Two-time Olympic gold medal champion Kerri Walsh entertained a host of aspiring young volleyball players last Sunday at Malibu High School when she conducted a free youth volleyball clinic. Walsh shared her knowledge of volleyball and a few life lessons with the 63 kids who attended, ranging from ages eight to 14.
Walsh kicked off the clinic with three 15-minute sessions on the fundamentals of volleyball. With the assistance of coaches from the Westlake Volleyball Club, Walsh focused on the skill sets of setting, hitting, passing and serving.
“It was just so much fun to be with a professional,” said Grace Conway, 12. “I learned new stuff. I learned a different way of hitting. She taught us to hit like a bow and arrow.”
After the first hour of teaching, Walsh then spent 30 minutes answering questions and sharing her thoughts on life’s lessons such as never giving up, no excuses, commitment, hard work and perseverance.
“It was really life-changing and it taught me how to play the game of volleyball, which I have never played before,” Noah Fortson, 13, said. “She taught me how to keep going even if you feel like you can’t do it anymore. Never quit.”
The event was sponsored by the City of Malibu with help from the National Football League, which donated $50,000 to the city two years ago as part of its “NFL Play 60” program. The program is aimed at promoting the health of children by encouraging them to be active for at least 60 minutes per day. The city is using the money to promote youth sports in Malibu.
Walsh was invited by Amy Crittenden, recreation manager for the City of Malibu, and Katie Gallo, recreation coordinator. They partnered with the Westlake Volleyball Club to make the event happen. Bringing Walsh to town was quite special considering she is just beginning to train for the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
Walsh is one of the most decorated women volleyball players of her generation. She was a four-year, first-team All-American at Stanford University and was honored as the NCAA co- Player of the Year in 1999.
She won national championships at Stanford in 1996 and 1997. After her successful collegiate career, Walsh took the Association of Volleyball Professional beach tour, or AVP, by storm. She is a two-time AVP Most Valuable Player (2003, 2004) and was part of a remarkable 89-match winning streak on the AVP circuit with partner Misty May-Treanor.
Walsh and May-Treanor’s popularity skyrocketed when they won gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. They are currently the number one-ranked women’s beach volleyball team in the world. Walsh and May-Treanor will defend their gold medal in August at the 2012 London Olympics.
Bryan Goff, owner of the Westlake Volleyball Club, said learning from a player of Walsh’s stature was a treat for the kids.
“It was a great opportunity for not only Malibu but the local area to get a chance to see a world athlete up close,” Goff said. “To be able to learn from her and ask her questions is essentially for most kids a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Most kids don’t get that anywhere in the world. It was special today.”
But Walsh, who stuck around afterward to sign autographs for each child, said she got as much out of the event as anyone.
“These days, selfishly, are fantastic,” Walsh said. “It fills my inspiration bank and gets me going.
“The kids were really enthusiastic and it was just so cool to have the City of Malibu get behind this event,” Walsh continued. “I always learn a lot from these things and I always come away really inspired and wanting to work harder. These are great kids who look to me as a role model, which is a very special responsibility.”
Gallo appreciated the life lessons Walsh taught to the assembled youth.
“She really stressed to be a good student-athlete, be a good person and not to compete against other people but to compete against yourself to be the best person you can be,” Gallo said.
Walsh concluded the clinic with a powerful message for everyone.
“Dream big and have courage to chase your dreams,” Walsh said.