The Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation is developing indoor volleyball, with plans geared towards more international competitions, the enhancement of a national league and introducing a championship tournament in schools.
For years beach volleyball has been the focus of the federation, with mega events like NORCECA taking place locally. While that will continue to be the priority, Trevor Theroulde, volleyball federation national technical director, and Dean Lynee, youth director, have also turned their attention to indoor competition, which has been in the shadows.
“Our indoors has not really been nurtured up until now,” Lynee told the Compass. “We have been focusing on so much beach over the last decade or so, and we realised there needs to be something else to draw more youth players in,” he said, noting that many players prefer indoors to beach matches.
According to Lynee, over the last several months, the number of players registered with the federation increased from 15 to nearly 150 from the youth level up to age 13 and over.
“And it’s constantly growing,” he said. “Volleyball over the last year has been phenomenal, the level of play has grown drastically… and it has been fantastic seeing it.”
But in order to keep the athletes wanting more, Lynee said he has been working with Theroulde on international competition and their efforts have been proving successful.
“Our national league is coming up and this will showcase where the youth have been and how they have developed,” Lynee said, noting that the league will serve as preparation for the CAZOVA (Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association) under-19 event in July, where Cayman will compete against regional countries like Jamaica and the Bahamas.
The CAZOVA tournament is also a qualifying event for NORCECA and the U20 World Championship.
“If we can get that [qualification], that will change everything for volleyball in the Cayman Islands,” Lynee said.
Outside of that, the federation is trying to facilitate international clubs playing Cayman’s squads, with the possibility of games being held locally.
“We are talking to a few clubs in Florida right now,” Lynee said. “I just want to open up opportunities for these athletes that they didn’t have before.”
Those opportunities won’t only translate into international game play but domestic as well. Lynee added that he is also working with both public and private schools to start a championship league that would take place every year, similar to the current football and cricket leagues.
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