MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii -- Clapping their hands and stomping their feet in unison, the Kaneohe 9-to 10-year-old and 11-to 12-year-old girls volleyball teams roared with endless enthusiasm and words of encouragement to their teammates during two games against the Pearl Harbor team at the Semper Fit Center gymnasium Saturday.
Kicking off the 2009 Hawaii Military Youth Athletic Association volleyball competitive season, the young athletes received their first taste of competition after more than a month of practicing together.
Although the two teams competed within their respective age groups, the girls consider themselves one team, with all athletes attending practices and games together.
“I’m very proud of them, and I’ve been having a wonderful time coaching them,” said Deborah Orosco, second-year head coach for both Kaneohe 9-to 10-year-old and 11-to 12-year-old teams. “I think it’s important to keep girls involved in athletics so they can learn discipline, self-control and self-respect,” Orosco said.
Nicole Pudol, first-year assistant coach, and Orosco said they both love being around their enthusiastic athletes and watching them improve their fundamentals skills.
“I think all the girls are having a lot of fun [so far] this season,” Pudol said. “It’s easy to quit something that’s challenging, so I’m very proud of them for showing up every day.”
Pudol said she enjoyed seeing her players ‘come out of their shells’ as they stepped-up their intensity Saturday.
She said her players showed they aren’t afraid to be aggressive on the court and are ready for this season’s competition.
“Today we learned that we can’t be afraid of the ball and we have to talk to each other on the court so we can score more points,” said Jourdan Loera, Kaneohe player.
Loera’s teammate Heather Cantu, agreed the players improved their teamwork, saying they worked on hustling and helping cover each other during the game.
“We worked hard to help each other out [on the court] and encourage each other [off the court],” Cantu said, describing what her coach taught the team. “We support each other by encouraging each other. Even if a player misses a shot, [we encourage them] because we have to be positive whether we win or lose.”
The young athletes said they had a blast competing and cheering for each other Saturday, and are excited for next week’s games.
“By building their self-confidence and character, athletics help [mold] them into strong, independent women,” Orosco said. “I don’t know any parent who wouldn’t want that for their young daughter.”
Orosco and Pudol hope more parents and service members will see coaching the youth sports teams as a great opportunity to get involved in the base community.
“This is a great program which needs more community support,” Orosco explained. “[Through our children’s athletic teams] we are representing Kaneohe Bay’s participation in the program.”
Orosco first became involved in the HMYAA program when she went to sign her daughters up for the 2008 volleyball season and was informed there were no coaches for either of her daughters’ age groups.
Realizing there would be no team without a coach, Orosco happily volunteered, and said she has enjoyed leading the team ever since.
While many HMYAA league athletes improve their game on the volleyball court, others are also currently enjoying competition in the baseball, softball, t-ball and wrestling games.
The competitive season for each of the five sports continues through May 30.
For more information on HMYAA’s youth sports contact the youth sports director, Clark Abbey, at 254-7610.