Fair Grove’s Next Generation of Volleyball Players

Following the end of the middle school volleyball season at Fair Grove, volleyball Coach Nancy Downing started an open gym for 5th and 6th grade girls who are interested in playing Middle School volleyball once they are in 7th or 8th grade and eventually move on to high school volleyball. The open gyms are held in the FEMA shelter gym on Wednesday from seven to eight in the morning.

The open gym was started by Coach Downing to help the new players get used to volleyball. Coach Downing said, “They are learning fundamentals before they start middle school volleyball. A lot of them had never even touched a volleyball before.” Along with practicing drills the players also work on their game by playing each other and doing some team building exercises. The open gym also serves as practice for any of the players who plan on playing club ball in the future.

The future of Fair Grove Middle School volleyball looks positive with Coach Downing adding, “The coaching staff is great here and the volleyball program has been strong for a long time. With this group, the program is going to get even better.” The 5th and 6th grade classes are both bringing some promising athletes into the Fair Grove volleyball program. According to Coach Downing, “5th and 6th grade both have some really strong players that are getting better and better with each open gym, preparing for club ball later this school year.”

Although the open gym has been going on since early October, any 5th or 6th grade girls that are interested in participating are allowed to join in on the practices which will go on until the end of spring break. They will need to bring is a change of clothes and some athletic shoes but after that they are set to practice.