For Pat Hennelly, it’s a dream which has become a reality. The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball coach had long thought about hosting an overnight, high performance volleyball camp in Kamloops.
Along came former CIS and professional head and assistant coach Jesse Knight and his Abstract Volleyball Company. The result is what is taking place for the next four days at the Tournament Capital Centre and the TRU residence. It began Thursday night (Aug 8).
Jessie Knight and three of the campers
“It was a vision we both had,” said Knight. “ The athletes are getting more than just the expertise of TRU WolfPack coaches and players, with this camp they are learning from some top female players as well. We want to provide a recreation/high performance volleyball camp that is the best in the province. Athletes can come and sleep over in Kamloops and have a great time as well as improve their skills.”
WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly and captain Colin Carson
“Timing was a big factor in this happening,” says Hennelly . “ I was coming off a month long vacation in Europe and Jesse took the lead in organizing. Everything just came together. It works because he is bringing his expertise on the women’s side of the game. He was an assistant coach at UBC after I left so we were familiar with one another. He does a lot of camps in the summer and he was looking for a new venue. We are geographically central in Kamloops so having it here was a perfect fit. For a bunch of reasons, it worked out. I am more than pleased to partner with Jesse. He is a professional both on and off the court.”
Hennelly says the overnight camp model brings back memories. ““I went to overnight camps in Williams Lake when I was a younger player. You might be the best player in your area, but you come to something like this and compete with other dedicated athletes—it just raises the competition level and intensity. It’s not the same people you play against at school or with in club. When you bring that in, and additional coaches-you get better opportunities to experience skill development that you wouldn’t see in your regular summer camp
“What makes this camp unique for Kamloops is the fact Jessie and his team have come here,” the WolfPack coach adds. “ It’s good for me as another coach to see someone else lead so I can focus in on actual coaching. Having Ali and Claire here—who are national team athletes—gives the 45 or so girls here their own role models. It is a live reference point for girls to role model.”
Claire Hanna (photo courtesy of Volleyball Canada)
Knight has brought in two of his own coaches—both national team athletes—Ali Sandholm and Claire Hanna along with him to instruct. Sandholm is a former University of Calgary Dino who was a member of the national team in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and played professionally last year in Europe. Hanna is currently a member of the senior national team. She won three national titles while attending UBC and played pro in Belgium.
Ali Sandholm (photo courtesy U of Calgary)
Knight says it is very important for the young girls at this camp to see that they could follow in Ali and Claire’s footsteps. “ It is so important. The message I have relayed to the younger players is that you never know where that next national team or professional player will come from. I have told them it is ‘who wants it the most, who loves it the most and works the hardest. That is the person who gets to that level.’ I asked the campers why they are here. They should be asking what they have to do off the court? How do they get noticed? How does professional volleyball work for a female player.”
The camp included a parent seminar where those questions could be asked. Not only are their skill sessions (as many as three two and a half hour sessions) , but also those attending will be swimming and taking part in leadership exercises.
Knight adds that this camp is a must for young athletes who have a desire to excel in volleyball. “It is important that the kids and their parents get the right information. There is a very small group of professional coaches in Canada. It is our goal to provide all athletes—not just those in University and Team Canada-with that information. It is our goal to get them in an environment where they are getting a launch point, get them the right skills and train them so they improve. Not only that, but they are having fun while playing volleyball.”
WolfPack player Spencer Reed
In the camps inaugural year, 53 boys and girls from Alberta and British Columbia have registered. “We are happy with that number,” said Knight. “ We are hoping for this to grow in the future.”
“We would ideally like to have the camp later in the summer,” adds Hennelly. “It depends on the availability of residence and the TCC.”
The ratio of Instructors to athletes this week has been 1:8.
Kamloops isn’t the only venue for the Abstract volleyball camps. Knight runs similar programs in Terrace, Canmore, Vancouver and Comox. They also offer team oriented camps travelling to schools across Western Canada and provide camps for teams. There are a couple of weekends still available.
The Kamloops camp wraps up Monday (Aug 12) afternoon.