Sitting Worlds Notes: What's Next for U.S. Teams?

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

EDMOND, Okla. (July 18, 2010) – What’s next for the U.S. Women’s and Men’s Sitting Volleyball Teams after the 2010 World Championships?

After his team qualified on Saturday, more than two years ahead of time, for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London (Aug. 29-Sept. 9), U.S. Women’s Team Head Coach Bill Hamiter (Bethany, Okla.) is relishing in the time he will have to prepare the team.

“There are so many things we can do now that we don’t have to worry about qualifying,” Hamiter said. “I’m already thinking about how I can help them develop the skills we need to continue to rise.”

Hamiter will also continue to scout for new players and develop the talent of the younger players he already has.

“By the time 2012 swings around, we could have a solid 16 players vying for positions on the team with 10 of those vying to start,” he said.

U.S. Men’s Head Coach Edgar Miraku (Elbasan, Albania) will have to prepare his team for its next Paralympic qualifying opportunity at the 2011 Parapan American Games on Nov. 19-27 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“We need to stay focused on the big picture and focus on the Parapan American Games,” Miraku said. “That’s something I’ve already started doing with some of the moves I made in the last few matches here.”

Neither team has any more competitions scheduled for the rest of the year.

LONDON CALLING

Representatives from the London 2012 Paralympic Games organizing committee have been in Edmond filming and interviewing players who will be competing there.

“Most people in London don’t know about this sport,” said Gemma Nunnerley with London 2010. “We want to create a video to promote the sport so people will want to come see it.”

CLASH OF THE TITANS

The stage was set for a clash of fans on Sunday as top-ranked Bosnia-Herzegovina played second-ranked Iran in the men’s gold-medal match of the 2010 Sitting Volleyball World Championships at Hamilton Field House on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO).

Iran was 5-0 and has not lost a set in the tournament. Bosnia was 6-0 and lost one set to Russia in their semifinal. Iran won the battle, 3-2 (25-17, 25-21, 18-25, 19-25, 15-11).

Not only are they the two best men’s teams at the tournament, but each country has the largest and most demonstrative fan presence outside of the United States.

Bosnia’s fans have shown up with giant banners, signs, and the scarves that are so popular with soccer fans.

Iran’s s fans have, at times, used the competition as a chance to promote the Green Revolution that emerged in 2009 following a disputed presidential election in Iran.

But the fans of both countries are obviously passionate about and supportive of their teams.

TRAIN THE TRAINERS

USA Volleyball staff member John Kessel, who oversees the disabled programs, has been teaching military representatives from around the country how to teach sitting volleyball to disabled service members.

Tags: Bill Hamiter, Edgar Miraku, Sitting Volleyball World Championships, U.S. Men's Sitting Volleyball Team, U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team