Hundreds of volleyball, field hockey and soccer players returned to their public high school teams last week. Cross-county training picked up and swimmers were back in the pool, all following the end of the public school teachers labour dispute with the B.C. government that delayed the school year.
Depending on the sport, Vancouver’s public school seasons have been shortened this year by one to three weeks. Senior girls volleyball begins Oct. 2 (the first games were Sept. 26 in 2013) while the boys get started seven days later. Senior boys soccer started Sept. 17 one year ago and will kick off next week while girls field hockey begins next week, two weeks delayed.
In cross-country, the schedule was shortened from four to three district meets in order to hold a zone final by Oct. 22 in time for provincials Nov. 1. The first race was Sept. 30.
Regardless of the delay, the gymnasium at Hamber secondary was full for two volleyball tryouts last week and again Monday. Hamber won the Vancouver title in 2011 and ’12 and a year later lost in the final to David Thompson. For this season, the Griffins recruited a promising new coach and Hamber alum, Chris Klassen. A UBC Thunderbirds setter after playing at Capilano and Selkirk colleges, Klassen always intended to coach at high school.
The only place for him was Hamber, where he was the Grade 12 male athlete of the year in 2007 — two years after his older brother and 30 years after his mom Alicja earned the same female recognition.
After making cuts, the Griffins will likely absorb the junior players in the senior team. Klassen liked what he saw.
“I do not remember being this old and playing this well as these guys do,” he said. “There are a couple bigger boys that know how to put the ball down with some pace.”
He estimates the team lost about a month of pre-season training followed by the delayed or cancelled games but said players have been putting in their own time.
“All teams will suffer the same. What we would have lost is a couple weeks of practice, which means we just have to compact it a little more. The guys who want to be on the team, you can tell, were getting reps in during the down time. They enjoy playing, and I know they’re putting the work in.”
His strategy is to build team cohesion and find a skilled setter who can run the offence. Klassen said, “The game revolves around the setter and his choices and his abilities and how he can set up his hitters.”
Sam Chu and Jonah Lee-Ash, a 2013 graduate, will assist as coaches. “I’ve already noticed [Lee-Ash] has a friendship with the players,” said Klassen. “I like having that. You want a coach who can relate to the guys.”
The league is contended by 12 teams split between the east and west divisions. The first games are set for Oct. 15.
