The Nanaimo Sports and Social Club has been connecting adults through recreation since 2018. The club is now back outdoors with some new games like grass volleyball. (Dan Marshall/NNN)

By Dan Marshall

Grass Court

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NANAIMO — Unique recreation opportunities like grass volleyball is one of the hallmarks of the Nanaimo Sports and Social Club.

A summer league is underway at Pleasant Valley field on Monday nights.

Co-founder Chuck Hocker said while there are places to play on sand in Nanaimo and Parksville nothing was being offered on grass.

“There’s a huge desire for volleyball. We’ve sent out surveys and the feedback is it’s a sport people want.”

The sessions are set up so experienced players can have a place to play but also for novice players to be active and learn the game as they go.

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There are 16 teams playing for seven weeks with athletes of all different skill levels.

Each squad plays two games a night with four courts going at the same time.

The NSSC was started in 2018 with dodgeball being the most popular activity.

Other sports like kick ball, whiffle ball, recreational soccer and futsal have also been offered but Hocker is confident volleyball will become a core sport for the club.

“We’re looking at running some indoor volleyball in the near future. We’re planning a shortened fall session and continue on grass next spring and summer. We’d love to do sand volleyball as well.”

Hocker said the social component of the NSSC has never been more crucial than it is now.

“Seeing people reconnecting and having that distraction is so important. I’ve never taken for grant people spending their free time with us. Especially when they may only have one night a week to do it.”

The club doesn’t have a yearly membership, players can choose to sign up for the individual sports they like most.

There are about 200 people involved across four summer sports currently and Hocker expects it will rise to nearly 450 if indoor COVID-19 restrictions ease as anticipated on Sept. 7.

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