September 14, 2006 - CAPS tryouts are always a little nerve-racking
- setting up the gym, enlisting volunteers to run the registration
desks, organizing equipment and coaches - but, more importantly,
hoping that lots of volleyball players come to try and make one of our
5 CAPS teams. So as we all anxiously waited last Saturday and
Sunday, I have to say that I was again thrilled with the number and
calibre of players who walked through the Pius gym doors.
The CAPS 18Us put on an impressive display
- and the new players joining them had no trouble keeping up with the
pace and speed of the ball. As Head Coach of this team, I was
able to sit back and marvel at how far these girls had come since I
first started coaching them as 15Us. With the addition of Kalyn,
Lauren and Katie, the 18Us have set their sights on being one of the
best in 2007!
The athletes who took to the court on
Saturday morning to compete for a spot on the new 17U team roster were
awesome. Returning CAPS were joined by some very strong players
from across the city. Head Coach Matt Hoey was extremely pleased
with the quality of players who attended, adding that choosing only 12
players would be a very hard task.
On Sunday morning the gym was filled with
15U and 16U players. Again, the quality of play was exceptional
for these age groups. The coaches were especially pleased with
the ball control exhibited throughout all the drills. (A summer
on the sand never hurts when it comes to learning some of the more
creative ways of winning a point!) Game play was fast and
spirited and, with at least 20 girls trying out for each team,
trimming down to 12 on each team would again be a difficult
task.
Sunday afternoon found the 13U and 14U
players in the gym for a three hour clinic. 25 young players had
the opportunity to participate in the OVA Level 1 Coaching Clinic.
This meant that there were 12 coaches running them through drills and
giving individual attention to skills and technique. The clinic
was a huge success and there were many smiling, but weary faces at
day's end on Sunday.
So I would have to say that the CAPS
tryouts were an unqualified success. Not only did large numbers of
girls participate, but the calibre of play was much higher than in the
past. I'm sure this trend will continue as coaching and school
programs continue to improve as they have in the past five years.
Plus - young people are finally realizing that volleyball is awesome!!
My thanks to all the many club volunteers who made every aspect
of this very rewarding weekend possible.
