Volleyball

We welcome all fellow competitors from the International Island Games members especially Volleyball.

The venue for our competition, which will attract the most number of participants in the 2001 Games will now be the Mount Murray Sports Hall & St.Ninian's Sports Hall.
These 2 venues are some 3 miles apart, and transport will be arranged between them.

To ensure the highest standard of equipment for our competition we are importing three taraflex floors from the English Volleyball Association and renewing all stands and nets for the event. The two courts are next to each other with a dividing section for teams and officials.

Because of the number of men's and women's teams expected to compete in 2001, it is likely that all games will commence at 9.00am in the morning with the final game starting at 19.00pm in the evening.

VOLLEYBALL looks set to be the second largest event, behind football, at the 2001 NatWest Island Games with around 400 competitors involved.

Up to now, a total of 13 men's and 11 women's teams are to participate in the sport but as entries do not close until next year, these numbers are likely to rise. The Orkney Islands are returning to volleyball action after missing the Games in Gotland owing to the cost of travel for their players. Teams in each of the competitions will be put into two pools, with the top two sides in the groups progressing to the semi-finals. All islands will then be placed after position play-offs.

Volleyball will be played on two courts at Mount Murray and one at St.Ninian's High School. The sport was due to be staged at Summerland but the venue had to be changed owing to technical difficulties.
The ceiling at Summerland is too low to host an international volleyball competition which requires the height of the court to be at least seven metres. There was also insufficient run-off space for players around the courts.

The Isle of Man is importing three taraflex floors from the English Volleyball Association for the event. These are based in a special arena in the UK and can be moved around the British Isles.
All stands and nets are to be renewed in preparation for the competition and 60 volleyballs are to be acquired, an expensive purchase in itself as each ball costs £30.

The standard of play in the tournament is expected to be very high as it is the main sport of many of the competing islands. As the Isle of Man does not have a volleyball league, the Manx players will be at a distinct disadvantage but will aim to win at least one or two matches.

Anyone who would be interested in playing for the Island next July should contact the volleyball co-ordinator, Paul Bridson, at the NSC on 688555 or on 464184.

Training has now commenced, and takes place on Suinday evenings, anybody interested should contact myself for information.

Officials for the event will come from competing islands, with the remainder being brought over from the UK.

With 84 matches to be played from 9am to 10.30pm each day until the finals on Friday, there is a lot of organisation involved and volunteers are needed. If anyone could spare time during competition week to help at the venues or would like to sponsor volleyball at the Games, which is bound to attract much media interest, please could they get in touch with Paul.