STARS shine

Times Reporter 

 

Pat Fule knows a thing or two about coaching and really likes to share his knowledge to the kids at the STARS (Self appraisal Teamwork Attitude Realistic goals Spirits) volleyball camp ongoing all week long. 

Fule’s emphasis in the camp is teaching the kids the basics of how to play the game of volleyball properly.

“We really work hard on teaching them the fundamentals of footwork and how it is three steps to hit and we teach them the arm swing for hitting,” said Fule.

“We just try to give them a good background in the basics of hitting, serving, setting and bumping.”

The camp also provides further development for players who play in their normal high school league.

“When (some players) get to Grade 7, they want to try out for a junior high team and have a chance at making it. Some of the ones here are going into Grade 9 and they have played on their junior high teams, so they have been with us since Grade 1 or 2 in volleyball and hopefully we have given them the good background that they can do well at a higher level,” said Fule.

The groups are based on comfort level in their age groups.

“We try to keep them in their skill levels so if they are in a younger group and a smaller group, we’ll try to lower the net and try to get them together and call them ‘the Rookies’. Then my junior high kids we nickname ‘Old School’ they know where to go for drills and games,” said Fule.

Barret Clics has enjoyed coming back to the volleyball camp, as this will be his sixth year in the camp.

“It is really fun and it’s not too serious. It really teaches you how to play and how to improve your skills,” said Clics.

“I did not really start volleyball until I came to this camp and now I am going to try to make the team going into junior high.”

Clics favorite thing about the camp is the games at the end of the day.

Kennedy Hampson, who has been attending the camp for eight years, said she really has fun with Coach Fule and how he teaches the camp.

“He is a really laid back. He does not get too mad at you if you do something wrong, instead he helps you” said Hampson.

Hampson’s favourite part about the camp is serving. STARS volleyball camp is on-going all week, Aug. 18 – 22, at Strathmore High School.