With USYVL’s fall season in full swing, we wanted to take some time out to recognize a couple of individuals making a huge difference this season. One of the basic tenants of our volleyball programs is the support and work of our volunteers and dedicated volleyball instructors.

We would like to highlight two exceptional individuals this fall who are great examples of USYVL’s mission to help each child learn and play volleyball in a fun, safe, and supervised environment.

The two key roles at USYVL sites are the Site Director and the Clinician (Volleyball Instructor). This season we are pleased to recognize:

Site Director – Nolan Marrero, Folsom
Clinician – John Wong, San Jose – Butcher Park

Nolan Marrero – Site Director – Folsom
In his second season as a Site Director with USYVL, Nolan has made a positive impact with our Folsom program. He has dedicated his time and effort, many times going beyond the norm to create a positive learning environment and memorable experience for all of our Folsom participants.

Nolan is a very involved Site Director and works to ensure that the program is running smoothly and successfully. Since USYVL relies heavily on the support of volunteers, Site Directors play a pivotal role in recruiting parents as coaches and on-site administrators to help guide our players and program in a positive direction. Nolan has excelled in this role by engaging other volunteers and keeping them involved and active throughout the season.

Nolan was born in Puerto Rico and his family moved to Philadelphia when he was nine years old. He moved to Folsom five years ago and works as a consultant with Sutter Health. One of the inspirational figures in his life was an elder from his church that encouraged and mentored him throughout his youth. Nolan noted the positive impact this has made on his life. It has helped him be a better father, husband, and member of the local community. This positive influence in his life has helped to illustrate the importance of being a good influence, showing people that you care, and being a mentor to those around you.

When asked what he likes most about being a USYVL Site Director, Nolan said that he enjoys contributing time and energy to help make the kid’s lives meaningful. Talking about his role as a Site Director, he said, “Just like my mentor did for me, you never know the positive impact you can have on a developing child. I enjoy watching their eyes light up when they are able to master the skills we are going over.”

With the efforts of amazing Site Directors like Nolan, our programs would not be as successful as they are today. You can tell by the smiles on the faces of the kids in Folsom, the quality of the experience at that site has created valuable memories for everyone involved. We would like to thank him and acknowledge all that he does for the kids and program in Folsom.

John Wong – Clinician – San Jose Butcher Park
John has served as a volleyball instructor with USYVL for four seasons. He has done an outstanding job instructing our San Jose participants and creating an energetic learning environment. His dedication extends beyond just the Butcher Park site, as he has helped teach volleyball skills at other sites in the area on numerous occasions.

John was born in Salinas, California. He has spent most of his life in the Monterey Bay area. He grew up in a single parent home with a hard working mother that supported four children. John was able to see the value of hard work at an early age.

His love of volleyball is easily on display as he teaches and instructs the USYVL curriculum during the season. He always takes time to make sure each player is enjoying the volleyball experience. John noted that what he loves most about being a USYVL Clinician is seeing the kids come out of their shell and develop as a person and player. The delight the children show playing the game is one of the great highlights for him.

Our Clinicians also play a vital role in guiding our volunteer coaches. John has always made it a point to engage coaches and help place them in a position to utilize their knowledge and skills to benefit the players. Additionally, he has worked diligently to ensure that player safety protocols are in place and a priority at the site.

Please join us in recognizing Nolan and John for their valuable contribution to the USYVL community!

Did you miss out on playing volleyball this fall season? Did you miss or forget a deadline? Were you on the waiting list for the league in your city or community? Those registration deadlines come and go very fast!

Do not worry our spring league season is just a few short months away. We encourage you to plan now and get ready to sign up for volleyball in the spring.

Registration for spring 2018 leagues will open on October 16. Mark your calendars and get ready so sign up for spring volleyball.

To locate a program in your area visit our registration page and find a city or program in your community!

Our leagues are based on allowing everyone to learn and play, balanced teams, and positive coaching. To learn more about what our league offers, visit out league page.

As always, USYVL’s volleyball programs are open to all boys and girls ages 7-15. Whether you are a new player or returning player all are welcome to join our programs. We encourage families to get involved with our programs as well. There are many volunteer opportunities at our league sites. You can help with administrative duties, coaching, set up, first aid and many, many more roles.

You can sign up to volunteer when you register your child for the spring season. For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit our “Get Involved” page.

What will your child get out of joining a USYVL league?

Fun
While the program teaches children the skills necessary to excel in the sport of volleyball, the focus remains on participation, cooperation, sportsmanship, responsibility and, of course, fun!

Action
Strength, endurance and improved coordination result from the weekly activity of the program. Furthermore, a season of league games is sure to provide plenty of exciting volleyball action.

Skills
Skills are taught using technically correct methods for peak performance and safety.

Teamwork
The USYVL is a family-oriented program where parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends are strongly encouraged to become involved. Parents and volunteers assist with coaching, registration, check-in and equipment set-up.

Don’t wait to sign up for spring volleyball. Registration opens October 16. Volleyball Starts Here!

This week USYVL’s fall leagues will host game days on Saturday. This is a great opportunity for young players to showcase some of the skills that they have learned in the first few weeks of the fall league season.

It is an exciting time for your players on all age divisions (7-8 years old, 9-10 years old, 11-12 years old, and 13-15 years old) to enjoy volleyball in a no pressure game format.

The game format for the 7-8 age division is Hot Potato in a four person format, while our 9-10 age division, 11-12 age division, and 13-15 age divisions game format is Double Max game in a four person format.

For the younger 7-8 age division the Hot Potato game is a great learning experience for the group. The volleyball is served over the net and a player catches the ball in the traditional passing stance. The player then tosses the ball to the setter. The setter then sets the volleyball to the spiker and that player then spikes the ball over the net. The opposing team will then follow the same game format, a player catches the ball in the traditional passing stance. The player then tosses the ball to the setter. The setter then sets the volleyball to the spiker and that player then spikes the ball over the net.

The older age division groups will play a Double Max game. A player serves the volleyball over the net and his/her team wins the rally. The serving player’s team earns a point and a second serve. The player serves the volleyball over the net again and his/her team wins the rally. The serving player’s team earns a point, but the serve automatically turns over to the opposing team’s next server and the process repeats for the duration of the game period.

Games are a great way to measure the learning process and identify areas for improvement. Most of all, games are designed to be fun for all participants. The focus is placed on teamwork and enjoying a positive environment for learning.