Unsung Heroes

Tania Green sees her share of Whakatane’s troubled teens.

The physical education relief teacher also sees their potential being unlocked, through a net, a court and a stitched ball.

Vast chunks of her spare time are spent coaching the town’s children and teens in volleyball.

She then helps them fundraise, enabling even those with the least means to travel to regional and national tournaments.

Read more with The NZ Herald

The Indoor Community Sports Centre at Cobham Park

Report from Sport Wellingotn Region

At a Wellington City Council meeting today ( Friday 27th June, 2008 ) the council confirmed last years decision to support a 12 court Indoor Community Sports Centre at Cobham Park by 13 votes to 1.
It was with considerable concern and huge disappointment that the Wellington City sporting community greeted the news last week that some members of Council wished to re-open debate around the 12 court Indoor Community Sports Centre at Cobham Park.
To use a sporting analogy, this potential flip flop was most unwelcome.
The sporting community has been working collaboratively with the Council since late 1999 to bring this project to fruition.
Ross Graham, Chairman of Sport Wellington Region, said at the council meeting “As one of those involved in developing the concept from the beginning, I want to make it very clear that 12 courts is a bare minimum. Original scoping studies funded by the Council early this decade planned for 18 courts. Twelve was eventually agreed, in acknowledgement of the funding issues associated with 18 courts. Numerous potential sites were considered over the years, including the Waterfront. The Waterfront option was rejected on the basis of being able to cater for only eight courts, as well as costs associated with the land purchase and construction. It is not a viable option.”
Work towards the resource consent process will now continue with construction likely to start later this year.

2008 New Zealand Men’s Team Announced

Media Release: Volleyball New Zealand

Volleyball New Zealand announces the following New Zealand Men’s team ( 23.6.08 ) to play a four match series against the Australian Institute of Sport Development Squad in Canberra from 14-19 August 2008.

NZ MEN’S TEAM:

Name	Age	Position	Club, Location
Russell Gordon	18	Setter	Tauranga, Whakatane
Sam Tui’vai	19	Passer Hitter	Sparta, Auckland
Jason Seaward	20	Passer Hitter	Shirley, Christchurch
Garth Taylor	20	Libero	Eagles, Wellington
Matt Quinn	20	Setter	Eagles, Palmerston North
Ben Glue	21	Opposite	Shirley, Christchurch
Simon Petersen	21	Middle	Eagles, Wellington
Kirill Morekhodov	23	Middle	North Harbour, Auckland
Benetti Schwalger (C)	29	Passer Hitter	South Auckland, Auckland
Soane Vaipulu	30	Opposite	Eagles, Palmerston North
Gavin Kelsall	34	Middle	South Auckland, Auckland

 

Non Travelling Reserves

Matthew Nicholls	17	Passer Hitter	Tauranga, Tauranga
Ethan Barrowclough	18	Libero	Waitakere, Auckland
Elliot Gilchrist	21	Middle	Scorpions, Dunedin
John Fowler	21	Passer Hitter	Scorpions, Dunedin
Nathan Hylkema	24	Opposite	Tasman, Nelson

 

Management

Tony Barnett	Coach	Napier
Nico Ngwun	Assistant Coach	South Auckland

   
Coach Tony Barnett is delighted with the turn out of over 120 athletes throughout the country participating in trials over the last 2 months and has picked a team with a good mix of talented younger players and experienced older players.

 

Possible Delays For Cobham Park

The Dominion Post reported a story on the 17th of June about the possible delays to the 12-court sports centre planned for Cobham Park which is championed by Wellington Mayor Kerry Predergast.

There is a meeting on the morning of Friday 27 June (9:15am) at the Old Town Hall. The Council will be revisiting the planning of Kilbirnie’s Cobham Park Sport Centre. Councillor Andy Foster opposes the idea of such a sports venue, sighting that it’s a costly venture. Foster was reported as saying to the Dominion Post, “We could build an eight-court stadium, or something smaller, on the waterfront which would be affordable.”
Mike Freeman, an executive member of the Wellington Basketball Association writes an email proposing for all sport followers to show support of the 12-court stadium instead of a Water Front option with less courts. He proposes in his email, people should show their support by emailing Wellington’s Mayor Kerry Predergast on kerry.prendergast@wcc.govt.nz There is a huge threat for a Sports Centre development in Wellington being delayed by many more years beyond the proposed completion of Cobham Park in 2010. This subject has a large bearing for Volleyball as a sport, as many opportunities for various Volleyball tournaments such as the Wellington League, College Regionals, Junior College North Island, Senior College Nationals, Central Zone & Club Nationals could be held at the Cobham Park venue with affordable and accommodating space with the many courts that it provides.

You can read the story with the Dominion Post by clicking here.

And click below to read Wellington Basketball Committee Member Mike Freeman’s email.

New Zealand Women’s Volleyball Squad

Originally posted Friday, May 23, 2008

Nominations are invited for the NZ Women’s Volleyball squad 2008/2009.

After a very successful tour to the Asian Championships held in September 2007 the NZ Women’s Squad is currently preparing for the 2008 season.

The schedule for the team is currently being finalised but is likely to include the following:

Date: 31 May 1/2 June – Queens Birthday Tournament
Activity: Training Camp – for South Island players and those playing in the Canterbury Queens Birthday Tournament.
Venue: Pioneer Stadium, Monday 2 June. 9.00am – 1.00pm

Day 1: Saturday 28th June
Venue: Bethlehem College
Time: 11.00am – 5.00pm with one hour lunch break at 2.00pm
Activity: Training Camp – For North Island based players.

Day 2: Sunday 29th June
Venue: Otumoetai Rec Centre
Time: 10.00am – 1.00pm.

Cost: $15.00 Saturday only / $20.00 both days – to assist with Camp expenses.

 

Date: August 31st
Activity: Squad training on the Sunday following the completion of the National Club Championships.
Venue: TBC

 

Date: 7-10 or 14-17 November – Dates to be confirmed.
Activity: Trans Tasman test series vs Australia.
Venue: Australia

 

Full notice from Shelley Addison National Women’s Volleyball Coach.
RE: NEW ZEALAND WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SQUAD
 

NZ Girls Thwart Australian Sweep

The Secondary Schools Trans-Tasman Volleyball Competition has been contested and completed in Nelson. The final result saw Queensland girls beating the North Island girls 3-2 ( 23-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12 ). In the boys competition Queensland defeated defending champs North Island 3-0 ( 25-21, 25-21, 27-29 ). The Trans-Tasman competition involved teams from the North Island, South Island, Queensland and New South Wales. At the conclusion of the Trans-Tasman competition, test teams were selected to create a match of Australia vs New Zealand.

 
Queensland prospered although New Zealand shared the international spoils when the Trans-Tasman secondary schools volleyball series ended on Thursday at Nelson’s Trafalgar Centre.

Queensland walked away from the four-day tournament with both the boys and girls’ titles. But Australia missed the sweep when the New Zealand girls won their test in a five-set thriller, leaving the Australian boys’ team to wrap up the series with a 3-2 win over New Zealand.

More with the The Nelson Mail.