By Marion Filler
Volleyball on the lawn of the Morristown Masonic Center? Yes, but this was no ordinary game.
Leaping and spiking was replaced by lunging and sprawling on a hot Saturday afternoon, as John Titus, an organizer from the Garden Empire Volleyball Association (GEVA), teamed up with members of the Center to demonstrate how the seated version of the sport will look at the Paralympics in Tokyo.
“I’m an Olympic regional recruiter,” said Titus, a Mason, who is a resident of Denville and a full-time teacher who volunteers his time to the GEVA.
“One of my goals is to find the next para-Olympian in the New York – New Jersey area.”
Along the way, Titus invites the public to come along and enjoy para-volleyball, in a flexible new format.
“This is a free program,” said Titus. “We want to give it to anybody who wants it – our veterans, our disabled, our non-disabled, our behaviorally disabled.”
It can be played while seated on the ground or in a wheelchair but also extends to “just anyone who wants to play, and might not jump around as much as they used to. It’s a great alternative, much like pickleball for tennis,” Titus said.
Volunteers demonstrated the technique on two blue tarps measuring approximately 33 feet by 16 feet, with a 3 1/2 foot net. Titus said about a dozen people visited the Maple Avenue site throughout the afternoon to play and watch.
Three came from Cohome, the adult residence on 44 Miller Road in Morristown. Cohome invited GEVA to the nonprofit’s “Spring Neighborly Celebration” on June 6, 2021, from 2 pm -6 pm.
Titus hopes to set up and demonstrate how the game is played for an even larger audience.
GEVA began about two years ago, as an offshoot of the U.S.A. Volleyball Olympic structure.
The Masons contributed towards Saturday’s snacks, drinks, pizza, and T shirts, which all were free to visitors. The Center likely will be the site for the next demonstration in mid June.
“We felt like it was a really good thing for us to do,” said Glenn Visscher, secretary for the Masonic lodge.
State Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-25th Dist.) stopped by to cheer on the participants, and offered to assist in any way she could.
Titus hopes to spread the word through GEVA members, and social media, and any other opportunity that comes along.
“We have the equipment, now we have to find people who want to play.”
