According to a press release, Volleyball Yukon has received funding for new beach volleyball courts in Whitehorse.

The three courts are scheduled to open this summer. Unlike existing beach courts, they will allow Yukon beach teams to book usage time to provide athletes with consistent and reliable training in the Yukon's capital.

In 2021, Shannon Poelman, on behalf of Volleyball Yukon, initiated a funding proposal with a funding partner (and amount) that will be revealed at a later date. The funding agreement was finalized this week.

The funding amount is the single largest in their 48-year history. It will be used to construct the industry-standard beach volleyball courts and retrofit some of the surrounding area.

The project is a partnership between Volleyball Yukon, F.H. Collins Secondary, CSSC Mercier, and the Yukon Department of Education. It was also accomplished with support from the Aboriginal Sport Circle, City of Whitehorse Parks & Recreational Branch, Yukon Sport and Recreation Branch, and Sport Yukon. Volleyball Yukon has been working on the project with all stakeholders nearly every week for the last year.

"​I am so excited to see these courts happen, as they will be a great legacy to our community and to beach volleyball. This will support Volleyball Yukon’s vision and growth of beach volleyball programming, both recreational and competitive opportunities that the courts will provide. In collaboration with our sport and educational stakeholders, we are so excited to build this facility and offer opportunities in this fun and fast-growing sport. Let the sand slinging begin!" exclaimed Poelman, who is also the head coach of the 2022 CSG Women's Beach Team.

Made from a sand and drain rock bilayer, and separated by geotextile, the courts will match the dimensional standards of Volleyball Canada, USA Volleyball and the NCAA, while being close to meeting the standards of the FIVB World and Official Competitions.

Adjacent to the existing F.H. Collins track and field, the courts will be used by the secondary school during school hours and by Volleyball Yukon user groups during the evenings, weekends and summer breaks.

–Submitted by Volleyball Yukon