PROGRAM THE PATH TO VOLLEYBALL ELITE

“We’re now in our fourth year of the program and each year eight to 12 of our players make the state tour.”

VIC Beach Geelong’s beach volleyball development program has been given a resounding thumbs-up, with eight junior players selected in Victorian teams.

Torren Maher, Henry Mueller, Harry Lloyd, Hannah Hermans, Meg Newman, Chloe Paton, Kasey Randall and Nicola Gregory will all travel to Western Australia in April to take part in the Australian Junior Beach Volleyball Championships.

The players attended three tryouts in Melbourne before being selected in an initial squad and then cemented their position after the team was narrowed from 60 to 36.

Beach volleyball has suffered falling junior participation rates in recent years but Vic Beach Geelong coach Greg Jury said its program provided a strong pathway from introductory level, right through to elite.

“We’re now in our fourth year of the program and each year eight to 12 of our players make the state tour,” Jury said.

“We have one of the more structured programs in the country and some players that have come through our program are now ranked in the top five in the country.”

In light of the “dwindling” numbers, Vic Beach Geelong, in conjunction with the Barwon Sports Academy, is eager to show juniors that beach volleyball is available as a sporting option.

“Our success rate and retention rate once we get kids in the program is exceptional,” Jury said.

Introduction sessions take place on Wednesday nights for kids aged between eight and 15.