Source for Success

SARASOTA — Kristen Batt always looks for ways to grow the game she loves.

The Sarasota resident and Cardinal Mooney High volleyball coach, who captured a state championship at Venice, grew up playing volleyball during a time when California was the place to play.

All of the sport’s top players would venture to the Golden State for the opportunity to train both indoors and on the beach.

But over the past few years, Batt, who returned in 2009 to Florida to pursue her professional beach career, has seen Florida make a name for itself throughout the volleyball community.

This fall, Batt hopes to bring national and international recognition to the area while helping advance the game of volleyball.

Batt recently founded SOURCE Volleyball Academy, a residential volleyball academy for student-athletes with a passion for volleyball who are dedicated to reaching their goals.

“I see this as an opportunity to train kids, whether it be indoor or on the beach, and to continue to grow the game and make Florida a very strong volleyball state,” Batt says. “California has always been the place to play, but Florida is starting to add to that.

“Kids are starting to play earlier now, so to be involved with a school that helps kids train full-time was a great opportunity,” she says.

Batt was first approached about the idea about a year ago. From that point, Batt began working to put the program in place.

“Volleyball is such a popular sport, and it’s growing so much,” Batt says. “Beach volleyball is a scholarship sport now, and it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the NCAA. So, for kids to be able to train and go to school while focusing on their sport is a really good opportunity for them.”

The academy, which will officially launch when school resumes this fall, is part of the Sarasota International Academy of Sports and Arts umbrella. SIASA includes Elevation Prep Academy, which handles the academic side, as well as a number of sports and arts academies, including basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, ballet and more.

Beginning in August, players will train five days a week for nine months with top area coaches and trainers to prepare for the next level.

Working alongside Batt will be her husband and current Riverview High volleyball coach, Joe Rohr, and former The Out-of-Door Academy volleyball coach Craig Wolfe, who recently stepped down from his post at ODA to focus on helping run SOURCE Volleyball Academy’s indoor training program. The three also coach together at Coastline Volleyball Club.

“I was honored she asked me to get involved,” says Wolfe, who plans to work as an assistant and junior varsity coach at Riverview. “It’s an exciting opportunity to start a new program and to be able to dedicate that much time to students who are passionate about the game.

“It’s really exciting to be able to encompass so many passions under the same umbrella,” Wolfe says. “It takes the best of the best to make this work.”

SOURCE Volleyball Academy will offer both indoor and beach training for students in middle school through 12th grade. The academy also will offer a post-graduate program for those students wanting an extra year to prepare for college.

During the nine-month program, athletes will focus on individual skill training, proper technique, team strategies, systems of play, game management and more. Players will train either on Siesta Key beach or on the new SOURCE Volleyball courts on the Elevation Prep Academy campus, depending on their specific area of interest. They can also participate in both training programs until they determine where they want to train.

“The program is designed for each individual,” Wolfe says. “We really want to get each individual student to achieve their goals. Our (focus) is how can we help the students get to where they want to be.’”

In addition to training and both physical and mental conditioning, athletes will watch high school and college matches and compete in AAU or other types of events during the club volleyball season, which typically begins in November. Beach volleyball players also will attend tournaments and could eventually hold their own tournaments, as well.

In January, between 10 and 20 Brazilian female players will come to SOURCE Volleyball Academy for a camp to see the school and learn more about the academy. Batt and Wolfe plan to continue running camps throughout the school year, as well as during the summer, to draw interest in the program.

“I see a lot of options in the future to grow the brand in terms of a business opportunity and for players who want to be involved in volleyball,” Wolfe says.

For more information on SOURCE Volleyball Academy, visit GSDAcademies.com/sarasota/sports/volleyball.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].