Blue Valley Recreation News

Tue, Jun 29, 2010 - [Sports]

The Blue Valley Rec youth volleyball league started a decade ago with 200 girls playing on 20 teams. Last year's league saw 919 girls on 94 teams and looks to exceed 1,000 players with the addition of a league for boys and a third grade division for girls.

With the use of Blue Valley School District gyms, Blue Valley Rec formed volleyball leagues in 2000. The league was open to girls in grades 5-7. Twenty teams and 200 players participated the inaugural year. In 2006 the program was expanded to include girls in fourth grade. Participation increased during the next four years, and in 2009 the leagues hosted 94 teams and 919 players.

Denise Andrews, a physical education instructor at Oak Hill Elementary, has volunteered as a coach for the Blue Valley Rec volleyball league since the beginning because she believes sports are important for youth.
 
“So much of what I do with teams has been building confidence and camaraderie." said Andrews. "Some friendships built on the court last a lifetime."
 
Andrews understands it is also about skill development, but stresses the most important things she has inspired are self-confidence and persistence.
 
"I want them to love the game," said Andrews. “If they come to practice and can’t wait until it is over, then we have a problem. It’s great when they’re sad practice is over and I have to usher them out of the gym.”
 
Although volleyball originated in the United States, it is just now achieving the degree of popularity in the U.S. that it has globally, where it ranks behind only soccer among participation sports. Today 800 million people worldwide play volleyball at least once a week. Mirroring a national trend, male athletes are playing volleyball in unprecedented numbers. 
 
Because of that trend, Blue Valley Rec will offer a boys volleyball league for grades 5-8 this fall.
 
"The popularity of our girls' league prompted us to consider the same opportunity for boys," said Steve Herrig, manager of the recreation complex. "There are quite a few boys who are looking for a new opportunity to compete."
  

Ever wonder how the popular game came to be? In 1895, Massachusetts instructor William G. Morgan found that some club members avoided basketball because of the contact and running. Borrowing components from tennis, baseball, basketball and handball, he created “mintonette”. A spectator suggested that volleyball was a better name since players volleyed the ball back and forth over the net. Morgan agreed, and the sport has known as volleyball ever since.

 
Registration is now open for both leagues. Click here to view more information.
 
 
 
Hours of Operation

Activity Center
6545 W. 151st Street
Monday - Friday, 6am-9pm
Saturday, 7am-7pm
Sunday, noon-7pm
913.685.6000
For weather cancellations
call 913.685.6099

Recreation Complex Office (Sports)
9701 W. 137th Street
Monday - Friday, 8am-4:30pm
913.685.6030
For weather cancellations
call 913.685.6099
 

Administrative Offices
6545 W. 151st Street
Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm
913.685.6000

Vision Statement:

"Enriching Lives, Strengthening a Spirit of Community"

Mission Statement:

"We will champion community and personal growth through dynamic lifelong recreation experiences."