Special Olympics

This past Sunday, my team and I held a volleyball skills clinic for the Special Olympics organization. Three different groups from different areas attended, totaling about 35 athletes.

It was so awesome to be able to interact with the participants and to witness their eagerness to learn and improve at the game of volleyball.

We split into three courts, with 3-4 coaches stationed at each court. That way, we were able to focus on one skill at a time. I worked the hitting court, which is almost always the most enjoyable skill for beginners. They have a lot of fun learning to spike the ball, and you can see their excitement and feelings of accomplishment when the ball successfully goes over the net.

Not only are they excited with success, but the learning process and improvements are fun as well. Every moment spent in the gym during the duration of the clinic was thoroughly enjoyed. We all were having fun, interacting and getting to know each other through sport.

I think that sport is an awesome way to give back to the community. As student-athletes, it is something we know a lot about, so why not use it to our advantage? I truly believe that the members of the Special Olympics greatly benefited from the time they spent in the gym, learning more about the game of volleyball and interacting with student-athletes, as well as each other. It was an awesome environment to be in.

Just as they benefited from learning about a sport from student-athletes, I think that many other people around the world could as well. It is important not to limit ourselves to what is easily accessible, but to reach out to those in need that we may not even have direct connections with.

The skills developed through collegiate athletics can carry you a long way; why not let it carry others as well?