The Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) in collaboration with the world body, Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) spiked off their five-day Beach Volleyball grassroots course at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports ground, Carifesta Avenue, yesterday.
The clinic, which is also in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), is facilitated by FIVB Instructor, Mauro Hernandez of Venezuela along with two of his assistants who aim to teach the fundamentals of beach volleyball by developing the sport in schools, communities and outdoors (beach).
Members of the GVF and NSC were present at yesterday’s opening session, while Director of Sports, Neil Kumar, in an invited comment, said that the NSC was pleased to be a part of this venture.
“We are happy to have the team from Venezuela here in Guyana to work with the local guys; we appreciate volleyball as a sport and intend to spread it to all parts of the country,” Kumar noted.
Kumar stressed that hard work without discipline was nothing as discipline was the key to success and pointed out that one must find that self discipline in order to progress.
He hinted that plans are in motion to have the sport marketed at local resorts across the country that boast a beach front or have ideal surroundings to facilitate the sport so persons visiting resorts will have the opportunity to be involved in the outdoor version of the sport.
Expressing his happiness along with goals of the clinic, FIVB coach Hernandez, via his interpreter, highlighted his aim of pushing beach volleyball in Guyana and made mention of his country Venezuela, which he said took a lot of support and hard work from persons back home to have the sport evolve the way it has. Hernandez, who has been involved in the sport for approximately a decade or so, said via his interpreter.. “The clinic is very important for the development of the sport in Guyana. It is also important to encourage the sport in undeveloped countries.”
He mentioned countries like Brazil, which is regarded as a fully developed country when it comes to sports, saying that…“their beaches are so huge they can have 40 games of volleyball playing at the same time.”
Volleyball players from clubs around the country are expected to take part today when the full course which is three hours theory and three hours practical begins.
GVF President Lenox Shuffler, echoed Kumar’s cry about passion and discipline towards one’s self and the sport by stating….”Passion is the key to success. Time, dedication, finance are all required for the development, but one must practice passion and discipline first.
“This version of the game is much simpler and fun, contested on a two-on-two basis, it can be regarded as the T20 (cricket 20/20) format of volleyball,” Shuffler added.
The practical and theoretical aspects of the course will begin today as members of the GVF were applying the final touches to the outdoor court yesterday.
