The Osoyoos Beach Volleyball League is expanding from 12 to 20 teams for the 2014 season. League play gets underway next Wednesday evening at the beautiful facility at Gyro Park. (Photo supplied)
One of the fastest growing sports in the world is the fastest growing sport in the Town of Osoyoos.
And for that reason, the Osoyoos Beach Volleyball League is about to undergo a huge expansion just in time for the 2014 season, which is ready to kick off on Wednesday, June 11.
“There’s enough demand that we’re expanding from 12 teams, which we’ve had for the past several years, to 20 teams for this year,” said league co-ordinator Amy Bartsch, who was a founding member of the league dating back to its inauguration back in 2005.
“Everyone is really excited because we’re going to have a lot of new members and this should bring some new excitement to our league.”
As many sports fans know, beach volleyball has been growing in popularity across Canada and around the world over the past two decades.
Since being introduced to the Summer Olympic Games a decade ago, its popularity has skyrocketed and there are now millions of registered beach volleyball players in hundreds of countries around the world.
Here in Osoyoos, beach volleyball was started in 2005 with a group of local volleyball enthusiasts.
There were no courts to play on, so Dan Tarasewich, the owner of the building where Vengeance Fitness and Kobau Lanes are located, graciously donated the sand and filled his parking lot adjacent to his building and the league played its first season there.
“We had an overwhelming response and interest in the league and it was following our first season that we approached the Town of Osoyoos to support our request to relocate to Gyro Beach for the next season,” said Bartsch.
The town was “extremely co-operative” and town staff have been a huge supporter in not only helping build the beach volleyball courts, but also providing equipment and supporting the league and its players, she said.
“I just have to thank the town and Gerald Davis, the director of community development, for all of their support of our league and our sport,” she said. “By helping us out with the courts and equipment, we’ve been able to keep registration fees low and the quality of the league very high.”
All league action features four players on each team on the court at any given time. Each team must have one female player on court at all times. Many teams have five or six members and alternate players, while some just go with four players all season long.
Through sponsor partners like the Town of Osoyoos, Osoyoos Pizza Factory, Vengeance Fitness, Desert Hills Winery Estate, Outreach Neon and Osoyoos Physiotherapy Centre, the league is currently evaluating various community organizations that it can support financially with league proceeds, said Bartsch.
“The Osoyoos Beach Volleyball League believes that recreation encompasses a broad spectrum of activities vital to the development of our community’s character, spirit and culture,” she said. “And because the league is expanding and attracting more players, we want to give something back to the community.”
The courts at Gyro Beach are a spectacular place to play beach volleyball and showcase the amazing facilities offered in our small town, she said.
“We would love to see Gyro Beach used for other sport activities that promote a healthy lifestyle and a sense of community amongst our residents,” she said.
League organizers are also looking to sponsor a major “destination beach volleyball tournament” during the summer of 2014 that would attract players from across the province, she said.
“The tournament would showcase our sport, but also provide economic opportunity for local businesses by providing an increase in our sports tourism market,” she said. “Ultimately, we would love beach volleyball players from all over the province to see Osoyoos as a desirable destination place to look forward to an annual tournament and a perfect place to holiday with their families.”
Bartsch and her husband Jason, a local dentist, are organizing the marketing and promotion of the tournament and will release more details once a date and more information become available, she said.
“Volleyball has always been a passion of both of ours and it’s great to watch the calibre of volleyball increase year after year,” she said.
The league has its own Facebook page and can be found at facebook.com/osoyoosbeachvolleyball.
There is still room for three teams in the league for 2014. They can enquire about the league at the Town of Osoyoos office or by contacting Bartsch at 250-498-7580.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
