Serve, pass, set, spike, block…
The sport of volleyball is gaining momentum among the city’s middle schools. Over 500 enthusiastic young student-athletes from 47 CHAMPS volleyball programs throughout the city displayed the skills learned during the winter season at five Saturday showcases held between January 22 and March 5, at J.H.S. 217, in Queens; M.S. 302, in the Bronx; and J.H.S. 62, in Brooklyn.
This winter, students from 100 middle schools around the city participated in volleyball instruction and 15 schools received additional equipment from CHAMPS, a combination that helped support the growth of this sport. In addition to three to six hours of weekly practices, students benefited from extra time of physical exercise by participating in weekend activities organized with the visionary support of The Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation.
The CHAMPS volleyball program has grown significantly since its inception in 2004, adding more schools and increasing the number of weekend events offered to participating students.
Parental support for volleyball has also increased. In the first two events of the winter season, around 150 parent-spectators came out to support students. Joyce Fierman, mother of a sixth grader from P.S. 178, in Queens, said that volleyball has helped her son overcome a fear of playing sports on account of his impaired vision. “He has found his niche in volleyball. It's helping his vision tracking problem.”
Coach Tamara Acoba, from M.S./H.S. 610, in Manhattan, said her students have learned team work, bonded with each other and developed a more positive attitude. “They do not have a gym and use a multi-purpose room, but they really enjoy learning and playing.”
Currently a winter activity, CHAMPS is considering expanding volleyball into other seasons.