Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 5, 1993 TAG: 9306050193
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
As a volleyball coach, I was confused by your coverage of the girls' basketball season-change question. Obviously, this decision will directly impact girls' volleyball, yet no volleyball coaches were consulted and seemingly no consideration was given to the positive and/or negative outcome for volleyball programs.
The problems with/concerns over a winter season expressed by the basketball coaches are everyday realities for volleyball programs: the lack of adequate gym space, weather-related delays, competition for media coverage, conflicts with college recruitment, etc. are regular headaches for volleyball, but your coverage implied that these bones of contention would be the exclusive domain of a winter basketball program.
When the original decision was made to move girls' basketball to the "off-season," little consideration was given to volleyball. Admittedly, volleyball was a fledgling sport at the time and hardly resembles today's program. Volleyball has become a major sport requiring just as much practice, skill, discipline, teamwork and strategy as any other high school sport.
No longer is it a given that the top athletes will focus on basketball. Volleyball has become the chosen sport for skilled athletes, and a substantial number of area players have been recruited by and offered scholarships to attend Division I colleges.
PHYLLIS L. BUCKNER
FOREST
by CNB