Regina Youth Volleyball is making a move from school gymnasiums to its own barn to call home.
With schools in the city not allowing outside organizations to use their spaces due to COVID-19 restrictions, the organization had to find an alternate way to play its games.
So executive director Chelsey Clifford says the organization had to act on an idea it was mulling over for a while.
“We had always thought about having our own facility the past couple years; it has always been in the back of our minds,” Clifford said. “In previous seasons we were juggling three different locations per season — we would have equipment at the (University of Regina), we’d have equipment at one school gym and then other equipment at another school gym.”
So the organization made a permanent move into the Canada Centre at Evraz Place, into what is now dubbed the “Volleybarn.”
“We’re kind of combining the building’s history with what we’re doing with the space now. I think this building is 60 years old and it has always housed some of the farm animals during major events like Agribition and Farm Progress (Show). We decided to embrace that history and decided to call it the Volleybarn,” Clifford said.
“Without facilities we don’t have a program, I don’t have a job (and) kids don’t have somewhere to play volleyball. In foresight, we had to definitely think ahead about if we don’t have a facility, what are our options.”
Regina Youth Volleyball has set up its permanent home in the Canada Centre at Evraz Place. (Britton Gray/980 CJME)
Regina Youth Volleyball has around 500 athletes registered for its fall program, with more on a wait list. The youth volleyball program features a Learn To Play program (grades 1-6) and league play (grades 4-12).
It has also partnered up with Summit Volleyball, a club program. The new location allows them to run programming seven days a week.
Clifford says the only indoor volleyball facility is the only one in Regina. With the COVID-19 shutdown putting an end to many spring and summer sports, Clifford said Regina Youth Volleyball wanted to do whatever it could to give kids a chance to play.
“I think we had a moral obligation to be offering a physical activity for kids to get themselves out of the house and get themselves in a structured routine and get them socially back involved with their friends,” Clifford said.
Athletes can register for the Summit Volleyball programming now. Clifford said registration for a winter program will open up later in October.