New Hamilton-Area Volleyball Club Has “Royal” Connections
The Ancaster Lions may be a brand-new volleyball club, but they have strong connections to an established program.
The Lions, who will compete in the Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA), will field 15U boys’ and girls’ teams for the 2012-13 season, with additional age groups to be added in following years.
There are many connections between the Lions and the Redeemer University College (RUC) Royals, who compete in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA.) The Ancaster university’s men’s team won provincial bronze medals in 2010 and silver medals in 2011, breaking into the national collegiate rankings in each of those seasons.
Redeemer’s women’s program has also improved steadily under the leadership of Head Coach Doug Veldman, who will also take charge of the Lions’ 15U girls’ team. Veldman has ten years of coaching experience, having led teams at the high school, club, regional, college, and university level. He expects to complete his Level 3 NCCP coaching certification in the coming season.
The Lions’ 15U boys’ team will be coached by Ed Bosveld, who has more than twenty seasons of experience in coaching elementary, high school, and club teams. Bosveld, who has almost completed his Level 2 NCCP certification, is also a local volleyball referee. Coach Bosveld, himself a Redeemer graduate, will be assisted by Richard VanderWier, a former Redeemer varsity player who led the OCAA West Region in scoring in the 2004-2005 season.
Club Administrator Chantel Schutten—who is also Athletic Coordinator/Events and Facilities Coordinator at RUC—is excited about the Lions’ first season. “Our coaches are highly qualified and have more than thirty years’ combined experience.”
Story submitted by Ed Bosveld as it appears on the Hamilton Sports Xpress Website| HamiltonSportsXpress.ca
