BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
It serves as an early introduction to the sport, but Keystone Heights High School’s annual Little Indians Volleyball Camp also helps some children discover a love for the sport.
KHHS Varsity Head Coach Kaitlyn Cline said it’s a joy to watch children develop a passion for volleyball and celebrate their successes. She mentioned one child who upon finally being able to serve the ball over the net turned to varsity player Kadence Carlton and shouted, “I did it, Coach Kadence!”
“They’re starting to love the game as much as I love the game and (Assistant Coach) Jordan (Jennings) loves the game and all these varsity girls love the game,” Cline said. “It’s exciting to see that.”
The camp, open to children going into third-sixth grade, was held June 20-22. Cline, Jennings and several varsity players work with the children on setting, attacking and serving, while also making sure the “Little Indians” have an enjoyable experience.
“Our goal here isn’t for them to become D-I athletes, by any means,” Cline said. “We want them to have fun.”
Could some of the camp participants grow into Division I prospects? Sure, but at this age, it’s all about introducing the fundamentals and hopefully improving those skills gradually if the children return to future camps.
“When they come next year, they’ll have some type of knowledge, and they’ll just keep getting better,” Cline said.
Cline said such camps in any sport are beneficial for a small-town school like KHHS.
“Keystone is kind of at the lower end of the totem pole,” Cline said. “The only way we’re going to get bigger and better is if we expose these young girls and boys to the sports we provide at the high school, so that when they get here, they have some type of knowledge. Then we’re just sprucing it up a little bit.”
Besides learning fundamentals, camp participants also had the opportunity to interact with varsity players. Cline believes that was a big deal for many of the children.
“These (varsity) girls are role models to these little girls,” Cline said. “I can guarantee that half of them dream to probably be them at some point — to be able to coach at a camp or play at the varsity level.”
