INTENT on establishing a prep and primary school volleyball competition, the Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) has lured International Level III coach Jessie Knight of Calvary University, Canada to conduct a series of workshops with physical education teachers and children throughout the island.

Arriving on December 10, Knight has already donated 24 balls distributed to participating schools.

The National Arena in Kingston, Church Teachers College in Mandeville and Mannings High School in Savanna-la-Mar will be the three centres used for the workshops.

Schools in Kingston, St Andrew, St Thomas, and St Catherine will visit the National Arena on December 13-14; while those in Manchester, Clarendon and St Elizabeth will go to Church Teachers’ College on December 15-16; and at Mannings High, Westmoreland and St James schools will have their workshop on December 17-18.

JaVA president Major Warrenton Dixon said participating schools have embraced the programme.

“The PE teachers have had challenges balancing volleyball with other competing sports that are already entrenched in the schools.

However, encouraging interest and enthusiasm have been shown in many schools by the teachers and children,” he said.

In spite of proposals, no sponsor has yet signed on to the programme, but Major Dixon presses on.

“Despite the financial challenges that we face, we are not allowed the luxury of excuses. We have a mission and it will be achieved. We will have to modify how we do what we do, but in the end the mission will be accomplished,” Dixon noted.