Dozens of children join Volleyball camps run in Iceland

With the return of children to their classes, CEV School Project activities have resumed in Iceland as well, where three volleyball camps were organised specifically in conjunction with the project. 

The first camp was held in Mosfellsbær at the very beginning of September and a second such action was run up north in Akureyri on September 9-10. Registration was open to everyone and there was no need to be affiliated with a club, but the Icelandic Volleyball Federation (BLI) did keep good track of those players who are registered with a club already. Coaches throughout the camps came from volleyball clubs based in the neighbouring areas and their attendance will be especially important throughout the winter period when work with the schools around the country will continue. 

The volleyball camp held in Mosfellsbær was attended by 51 kids, namely 36 girls and 15 boys. They worked on their skills with as many as 11 qualified coaches: Borja Gonzales Vicente, Bjarki Benediktson, Bryan Silva, Emil Gunnarsson, Gonzalo Garcia Irelis, Maribel Ilarraza Avendano, Heba Sól Stefánsdóttir, Máni Matthíasson, Rósborg Halldórsdóttir, Tamás Kaposi, and Thelma Dögg Grétarsdóttir.

Some 65 children came together in Akureyri - 43 girls and 22 boys, who enjoyed working under the supervision of the seven coaches hired by the Icelandic Volleyball Federation for the occasion: Auður Pétursdóttir, Julia Bonnet, Oscar Celís, Miguel Mateo Castrillo, Paula Del Olmo Gomez, Pedro Jose Lozano Caballero, and Zdravko Kamenov.

A total of 10 volleyball clubs were involved during these camps, starting with Afturelding and KA, with – together with the National Federation – were responsible for the actual delivery of these camps. Additional clubs involved were Blakfélag Hafnafjarðar, Fylkir, HK, Huginn, Völsungur, Vestri, Þróttur Fjarðabyggð, Þróttur Reykjavík. Moreover, two schools – Varmárskóli and Lundaskóli – were heavily involved in the promotion of the camps too.  

A third, smaller such camp was held in Dalvík from September 15-17 with participation of 41 kids, 26 girls and 15 boys performing with the help of coaches Bryan Silva, Bjarki Benediktsson, Oscar Celís and Thelma Dögg Grétarsdóttir.

The plans drafted by the BLI for this past September included a course for coaches working with the youngest age groups as well – however, the start of the club season and work being done to prepare for the NEVZA U17 and U19 Championships prevented this course from going ahead.