Lucas Hillbeck loves playing sports with his friends. Currently, he’s involved in local soccer, basketball, cricket, and swimming clubs. He also enjoys watching his sister Maddie play volleyball for the Fremantle Fury Volleyball Club in the Western Australian Volleyball League (WAVL).
Thanks to Volleyball WA’s Adaptive Volley program for people with disability of all ages, supported by the DLGSC, Lucas has now added volleyball to the long list of sports he loves to play! Whilst Lucas had experienced and enjoyed volleyball through junior programs and indoor beach volleyball activities at school, the Adaptive Volley program at Leisurefit Melville, co-delivered by Fremantle Fury, presented a new opportunity for him to represent and belong to his local volleyball club.
As a bonus for Lucas, the head coach of the Adaptive Volley program at Leisurefit Melville is none other than his sister, Maddie! Lucas says his favourite part about being coached by Maddie is that “she makes it lots of fun and I get to help her with demonstrations for the group, we also practice at home together.”
“As soon as I heard about the program, I knew that I wanted to help out because of Lucas,” Maddie said. “I have gone to some of Lucas’ games for his other sports and have felt how much happiness it brings all the players, and I wanted to create that sense of excitement and eagerness around volleyball. I think volleyball is such a fun sport, and I loved the idea of getting more people on board to play together no matter their ability.”
Through Volleyball WA’s Adaptive Volley initiative, we endeavour to support more affiliated clubs in taking ownership of these programs, creating a welcoming environment for people with disabilities and their families, just as Fremantle Fury has done! It is our vision to make volleyball more accessible to people with disabilities, helping to create many more stories like Lucas and Maddie’s!
In addition to the program at Leisurefit Melville, there are now Adaptive Volley disability inclusion programs in Mirrabooka and Mandurah, as well as an all-abilities program delivered by Reds Volleyball Club at Aquinas College, a total of four programs. Each of these programs begins their 6-week Term 4 programs this Saturday, the 26th of October!
To register for any of these programs, go to https://volleyballwa.com.au/adaptive-volley/. To find out more, email inclusion@volleyballwa.com.au or call 08 9228 8522.