South London teenagers will get the opportunity to compete nationally when the local Little Giants club forms both girls’ and boys’ league teams for this season.
With some weekend sessions attracting as many as 24 players in September, the teams give developing players the chance to hone their skills regularly in a game environment.
Club chair Cisel Ormanci said: “We are very pleased with how London’s next generation has taken to volleyball.
“Weekend sessions have been at full capacity, and the players attending the more advanced Saturday sessions are improving quickly.
“We felt that to challenge them and give them a chance to grow as athletes, playing the league was the natural next step,” she said. “We are creating the conditions for children to try the game in the just-for-fun after-school clubs, but also to take it more seriously if they want to.”
The two under-16 teams will compete at national junior level. Players will be selected from Saturday sessions, which are invitation-only and geared towards the needs of improved players.
Ormanci (right) hopes that as the year goes on, more players from the after-school and Sunday sessions will progress towards making the league team.
With the volleyball European and World Championships and the Champions League coming to London “There’s no reason why the next British volleyball stars couldn’t come from Brixton or Clapham,” says Ormanci
Little Giants Volleyball offers sessions for all abilities and ages almost every day of the week across Clapham, Wandsworth and Brixton.
A Friday after-school club takes place in Brixton Rec from 4.30 to 6pm. These coached sessions are open to male and female junior players from 7 to 17.
To find out more about the sessions visit www.volleyballevents.org/juniorvolleyball
