Walking towards the gym, it is obvious that something special is going on behind closed doors. The music is pumping and cheers of support can be heard. Walking into the gym, it is like another world. Phrases like "Nice Up" and Yea, yea, yea, mine" are the language of choice. Players rotate through the drills like a well-oiled machine. Laughter arises during a hitting drill when the coach tries to "stuff" the attack and she nails it past him. But mostly, these girls are serious. They are there to play. And they are there to learn.
Club volleyball has been well underway for months within the community of Carlyle, with practicing starting as early as December for the teams. The dedication and drive of both the players and the coaches is obvious. This month, all of that hard work will come to a head with all four club volleyball teams attending Provincials. Teams will travel as far away as Lloydminster and as close as Saskatoon to test their skills against the best teams in Saskatchewan.
Carlyle is home to not one, but two volleyball clubs. Carlyle Fusions and the Stingers together, have more than 50 players. With players driving from as far away as Midale and Estevan, it is clear that Carlyle is well-known for its volleyball and programming.
The first team to head off to Provincials was the Stingers 14U team, coached by head coach Shelly Schutz. The team played in Tier 3 Provincials in Saskatoon on April 9 and 10, obtaining a silver place finish during the tournament.
The 18U Stingers team followed on April 16 and 17 in Saskatoon, coached by Mickey Adams. The team achieved a bronze place finish in Tier 3 of Provincials. Mickey stated that the teams try to attend six to eight tournaments a year in preparation for provincials. "We want them to be competitive. We always train and compete to win, but that's not the primary purpose. The purpose is to be competitive. If we can finish at Provincials better than where we were at at the start, that is a success. Anytime we give kids an opportunity to compete at a high level, it is all good. With any sport or athletic endeavour, it is a win-win for the community, for the kids, for the parents and so forth. We try to tell people that we teach more than volleyball, we teach life and life skills through the sport of volleyball."
Carlyle Fusions 15U team will travel as far as Lloydminster to test their skills against the best teams in Saskatchewan on April 30 and 31. Coach Bryce Birch is pleased with the progress of the team so far. "Our goal for the season has been to get progressively better at each tournament that we participate in, and so far, we have done just that." Birch believes that these club organizations are important for the players. "It gives the kids an opportunity to continue playing a sport throughout the year that they really love and enjoy. Plus, it gives them an opportunity to continue to develop and learn from new coaches. Anytime, an athlete can play for a different coach, they are going to learn something new that that coach has to offer."
The Stingers 16U team has a busy schedule leading up until Provincials with their schedule including a number of tournaments yet to be attended. Coached by Bertha Isliefson, the team will be in Saskatoon on the weekend of April 30 to display their talent.
