MONCTON TIMES AND TRANSCRIPT
By Stephanie Kukkonen Times & Transcript Staff
Published Tuesday May 29th, 2007 Appeared on page B4
For more information on the camp and to register contact Grandmaison via e-mail at rgvolley@rogers.com or by phone at 383-6942.
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D4 Saturday, August 11, 2001 | Sports | Times & Transcript |
V-ball makes waves at beach, hard court
Volleyball Canada technical director Michel Paiement instructs at camp in Dieppe
By GERARD MCLAUCHLIN Times & Transcript Staff
Let’s see. It’s snack in the middle of the summer and baseball, softball, track and field and swimming are the front and center sports.
Hold on a minute. Don’t forget volleyball,
especially the two- player beach game.
“ Our numbers have increased15 per cent in the last few years and it’s all because of beach. It’s a hip game right now, ” claimed Volleyball Canada technical director Michel Paiement yesterday
In Metro Moncton as a a guest instructor at the summer camp at Mathieu-Martin High School in Dieppe. Paiement said because the game has moved to sandy beaches all across the country, volleyball is know a twelve month sports.
“ It’s great because there’s a lot more variety in the game and it’s all good.
He said. Our numbers are growing every year, it’s a great time for us . ”
Maybe the one –time Université de Moncton coach was grained on the hard. court during his youth, but don’t ask him to pick a favourite between hard court and beach.
“ Let me tell you what’ s happening with us now, We’re growing, growing, growing at both games and it’ s mainly because of beach, “ he said.
“ Our season is now 12 months-indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer- and the major reason is beach. It’s brought the extra exposure from the Olympic games and we have some great Canadian players like Jody Holden (who once attended school in Moncton) Really, its cool to play anything on the beach. “
Because beach volleyball is attracting new players to the sport, Paiement claims that eventually turns into more top caliber talent.
“ Players who start at beach and really enjoy it are soon indoors, too“ he said.
While the hard court game features six players on each side and beach just two,
Paiement explains there a much larger difference than merely the number of players on the court.
He notes the indoor game is geared towards the big, stronger player an aggressive attack style. Beach is smart defence and exposing an opponent’s weakness
In fact, Paiement claims playing both is is great to improve the player’s all around skills.
“ There so different but so much the same too. Really, volleyball is volleyball. Hard court and beach is merely a little different strategy, “ he offered
Players attending the Moncton camp headed by Robert Grandmaison gained instructions at both hard court and beach.
The camp moved to Parlee Beach on Thursday and Paiement was extremely impressed.
“Everybody had a tremendous time, ” he offered. ” It was something to see. ”
Paiement claimed the local summer camp, which also included former Olympian Brigitte Soucy of Bouctouche as a guest instructor, is among the best on the summer calendar.
“They assess everybody and then quickly get down to work at improving their individual skills, ” he said. ” There’s not a wasted moment. “
This camp is a tremendous opportunity for the younger players.