Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

GAREL

Pat Garel, president of the Jamaica Volleyball Associa-tion (JAVA), said great things are in store after 13 persons passed the Level II coaching certification course it staged recently.

Sponsored by the Olympic Solidarity Fund through the Jamaica Olympic Association, the Jamaica Volleyball Asso-ciation convened a Level II Volleyball Coaching Course at G.C. Foster College during the period December 4-17.

Seventeen persons sat the course, including an Englishman, Luke Douglas, but it was Oneil Ebanks who finished top of the class, followed by Rupert Fearon and Steve Davis. The lone female coach was Suzette Baker.

"It means great things for volleyball in Jamaica because previous to Sunday, we only had one Level II coach now we have 14, one for each parish," Garel told The Gleaner yesterday.

Great plans

She continued: "We have great plans for all of them including schools and clubs in some way, shape, or form in the programme.

"It is JAVA's vision to have all local coaches certified by the end of 2007," added Garel.

The two expert instructors provided by the International Volleyball Federa-tion, Dr. Tahar Boukef from Tunisia and Mr. Jose Luis Santana Lugones from Cuba, conducted the course which officially concluded on Sunday with an awards ceremony at the Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston.

Top male performer Oneil Ebanks (centre) receives his certificate from Don Anderson (left), first vice-president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), while course director Dr. Tahar Boukef looks on during the closing ceremony of the Federation of International Volleyball Associations (FIVB) Level II Coaches Certification Course, which was held at the Courtleigh Hotel, New Kingston, on Sunday. The event was hosted by the JOA/Olympic Solidarity in association with the Federation of International Volleyball Associations. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer