VOLLEYBALL'S Spring League sprung into life this month boasting an extra four teams.

It is symptomatic of the huge growth in the sport which now boasts over 500 members ? some of whom enjoy year-round action in the Indoor Winter League, Spring Park League and Summer Beach League.

President of Bermuda Volleyball Association Bill Bucci said: "We try to manipulate the field to have as many teams as possible. We try never to turn anyone down. At this stage we haven't had to do that at Bernard Park."

The six-a-side Spring League features six A division teams, 28 B division teams and 21 C Division teams.

"We have 262 players. It's great. We take up the entire Bernard Park every Tuesday."

The whole sport has got more serious recently says Bucci who has been at the helm for six years. It has a development programme running at CedarBridge on Sundays with national team player Gary LeBlanc taking people through two hours of drills based on what the Bermuda side does.

"It's for the players who like to play but want to get better. In the Indoor League although people know how to play they don't really get any practice," said Bucci. "This is giving people the opportunity to do hitting drills and passing drills. This is the first year we have done it but its proving a big success."

The association ran a refereeing clinic last month which saw the president of the US national referee committee come down and give pointers.

"He might come back in September and update us on the course. We can referee with a little more confidence."

In September a children's programme aims to promote volleyball in schools where it often gets sidelined against other more established sports. "Most of the schools have volleyball but mostly it's extra curricula. They don't do very much in the gym classes so most of our national team players are volunteering their time to coach. We are trying to expand that a little bit and have a committee which goes out to the schools and say can we come and help you?

"At the schools a gym teacher just puts six people on a court and gives them a ball because it's not a focus in the schools. So we are saying let us send someone in and the national team players will say this is how you do things and why you do them."

Bucci, 39, who is also Assistant National Men's Coach, urged those eager to try the sport to sign up for the Crystal Clear Corporate Tournament on May 8 in Bernard Park.

The event features six-a-side, co-ed teams. It's our 12th year. We usually get between 30 and 40 teams. It's just a fun volleyball day. Your family can play, your girlfriend can play, your kid can play as long as he's over 12. We do prizegivings, raffles, all kinds of stuff."

Any restrictions are designed to even up the sides to make it more fun.

"People play who have never played before. We have a DJ and a food stand. It's a great day outside."

The same venue will host the Spring Tournament Number 3 on May 29 for two-a-side coed and four-a-side Bs which will cap off the Spring Season before beach volleyball starts in June.

The winter version of the sport is also thriving and providing the nucleus of the national side.

Running from October to March at MSA it generally features ten men's teams, ten women's teams.

"The difficulty of expanding it is we need more gym space." He said increasing interest would make an expansion possible this year, with a coed league one option. Competition wise its the highest level because its indoors, six-a-side same sex."

His team The Big Wave Riders won the recent league. The indoor skill level is higher says Bucci. I prefer the indoor, I like the beach but I am a little iffy on the grass. Too many sprained ankles and hurt knees."

Website: www.bermudavolleyball.bm, hotline: 291 1898, e-mail: bdavbhotmail.com