GIRLS TRIAL
The UK School Games is probably the highlight of every young player’s volleyball season. So it was an exuberant but in some cases slightly anxious group of players who presented themselves for the UKSG first Scotland wide trial of the year on Saturday 22nd May.
The ethos of the training days is fun and development and only finally is it the competition for places at the UK School Games. So players were encouraged to relax, enjoy themselves and make the most of the day.
The venue was the excellent sports hall at Linlithgow Academy. 44 young female players all under 17 presented themselves for training and the start of the selection process. 28 girls had arrived to compete for places in the South and West of Scotland team and 16 with the North and East team. With some players missing due to other unavoidable commitments such as examination preparation the number of participants over the course of the three trial days look as if they will be well up on last year.
Clubs and schools were represented from all over Scotland. In the East group apart from the usual high representation from the excellent City of Edinburgh club players came from Aberdeen, Team Fife volleyball club, Carnoustie, Dundee volleyball club and Jets volleyball club. The West group had a very large group of players from Marr College, players from Troon volleyball club, Belmont Academy, South Ayrshire volleyball club, Carluke High School and Mearns Castle High School. It is expected at the next session that even more schools and clubs will be represented including players from as far afield as Orkney.
Under the instruction of the coaches and team managers for the two groups the players went about their tasks with unbridled enthusiasm, concentration and determination and a lot of skills. The day culminated in some team play in which some great volleyball took place.
The standard of player at the first session improves year on year and that augurs well for the challenge ahead but these sessions are not just for the elite in the Scottish game but for every youth player who is keen to know more about the game of volleyball and who want to rub shoulders and learn alongside the best of their peers and they are also a major developmental opportunity for players who are likely to be too young for this year’s team but who aspire to playing in the UK school games in the future.
The coaches and I’m sure the players are really looking forward to the next training session on the 12th June and ultimately the challenge of taking on the best in Britain.
A big thank you is due to Malcolm McLean who stood in as coach to the South and West group and other coaches and administrators Eilidh Anderson, Jen Krawczyk, Linda Anderson and Heather Darling who gave their time to such a successful day. The coaches in turn would like to commend the players for their attendance and efforts and to thank the school/club coaches and teachers who nominated their students and the parents and teachers who gave up their day on deliveries and collections.
THE NEXT TRIAL SESSIONS FOR THE SCOTLAND GIRLS NORTH EAST AND SOUTH WEST GROUPS ARE:
SATURDAY 12TH JUNE – LINLITHGOW ACADEMY – 12PM-4PM
SATURDAY 19TH JUNE – WISHAW SPORTS CENTRE – 10AM-4PM
Vince Krawczyk, East Girls Coach
BOYS TRIAL
The initial selection session for the UKSG programme 2010 started at Wishaw on Saturday 22nd May with the Staff comprising of Iain Parker, Tom Rooney and Ivor Jones for the West and East Staff of Gordon Cree with Thomas Dowens covering for Ian Brownlee and Ian Cook as both were unavailable for this session.
The events was well supported with 35 U-17 men attending and, with the numbers involved, the decision was made to run one large group session rather than split into West and East.
Thomas ran the session in his usual fantastic way and all players were very quickly getting to know each other as they warmed up through numerous exercises involving movement and conversations……the team building process was begun.
As the day progressed all players were suitably challenged to perform, work hard as well as think and contribute to the discussions on the drills and practices throughout the day. In both the morning and afternoon sessions all players had the opportunity to show what they could do to try and establish themselves as prospective final list players for the event in Newcastle. This year also saw the return of some of last year’s players who having experienced showed the way to conduct themselves. They led by setting an example on the participation in drills and team working expected as players, they were outstanding and deserve the recognition for what they have done to enhance the day.
With two more selection days to go it is hoped that any players out there who feel they can perform at the expected levels and have not attended will make themselves available as time is running out for people to be part of Team Scotland 2010.
THE NEXT TRIAL SESSIONS FOR THE SCOTLAND BOYS NORTH EAST AND SOUTH WEST GROUPS ARE:
SATURDAY 12TH JUNE – WISHAW SPORTS CENTRE – 10AM-4PM
SATURDAY 19TH JUNE – GORBALS SPORTS CENTRE – 10AM-4PM
Iain Parker, West Boys Coach
