PROfile Pakmen Beach
The Pakmen Beach Club was established in 2006 in Mississauga. How the courts were built is an inspiration for community or individuals wanting to start their own program. Kelly Smith, the staff at David Leeder Middle School, and the Pakmen Volleyball Club organized a fundraiser for the school and community. The event was a huge success and resulted in the school building two courts on campus. The courts are now enjoyed by gym classes and the Pakmen Volleyball Club. The club has seen steady growth thanks to some great coaches including Daniel Shermer from the Elite Beach Club, David Zanchetta, Jonathan Turalinski, Ed Turalinski and Jessy Satti.
Top players like have all come though Pakmen with many more in the pipeline. Pakmen’s Alumni includes:
Dan Dearing – Beach National Team Member,
Kristian Kuld – UCLA
Niko Rukavina – Queen’s University’s
David Zanchetta – McMaster
Felipe Humana-Paredes, Jessy Satti, Devon Rattie and Clayton Weyraunch – York University
Jordon Langley and Derek Quinn – OCAA All-Stars – Humber
Terrel Bramwell – All-Canadian – Humber
Meg Rector – AUS Rookie of the Year and CIS All-Rookie Team Acadia
Jenny Pierce – Western
Leah Urquhart – Brock
Alexandra Hudson – University of Toronto
Chelsea Jensen – Mercy Hurst – University of Pennsylvania
Amy Yorke – Dalhousie
OVA: How/Why did you start the club?
Kelly Smith: We started the club in 2006 to get our indoor players on the beach during the off season to improve their overall skills and let them experience a new sport.
OVA: Best part about running a Beach Club?
Kelly: Kids love the game.
OVA: What do you like most about coaching?
Kelly: I enjoy working with athletes and appreciating their bodily-kineasthetic intelligence.
OVA: What is the best way for an indoor athlete to transition to beach?
Kelly: Just do it.
OVA: What makes your club special/stand out?
Kelly: We’re Pakmen – Canada’s only multi-cultural volleyball club – we always stand out.
OVA: What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own club?
Kelly: Start small, focus on quality and everything else falls into place.
We would like to thank Kelly Smith for taking the time to help us with this interview. We wish him and the Pakmen Volleyball Club luck as they finish the 2009-2010 indoor season and move into beach.
For more information on the Pakmen Beach Club please visit their website.
www.pakmen.com
If you would like your beach club profiled please contact Josh Nichol | 416-426-7233 | jnichol@ontariovolleyball.org
