Volleyball

Teachers in Charge (TiC)

Boys – Mr Braddock (abraddock@otc.school.nz)

I have been involved in and around Volleyball at Ōtūmoetai College since 1998. Having three older siblings go through ŌTC and play Volleyball, I was introduced to the sport at a very early age. When it was time for myself to attend secondary school it was almost a given that I was to participate in Volleyball. Over my five years at Ōtūmoetai College, I was lucky enough to play for multiple teams for the school and the Bay of Plenty.

After leaving school unfortunately I suffered two serious achilles injuries which prematurely ended my playing career. To stay involved in the sport I turned to coaching in 2013 at Ōtūmoetai College. I originally started coaching development teams then slowly moved my way up to the Senior A boys team with the guidance and tutelage of Shane Blake and Anthony Gadsbey. This then led me to coaching many Bay of Plenty representative teams for over 6 years.

Now as the head of boys Volleyball, I wish to try and uphold the previous success Ōtūmoetai College boys volleyball has experienced as well as nurture kind, resilient, and competitive young men.

Girls – Mrs Woodford (awoodford@otc.school.nz)

I began playing volleyball when I hit year 9 at Otumoetai College. I played up until injury forced me from competitive club volleyball and beach volleyball. My interest in coaching started back in my senior years at OTC, and followed through to coaching club teams while I was at the University of Otago.

I started up girls Volleyball at two of the colleges I have been at, and upon arriving back in Tauranga, I began coaching the girls senior C team.

My own kids and I play volleyball in the backyard, and my niece has dragged me back into social Tuesday night volleyball.

Volleyball has a strong college culture at Ōtūmoetai College. It is a summer sport and the season is split over term four and term one. Students compete in weekly competitions at QEII and Mercury Baypark and compete in the Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools regional competitions.

Term One is the senior season, with Nationals being held in March in Palmerston North.

Term Four is the junior season, with the North Island Secondary Schools Championships taking place in November.

All senior trials are held at the end of term 3 with competition starting in Term 4. Normally teams stay the same throughout Terms 4 and 1. However some years senior teams retrial for Term 1. As a rule Junior teams also trial in Term 3 for their season in Term 4.