Building the high school volleyball program.

The seeds for a successful program are sown in the elementary schools with the help of the high school coach.

THE FIRST TIME I SAW OUR high school's senior volleyball team play several years ago, I was impressed by their heavy hitters and powerful attack. With their three big guns up front, they appeared to be a great team.

Sure enough they went on to capture the league championship, win a number of tournaments, and come within a game of making the provincial championships.

Since graduation was going to cost the team several of their big guns, the question in everyone's mind was: Could they do it again next year?

I doubted it, but my skepticism turned to admiration when I checked out the personnel in the early practices. I had to be impressed by the depth of the skill players. From positions I through 6 and all along the bench, every player could serve, pass, and spike with authority.

The team went on to repeat as league champions, and luck had nothing to do with it. The team's success was simply a tribute to foresight and great planning.

The seeds for all of this had been sown in the lower grades. The high school has three age categories: bantam (grade nine), junior (grades 10 and 11), and senior (grades 12 and O.A.C. (which stands for Ontario Academic Credits, a fifth year of high school for students preparing for University).