Men's Volleyball Hosts Successful Free Holiday High School Boy's Volleyball Clinic

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — On the evening of Sunday, December 13, 2015, Head Men's Volleyball Coach Patrick Dietz and the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's volleyball team hosted a free boy's volleyball clinic at The Hill Center.

It was the first clinic of its kind conducted by SJC Brooklyn and by all accounts the night was a great success. Coach Dietz and a few members the Bears team (Norrin Martinez, Clyde Delacruz, Alec Smalley and Thomas Ambrosino) directed three separate volleyball sessions with the emphasis on knowing better fundamentals.

Over 60+ New York City and Long Island area high school boy's volleyball athletes came to learn. Many of those teams' coaches also joined, as Dietz gave a small coaching demo along with the players' clinic.

One of the attending coaches thanked Coach Dietz and the team for getting her team on the right footing for the upcoming high school season. "My boys thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much. They were excited to run the drills today and this day really helped reignite their enthusiasm and team spirit," stated James Madison High School Head Coach Patricia Athanasakis in an email. "Thank you so much for helping me start my pre-season on the right foot. We are all very fortunate to have had this opportunity with you. I am also glad you noticed Greg. He not only has great skills, but he is very teachable and has a positive, 'can do' attitude,"

"For me, it's about making sure the people and players in Brooklyn know we are here and we have men's volleyball [that's pretty much it]," commented Dietz. "This program is eight years old and not one time did we connect to the community. Having the community involved is the BEST way to grow your program. 'It's take a village to raise a child' and my child is this volleyball program."

Another part of Coach Dietz's community connection will be to have local kids be team ball "shaggers" and floor wipers during home matches.

"It's an investment in Fort Greene. It's an investment in our team and school, and more importantly, it's an investment in the future of the sport of volleyball. Not enough kids, from the ages of 9 to 12 are exposed to it enough. I feel its my part of my duty to 'Grow The Game' as we say with USA Volleyball."

Among the participating high schools were Taft, Stuyvesant, John Levin, James Madison, HS of Medical Science, Claremont, Aviation, American Studies, LaGuardia, Cardozo, Berkeley Carroll, Seward Park, South Bronx and Uniondale.

The men's volleyball team plans on holding one more free clinic in the spring, just before the start of the New York City Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) season. There are also, future plans to conduct three summer based volleyball camps, for a small fee. The camps will be in late July early August. For more information on the spring clinic or summer volleyball camp, please contact coach Patrick Dietz at ADietz2@sjcny.edu.