STARS teach volleyball in ‘fun way’

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This article was published 18/01/2006 (7271 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TIM AU has STARS in his eyes, not those twinkling suns in space, but, states online information, a new program which teaches the game of volleyball “in a fun way” to young players.

“I like STARS volleyball because you’re not only learning basic fundamentals at an early age but tactical skills, as well,” says Au, the Winnipeg coordinator of STARS for the Manitoba Volleyball Association, and a physical education teacher at Arthur Day Middle School.

“In my experience, I’ve seen kids in grades seven to nine get turned off volleyball because they can’t spike the ball or sustain long rallies, whereas STARS volleyball will promote long rallies and thus enhance appreciation for the game and its skills.”

Developed by Ard Biesheuvel, a high school volleyball coach in Lethbridge, Alta., who’s originally from Brandon — STARS Volleyball is endorsed by Volleyball Canada and is presently being used in Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.

“In 2003, I started an elementary school volleyball program because my own kids were that age. It was successful,” said Biesheuvel during a telephone interview.

The MVA held a STARS clinic with Biesheuvel at St. Paul’s High School on January 4.

“We’re piloting the program in Winnipeg in early February,” says Katherine Mundy, the MVA’s indoor program co-ordinator.

The program will run out of Sun Valley School in Transcona.

“We’re doing this program because we don’t really have a program for kids in grades one to six. We do have a mini-volleyball program, but it’s geared to grades five and six only. So, now we’re targeting the earlier ages too, to get them introduced to the game and participate at an earlier age to hopefully get more athletes involved in the sport,” explains Mundy.

The emphasis on skill development is done with the help of modified rules and equipment (lower nets, smaller courts and lighter balls), notes the STARS website: “The STARS volleyball teaching philosophy is to emphasize the components of fun, fair play and positive attitudes while the participant learns to play the game of volleyball.”

Initially, the MVA was looking at starting STARS here last year, Mundy explained.

“But due to the lack of availability of coaches, we, unfortunately, couldn’t run it,” she said.

Au was interested last season. But, because he was coaching the provincial boy’s team for the 2005 Canada Games, he couldn’t make a commitment to STARS, adds Mundy.

“This year, we’re really excited to pilot it here in Winnipeg. We’re also piloting programs in Gimli, Brandon and Glenboro with other coaches,” she says.

Mundy observes that the current mini-volleyball program is more geared to the school system, while STARS is more attuned to the club-based community system.

“We hope to get more club involvement to promote STARS. Hopefully, clubs will end up running STARS within their own programs,” she says.

“It’s basically a win-win situation. It will introduce young kids to the sport and the club system, plus have some of the club players involved in coaching. We want to create a cycle of teaching young athletes to play volleyball to eventually becoming coaches.”