IU East Hosts a Volleyball Clinic
Youth Clinic uses IU East players to show importance of staying active
Richmond, Ind. - Indiana University East conducted a volleyball clinic for the youth from the Baxter Neighborhood Help Center on Friday, February 13. During the spring 2009, the center is focusing on healthy activities for their participating children. The IU East women's volleyball team decided to connect with the group to develop volleyball skills and show how the sport can contribute to an active, healthy lifestyle.
Women's volleyball players, Courtney Flory and Madison Qualkenbush, helped conduct the clinic with Head Women's Volleyball Coach Charlie Brown and Assistant Coach Londa Brown. Also in attendance were graduating seniors Amy Stultz and Allison Hoveln, both All Conference Players for IU East in 2008.
Participants worked on basic skills such as learning how to pass and set the volleyball.
"The clinic was a learning experience for both the kids and the players. We hope to continue this clinic in the future," Stultz said. "With the ages we had to work with, we started with the fundamentals and they really picked them up fast."
Other skills developed in the clinic were underhand serving and simple volleying.
"It was a fun experience. It was neat to see the excitement and energy level in the kids' eyes," Coach Charlie Brown said. "One thing that you don't realize is how impressionable the kids are; they really look up to our athletes. You don't realize how big of a role model you are until you see the looks on the kids' faces. I think this was great for our players and the kids."
The volleyball team ran through their basic pre-game warm-ups to display the skills of college athletes to conclude the clinic.
"We are so thankful to the student-athletes for giving their time for our children in this way," Baxter Neighborhood Help Center Director Ange Cooksey said. "The children learned a lot, and made fast friends with the players and coaches helping out with the activity. We are excited to repeat this program again next year."
The IU East athletics program plans to build the clinic and broaden the opportunity for the community in the future.