USAV’s Triangle Volleyball Club, a member of the Carolina Region, has been named the 2018 S.T.R.I.V.E. (Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence) Organization of the Year by the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) and American International Group, Inc. (AIG). Triangle received the honor for its “kids first” approach to safety.
Triangle Volleyball Club serves the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. The club was honored for its dedication to embrace the belief that there is no reason to do what we do each and every day if one does not recognize the very power participation in sports has to shape and develop young people of character, capitalize on the power of the youth sport experience to teach life’s lessons, and prepare them for life beyond the court.
The STRIVE Award for Organization of the Year, now in its seventh year, honors youth and amateur sports organizations that demonstrate a heartfelt passion, an enthusiastic commitment and a contagious spirit to help kids succeed in amateur youth sports activities while keeping young athletes safe.
Triangle Volleyball Club’s comprehensive injury prevention program priorities are to: invest in gym space to provide a safer training environment; identify areas of fundamental weakness or propensity for injury in their athletes, and educate athletes on how to improve their basic movement and mobility; educate athletes on how to care for their bodies considering nutrition, hydration, age-appropriate strength and conditioning, and active rest and recovery methods; and provide services to identify and prevent overuse-type injuries.
The club was also recognized for the essential emphasis placed on the health and safety of its athletes as its top priority while also competing at the very highest level of girls’ junior club volleyball. NCYS appreciates Triangle’s commitment to educate the whole person through excellence in the sport of volleyball. Furthermore, NYCS respects the club’s inclusion of service projects working with disabled (veterans and young people) through sitting volleyball.
The search for the 2018 STRIVE Organization of the Year Award winner began in March 2018 with a nomination period calling for youth and amateur sports organizations that have implemented at least three health and safety initiatives within their organization. During the 22-days of online voting in June, the general public voted for their favorite Organization of the Year on the NCYS STRIVE Award website to determine the winning organization from five finalists.
“With special thanks to the NCYS sponsor AIG, this award recognizes an organizations’ commitment to kids’ health, wellness and safety, demonstrating to young people that Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence (S.T.R.I.V.E.) in a safe, fun, positive environment,” said Wayne B. Moss, executive director of NCYS.
“Triangle Volleyball Club offers up the whole star-studded package with an impressive program of good character development and an extraordinary variety of essential safety procedures,” Moss continued. “They are clearly building the youth of today into leaders of tomorrow.” Moss continues, “They have a model program that balances the importance of life skills and sport skills. We are certain they will continue to advance the vital role these inspiring qualities play for a positive youth sports experience in a safer, more wholesome society.”
Congratulations to everyone at Triangle!