Flin Flon volleyball players sent a spike through the summer break at a recent training camp.
Around 70 volleyball players packed into the École McIssac School gym August 26-28, for a preseason camp hosted by McIssac coach Craig McIntosh and former Hapnot player and now volleyball coach Jake Rogers. McIntosh has been coaching volleyball in Flin Flon for over a decade.
“When I first got here I coached Grade 9, because I didn't know much about volleyball at all. So I almost did it out of necessity,” McIntosh said on the final day of the camp.
“Over the years, I have developed a love for volleyball.”
The camp was divided between middle school and high school students, with each group made up of around 35 kids. McIntosh and Rogers spent morning sessions with middle school students, and afternoons with the high school students. Attendees were charged only $20 for the three days, with proceeds going towards the division’s volleyball program.
“We're looking at about 70 [kids in camp] which is really good,” McIntosh said.
“Volleyball is one of those sports, that's certainly not something that a lot of kids play all year long. To get that many kids out for for a seasonal sport is really good. We're excited about it.”
The school year beginning only a week after the volleyball camp, and the volleyball one of the earliest sports in the school season, McIntosh said late summer is the perfect time for a volleyball camp.
“It's good for the coaches and for the kids,” he said.
For the coaches, we've been away from the sport for a while as well. So it's nice for the coaches to get in and give up their time, because this is still part of their summertime. They’re volunteering their time for this, which is really nice. A lot of [kids], even if they're working, they seem to find the time to come out.”
The camp focused on individual skill development and shaking off the summer rust.
“It's more about getting your getting your fundamentals down,” McIntosh said.
“This is really all about making sure all their fundamentals are sound again. Trying to get rid of all the little mistakes so that when they do go to their teams, they're ready to start the higher level stuff.”
McIntosh was grateful for Rogers’ help running the camp. The former Hapnot student now lives in Winnipeg coaching high level club volleyball teams, even winning a western Canadian tournament.
“[Rogers’] level of volleyball in terms of coaching is is very high,” McInstosh said.
“We're glad that he comes all the way up from Winnipeg and sacrifices three days. He just had a baby too. And he still comes up.”
McIntosh said the favourite part of this camp is teaching the sport to newcomers.
“It's always the young ones that surprise me,” he said.
“They come in and they learn so fast. The ones that are in Grades 6, 7 and 8. High school students, sometimes they'll break through certain plateaus. they'll pick up a certain skill and take it to the next level, which is really good. When a little tiny grade six makes their first serve, it's super exciting. Then they know they can do it and their eyes open up wide… For me there's a bunch of firsts at that age level and with the high school kids it's more about elevating their game.”
The high school sports season starts with cross-country, volleyball and soccer this September.
