Inspired by the Cuban team at the Montreal Olympics - Jefferson Williams

1. How were you first introduced to Volleyball?

I have vague recollections of hitting a ball over a net at school in Jamaica but this was not organised. My first exposure to organised volleyball was on arrival in Canada, at Centennial Regional High School. Volleyball was on the curriculum and in addition we played it in intramural competitions. I was asked to train with the school team, mainly because of my athletic ability. The Montreal Olympics saw me fall in love with the sport, inspired by the athletes from the Cuban men’s team, who surprisingly won their country the bronze medal.

2. What was the most difficult skill to master on court?

It might come as a surprise but it was spiking. I could jump and make contact with the ball but I had difficulty coordinating my arm swing and ended up with a round house swing. It took some time to sort out but I am pleased to say that the work I put in to correcting it came in handy. I believe that these days this is the best physical volleyball skill that I possess 

3. What makes you most proud of our Volleyball Family?

How much we’ve been able to achieve with the limited financial resources that we have. It always amazes me how much we can achieve when individuals are focused and we all work for the same cause. I believe in legacy and the importance of building on what previous generations have done.

4. What was your greatest Volleyball achievement?

This is an easy one or two. These are two firsts. In my younger days, I was a proud member of the Canadian Junior National Team that were NORCECA Champions in 1978. In winning the competition in Mexico, we won Canada its 1st International Gold medal in volleyball. This team was inducted into Canada’s Volleyball Hall of fame in 2016.

The second of my first came in 1979 during my College career at Rutgers-Newark, NJ. Our team won the Bronze medal in the NCAA tournament, in Pauley Pavilion, UCLA. In winning this consolation match, we became the first men’s team to win a volleyball medal, representing the East Coast

5. What are you missing most during the lockdown?

The contact with the players and coaches. The sound of hand on ball and ball on floor. The banter and ‘thrash talk’ that goes on in a competitive environment.

6. What are you looking forward to most once the lockdown is over?

This is a difficult one to answer given the current uncertainty about when we will be able to restart. I like to have a focus and the fact that there are no time lines to work towards makes it tough. In the meanwhile our coaching team will work to put together the programme and recruit the athletes for the next season, whilst we wait to hear when we can get back to the sports hall.