Beach volleyball organisers give Darnhall a boost
Perth’s Darnhall facility welcomed talented youngsters over the weekend after it was selected as one of the national development centres for beach volleyball.
The positive news for Perth Beach Volleyball Club (Perth BVC) came after Scottish Volleyball announced a new ‘Four Region’ approach to youth-aged volleyball.
The programme is limited to 30 youngsters with Perth and Kinross included in the Central Scotland zone, which stretches from Argyll and Bute to Fife.
The junior beach programme is designed for anyone aged over 13 and under the age of 18 as at December 31, 2021, and the facility held its first regional junior development day on Sunday.
Plans for a “grand opening” had been shelved due to COVID restrictions but “come and try” sessions are also being planned during the early summer for adults to “have a go” at the now world-famous sport.
Perth Beach Volleyball Club, founded in 2020, has been active in attracting national beach events over the summer with a Scottish Beach Tour event on June 2627 and a UK Beach three-star tour event in July.
A Perth BVC spokesperson said: “Now that we are about to start up with our first regional junior development day this Sunday, we are pleased to have been selected to host three national beach tour events over the summer.
“With UK beach players striving to be selected for Commonwealth Games qualification, these ranking tournaments will give them the opportunity of adding to their individual totals.
“These beach tour weekends along with the Central Scotland junior development programme will lift the profile of the Darnhall facility, the first inland beach volleyball facility in Scotland.
“More local come and try sessions for locals interested in trying beach volleyball will be announced later.”
A Scottish Volleyball spokesperson added: “Beach volleyball has taken off over the past couple of years and with its inclusion in the Commonwealth Games, there is the added attraction of possibly representing your country.
“The aim of this programme is to ensure participants have an opportunity to improve their game in their local area.
“We want our athletes to not only focus on what they can do on the court, but also be guided by the coaches to make them well rounded individuals off the court with some athlete education.
“Potential beach volleyball youngsters have the chance to start a pathway to stardom, hopefully following in the footsteps of Seain Cook who started his volleyball career as a junior in the local leagues, moved on to play for Scotland at both 6v6 and beach, played professionally in Europe and is now training hard in California in the hope of playing for Scotland at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.”