Digging in With New Graydon Volleyball Program

Don Kilinski's trying to increase interest in North Jersey boys volleyball, and he's recruiting at Graydon Pool.

The Ridgewood resident and parent of a member of the girl's volleyball club DIGS (Do It Garden State), Kilinski has set up summer instruction and clinics for middle school and high school students on the village's pool's sandy shores.

"There's not a lot of interest in boys volleyball, but it's really great exercise for both boys and girls. It's not only a girls sport, and we're slowly trying to change that."

Once a week, Kilinski offers introductory lessons to fifth and sixth grade boys attending the village's day camp. And for high school kids, Kilinski holds Friday (girls) and Saturday (boys) clinics to refine skills and provide chances to play competitively.

Kilinski's daughter, Rachel, is both a DIGS and Ridgewood High School volleyball player. Playing the sport himself in college, Kilinski became active in the New Milford-based club when his daughter and other RHS players became involved. Last year, he started an outreach to get more boys involved in the club.

Why in Ridgewood, and other northern New Jersey towns, are boys behind?

"On the East Coast there's a lot less interest in boys volleyball. As boys volleyball is a spring sport, you're competing against baseball and lacrosse, which are popular in this area," he said.

An added obstacle is in the fact that Ridgewood High School doesn't offer boys volleyball. Due to Title IX restrictions, it's not easy to add another boys sport, he said.

So Kilinski brought it into the communities in the hopes of creating some boys volleyball buzz. Last January, he held a clinic at the Wyckoff YMCA, and will host another workshop in September, before holding tryouts for a boys indoor DIGS team this winter.

In the interim, he approached Ridgewood Parks and Recreation in hopes of utilizing Graydon's sand.

"I thought we could get some interest in volleyball and the pool. [Recreation officials] Nancy Bigos and Jody Schleicher were really excited and very supportive and helpful," he said.

Since starting in late June, camp interest has been great.

The senior counselor for boys entering fifth and sixth grades, Kevin Phelan has witnessed great improvement in his 50 or so campers' volleyball aptitudes in just three weeks.

"The way [Don] teaches it, the kids can learn easy and fast," he said, adding the more athletic campers have picked it up quickly, but other boys like it, too.

Kilinski teaches a skill for 15 minutes, then rotates three teams playing games for 45 minutes. So far, he's covered setting, bumping and spiking, Phelan said.

In his fifth year as a day camp counselor, Phelan said, "Most importantly, the kids are having fun. They say they want to play every day."

It's Kilinski's hope that getting the kids hooked young will result in excited young volleyball players. The boys clinic on Saturday mornings has been slow so far, but the participants are growing steadily, like a tree.

"Maybe this is the season that creates that tree. We'll plant the seed, and if it grows, other people will have to help water it," he said.

Not surprisingly, interest for girls Friday night clinic is solid. And on July 23, DIGS will host a three-on-three and two-on-two girls tournament at Graydon.

Each league costs $100 to join, but Kilinski is flexible on the amount, as both leagues are underway. The girls play Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m., and the boys play Saturday from 9 a.m to noon. The inaugural season concludes August 20 and 21.

For more information on DIGS summer clinic and tournament, visit its website.