 11th, and the male tryouts will occur on December 18th. Players born in 1999 and 1998 can attend from 1-3 pm, those born in 1997 and 1996 can attend from 3-5 pm, and those born in 1995 and 1994 can attend from 5-7 pm.


Parents and players looking for more information on the tryouts or club volleyball in general, or other community members interested in coaching opportunities can contact the organizers at jsdvolleyball@hotmail.com or by calling (306) 774-9190.