DENVER, Colo. – Earlier this summer, Regis University Women's Volleyball Head Coach Joel List traveled to Botswana and across southern Africa to help spread the game of volleyball internationally with Bring it Promotions and the Ditsala International Cup.
In partnership with the Botswana Volleyball Federation, BIP looks to bring in American players, and college and club coaches to work with athletes to improve the overall level of the National Team and develop players within Botswana. Teams play in friendly matches, and also visit local schools to conduct clinics to promote volleyball as a sport for young athletes.
From May 28-June 8, List helped run camps in Gaborone, Francistown, and Kasane, Botswana, and Livingston, Zambia.
Additionally, as a coach of Team BIP, List played matches against teams from the countries of Botswana, Zambia, and Lesotho and took second place overall with a record of 3 wins and 1 loss.
"It was a once in a lifetime experience to be able to travel across the world and communicate with the common language of volleyball. The smiles and enjoyment from the competition and the students we taught were amazing. The delegation we traveled with were amazing people, all with the same intentions of growing volleyball with the rest of the world. Representatives from Chile, the Netherlands, as well as many decorated players such as Logan Tom, who was representing the professional leagues in the United States. We were welcomed by the US embassy and had police escorts while traveling through the capitol. The Vice President of Botswana was part of the closing ceremonies, along with representatives from the volleyball federation and Botswana Sports Commission. I really enjoyed all the camps. They were all outside without volleyball nets many times. The lack of equipment and facilities made things an interesting learning environment, along with having to be aware of the monkeys stealing the volleyballs and running up into the trees. We all can appreciate what we have here in the US when it comes to support, facilities, and organized sports."
Coach List has had the opportunity to coach with Bring it Promotions in Brazil, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Spain, and Portugal.
For more information about Bring it Promotions and the Ditsala International Cup, click here.
Facebook: Ditsala International Cup
Instagram: @ DitsalaInternationalCup
