More than 1,000 kids discover Volleyball through school workshops in Finland

The Volleyball Club Puijo Volley from the city of Kuopio delivered a series of Volleyball workshops in early autumn – with visits paid to schools in Pirtti, Jynkä, Neulamäki, Hiltulanlahti, Puijonsarvi and Aurinkorinne in a span time comprised between mid-September and mid-October.

Katja Shalberg, a coach at Puijo Volley and a student in physiotherapy at the same time, delivered all of these workshops – which lasted each for 45 minutes.

At the beginning of each session, the children performed various exercises to test their agility, speed and reaction – doing so in pairs or small groups, most of the time with a ball. After completing the warm-up, they worked on Volleyball more specific technical skills, such as upper arm and forearm passing techniques, before playing smash ball in the end.

As many as 1,138 kids had their first contact with Volleyball through these school visits. Many of them had prejudices about Volleyball, feeling that it hurts your arms and fingers, but Katja was able to prove them wrong. At the same time, the club started open Volleyball classes, and 30 children from the schools eventually joined them.

In the school of Hiltulanlahti, smash ball became so popular that they started a “Smash ball club” during the long break times between lessons in the middle of the day. Boys are especially excited about playing the game.