Every four years, the Summer Olympics serve as a beacon for diehard sports enthusiasts, casual followers, and young athletes with future Olympic hopes.
At the London Olympics this summer, beach volleyball will attract millions of followers – especially in the United States, one of the world’s powerhouses.
Among the American devotees, who have their sights set on future Summer Games, are young male and female junior athletes who have been trained by a rising organization seeking to promote beach volleyball in the United States.
Through nationwide clinics conducted by the Beach Dig organization, such as its season opening session held in Pompano Beach, FL today, hundreds of athletes hone their skills for club, college, professional, and ultimately Olympics play.
Beach Dig is sitting in the sweet spot for, what is hands-down, the most important year in American beach volleyball history.
Not only is USA favored to win medals at the London Olympics, but collegiate Sand Volleyball splashes onto the scene in its eagerly-awaited debut.
Founder Cindy Phillips, who competes in professional beach tours, said, “Our focus has always been to grow the sport from the bottom up. The niche we have tried to fill since the approval of sand volleyball is to be the bridge between players and college coaches.”
Several of her well-trained protégés, who have long competed in these clinics and in tournaments, have recently been offered college scholarships to compete in the NCAA’s inaugural Sand Volleyball season.
“This has definitely been one of the highlights of my career and my time involved in this sport. Watching our players who have worked so hard for so many years now have the opportunity to make history in this sport has been an unbelievable experience,” said Phillips.
Such Beach Dig graduates as Stephanie Pellitteri, Julie Brown and Kayla Joyce are among those who were recruited - due, in part, to a college “Scout Camp” hosted by Beach Dig last July. At this Fort Lauderdale, FL outing, numerous coaches evaluated dozens of players in this one-of-a-kind scouting combine. This trio, eager to compete together, will form the heart of the Florida State roster.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association, which spearheaded the movement to establish Sand Volleyball as a collegiate sport, has welcomed Beach Dig’s role. Executive Director Kathy DeBoer said, “They are one of the clubs that has been very active and aggressive in promoting the sport to interested athletes and in linking recruits with college coaches.”
And success certainly breeds success. “I can tell by the constant flow of emails we get from all over the country that the popularity is growing dramatically, said Phillips. “With another Olympics coming up, where our (elite) teams are sure to dominate again, and with college sand volleyball now in full effect, I think we are going to see this number (of participants) rise significantly.”
Phillips and her dedicated coaching staff can take pride in solidifying this firm foundation for continued beach volleyball growth and prosperity for years to come.
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