Volleyball expanding

Press, 9 May 1978, Page 37

Volleyball expanding

Volleyball is now penetrating into the extremities of New Zealand, according to the newly appointed national director of coaching, Mr Ctirad Benacek.

“It Is most encouraging to find it as far north as Kaeo and there are very good signs from Otago,” said Mr Benacek, who attended the national secondary schools tournament at Christchurch during the week-end. He intends to give attention to these developing centres because “it is quite obvious that the main centres have coaches coming from the ranks.” Mr Benacek also hopes to pick three regional squads to prepare for the Aslan Games in 1979, and he is co-opting other A grade coaches to assist with the squads.

“This means less travelling expense for the players and the

coaches would receive more exEerience at the national level,” e said.

He will also recommend that this system be adopted for the national teams as well, but with six or seven centres instead of three.

One advantage of this system would be the drawing in of more coaches who should be valuable in the future.

“Volleyball belongs to the whole country now and that’s very good,” he added.

HOCKEY.— The 1979 world tournament will be staged in Perth. Ten nations — Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Great Britain, the Netherlands, India, Malaysia, Canada, France and Pakistan — are likely to compete.