Having had Covid 19 - what is Alex Porter looking forward to after lockdown?
Alex Porter Volleyball Performance Coach
University of Essex
1. How were you first introduced to Volleyball?
Mr Harris was my PE teach at secondary school. It was his first year teaching at Tendring High School (now Technology College). He introduced volleyball to the PE curriculum and started an after school club which my friend convinced me to attend. For the next 7 years Mark Harris was my PE teach and coach, after I left school he became my friend and mentor.
2. What was the most difficult skill to master on court?
When I was a junior I’d have to say coordination, I was 6 foot at 11 years old and 6 foot 8 by the time I reached 16 which brought struggles for every sport or skill that I tried to learn. As I got older and gained some coordination it then because eye work, recognising the cues from the setter and attacker. Mastering this allowed me to take my game to the next level.
3. What makes you most proud of our Volleyball Family?
Friends for life. I’m still friends with most of the team from school and nearly all of my university volleyball friends attended my wedding 16 years after we graduated. It doesn’t matter how long we haven’t seen each other for, we can pick up exactly where we left off.
4. What was your greatest Volleyball achievement?
Can I have three?
As a player - Developing my grit, for 99% of my playing career I was never the best but you couldn’t out work me, if I failed, I’d try again, if you beat me, I’d work hard to improve to beat you the next time, I saw every day as an opportunity to improve which lead me to become the GB captain.
As a junior coach – Inspiring people to improve themselves and to take the game further. I love the fact that so many of the juniors I worked with made it through to high divisions of the NVL.
As the head of the University of Essex Volleyball Programme – Helping young men and women push themselves further than they think is possible. Their growth amazing me every year.
5. What are you missing most during the lockdown?
The social interaction that volleyball creates every day. It’s not just about ‘getting more reps’ than anyone else, its way more than that, it’s about the interactions within the team, helping others open their eyes to what’s possible and the endless coffee meetings.
6. What are you looking forward to most once the lockdown is over?
I had to self-isolating due to COVID-19 symptoms a week before the lockdown started so it’s been a long time since I’ve seen my parents and siblings. Therefore leaving the house as a family to seeing our relatives, and to watch my one year old daughter play with other children, Facetime isn’t the same.
As for volleyball, I’m looking forward to continue the development of the University of Essex’s programme both on and off the court, there’s a number of exciting things in the pipeline.
