FIVB reaches out to CNMI

The 20-year-old Volleyball Cooperation Program of the Federation Internationale de Volleyball has reached the CNMI with a veteran coach from Australia conducting the weeklong Level I Coaching Course at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The program was first known as Sports Aid Program with the goal of developing volleyball and beach volleyball in various national federations from all over the world, except Europe, by providing courses for young players, coaches, and referees.

It is also part of the FIVB’s Volleyball World Vision 2012, which envisions national federations and confederations to become the most professional organizations, each one at its one level, with modern, flexible, and efficient administration under a professional management setting.

This year, 66 nations from Asia, the Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific were scheduled to benefit from the program.

The CNMI is one of only seven islands in the Pacific which was given a privilege to take part in the FIVB program this year. The other six were Palau in March, Fiji in April, Tonga in May, the Solomon Islands in June, Vanuatu in July, and Papua New Guinea next month.

FIVB sent veteran coach Tomas Santamaria to Saipan to conduct a clinic from Aug. 20 to 27.

“The clinic aims to teach CNMI players/coaches the skills in volleyball, theories, techniques, and the proper way of coaching,” said the Melbourne-based Santamaria.

Mini South Pacific Games veteran Mili Saiki and Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association official Russ Quinn, who coached the CNMI beach volleyball team in last year’s Pacific Games in Samoa, were among those who attended the first day of the clinic Wednesday night. They were impressed with Santamaria’s coaching style and playing skills, and encouraged interested individuals to attend the seminar.

“He is a very good coach. He taught us new techniques, which are being used in big leagues all over the world,” Saiki said.

It’s a great opportunity for young coaches and players to learn more from an expert. It’s not every day that we get a chance to be part of FIVB’a program,” Quinn said.

Before joining FIVB in 1990 as an instructor, Santamaria coached the Australian Men’s Volleyball Team for 10 years. He was also a member of the Philippine Team in the early ’50s and played in the Asian Games and coached the RP squad in the World Women’s Volleyball Championships and the first Asian Women’s Volleyball Championships in the ’70s.

Santamaria was happy to see CNMI coaches/players having an adequate knowledge about the sport.

“I am quite surprised to find people who have better understanding of the sport and its rules in a small island like Saipan. It is a good sign for the development of volleyball, both indoor and beach volleyball,” Santamaria said.

“The local organization (NMIVA), just needs to get more people, especially the youth, involved in coaching and in playing to continue the growth of the sport in the Commonwealth. The skills are there, you just need to bring it to another level through clinics and tournaments,” he added.

The clinic, which runs from 3pm to 10pm at the Marianas High School Gymnasium, will continue next week and is still open to interested individuals.

For more information, contact NMIVA president Laurie Peterka at 483-7499 or laurie.peterka@saipan.com or Quinn 287-0318 or at saipanruss@yahoo.com.