|
On behalf of the USA Men’s National Sitting Volleyball Team,
I would like to thank the Chesapeake Region for their generous monetary
donation. The contribution was well
spent as the team qualified at the Para Pan American Games for the Paralympic
Games in Athens, Greece
in September 2004.
 I have been fortunate to be involved in the growth of the
team as an assistant coach. Winning a
Gold Medal was a bonus. Watching the United States
flag being raised for our team was an emotional experience. Hearing the national anthem being played for
our team added to the emotion. Having
the playing of the national anthem interrupted by a technical difficulty, and
the players finishing by singing the words, brought everyone to tears. We are hoping to duplicate that feeling again
in Greece.
The team is continuing its training to perform at the
highest level possible. The team is
younger, stronger, taller, and more athletic than ever. There will be multiple training sessions that
will include all the men trying to secure a spot on the Paralympic team. They are a group of dedicated individuals
with families and jobs who live all over the country. It requires them to travel when we get
together for a few days of training.
Each player is in the process of locating a local coach or team to get
“hands on the ball” training in between team training dates. If you know of disabled athletes who want to
play volleyball, please encourage them to get in touch with USA Volleyball or
Bill Hamiter, Head Coach, at bill.hamiter@usav.org.
or me, Dixie Collins, Assistant Coach, at dixie.collins@usav.org.
Sitting volleyball is played sitting on the floor and moving
into position with your hands. The court
is smaller than a regular court, 6m x 10m with a 1.5m net height for men and a
1m for women. One meter equals 39.37
inches. Because the net is lower, the
play is quicker. Good ball control is a
must. Players are allowed to block the
serve. They must also have their bottom
in contact with the floor when playing the ball. To play on the National team, the players
must have a lower limb disability.
Because our training is ongoing, we are still accepting
contributions to the USA Volleyball Program.
If you would like to make a contribution, you may send a check to USA
Volleyball earmarked for whichever team you would like to support: Men’s Sitting, Women’s Sitting, Men’s
National (able-bodied), or Women’s National (able-bodied). Mail your check to USA Volleyball, 715
South Circle Drive, Colorado
Springs, CO 80910.
Sitting volleyball is played sitting on the floor and moving
into position with your hands. The court
is smaller than a regular court, 6m x 10m with a 1.5m net height for men and a
1m for women. One meter equals 39.37
inches. Because the net is lower, the
play is quicker. Good ball control is a
must. Players are allowed to block the
serve. They must also have their bottom
in contact with the floor when playing the ball. To play on the National team, the players
must have a lower limb disability.
Because our training is ongoing, we are still accepting
contributions to the USA Volleyball Program.
If you would like to make a contribution, you may send a check to USA
Volleyball earmarked for whichever team you would like to support: Men’s Sitting, Women’s Sitting, Men’s
National (able-bodied), or Women’s National (able-bodied). Mail your check to USA Volleyball, 715
South Circle Drive, Colorado
Springs, CO 80910.
|
