It took time to bring the future Mustangs up to speed during a youth volleyball camp this week.
The pattered drumbeat of children’s feet echoed through the IHS gymnasium as dozens of elementary-age girls practiced the drills.
“There’s been a lot of energy, a lot of fun,” IHS Coach Lauren Moots said. “They’re learning the fundamentals of volleyball — the basics of it. I wanted to get them in the gym and get as many touches as possible. They’re a great group of girls.”
Also on hand for this week’s camp are players with the IHS volleyball team. Throughout the camp, the high-schoolers worked with the campers during and in between drills to reinforce lessons. Similar to a black belt teaching white belts in martial arts, the high school volunteers often receive as much benefit from the drills as the campers, reinforcing lessons they learned as youths, but may have inadvertently strayed from.
“It’s been refreshing to relearn some of this stuff and helping kids learn the sport we love,” junior Dally Curry said. “It’s fun. Now, we’re the older ones. We get to teach and take breaks, and they’re working the entire time.”
For Zoie Hesse, the camp brings back memories. “When I was younger, I always looked up to being the older girl. Now, I’m an older girl, they’re looking up to us.”
Hesse said the camp also teaches patience. With Iola graduating five players from its 2024 varsity roster,
equipping underclassmen with the skills necessary for starting roles takes time.
Each day the camp offers a new approach to teaching the fundamentals, Moots said.
How to hold your platform, how to pass, how to serve. The basics of underhand serving.
“Some girls are advanced and learning overhand serving. We’re trying to get them to understand the whole concept of volleyball,” she said.
Although the camp wraps up Thursday, Moots said the Mustangs continue preparing for the upcoming season with morning workouts, summer league and the occasional summer tournament.
“We start the season on August 18. Right around the corner.”
