Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School will host the 2021 4A Alberta Schools Athletic Association Boys and Girls Provincial Volleyball Championships.
The provincial championships, if they go forward, will be played from Nov. 25 to 27.
Very few inter-school events have been played since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last March.
Originally, Notre Dame High School was supposed to host the 2020 4A provincial volleyball championships, which were cancelled because of the pandemic. Notre Dame was offered a chance to host in 2021, but deferred and with a lack of bids on the event, Lindsay Thurber was awarded the championship.
The school last hosted the tournament in 2016.
“Now we’re just trying to figure out how we’re going to make this happen. We don’t know what the restrictions are going to be like. We’re hoping at least may be we get to do it,” said Terence McMullen, tournament coordinator for senior volleyball at Lindsay Thurber.
“We’re trying to get the big building blocks in place and we’ll see more in September when the final details get out there. It will be exciting.”
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McMullen noted that the school’s experience in hosting events will be a big benefit to hosting later this year. They can build on plans from previous tournaments, and build in any COVID-19 protocol that will be necessary next fall. Things like banquets, opening ceremonies, fans in the stands and award presentations – which are normally a huge part of provincials – are up in the air ahead of the 2021 event.
“There will be so many extra things and different things that happen – having some experience probably isn’t a bad thing,” he said.
“It would be tough for someone first time doing it – to get all the little nuances of provincials – as well as any other extra restrictions or COVID pandemic-related circumstances.”
McMullen added they plan to have at least four full courts with six being ideal. They would use the two gyms at Lindsay Thurber, plus potentially using Gateway Christian School.
The medal rounds would be at Lindsay Thurber.
As host school, Lindsay Thurber will get an automatic bid into the event and one other Central zone school will also likely get a bid, depending on how many teams are invited to the tournament.
Overall, the event hinges on volleyball being allowed to be played next year. Most athletes in high school sports have not competed competitively since March 12, 2020.
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