United States coaches hold volley outreach program

MANILA, Philippines - American volleyball coaches Eric Hodgson and Michelle Goodall join US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Michael Klecheski today in an outreach event which includes donation of volleyball equipment and holding of friendly volley games at Asilo de San Vicente de Paul Orphanage on UN Avenue, Paco, Manila.

Goodall has more than 24 years of experience directing and coaching volleyball programs. She is currently the director of membership development for the Iowa region of USA Volleyball and a member of USA Volleyball’s Paralympic and Grassroots Commissions.

Hodgson, on the other hand, has coached volleyball the last 18 years and has worked with the Arizona Region of USA Volleyball for the past 13 years. He serves as the coaching education director for the region and also started and ran the region’s high performance program from 2001-2011. 

Hodgson and Goodall are currently in the country under the US Department of State’s sports envoy program.

Earlier this week, the sports envoys held clinics with 100 US Embassy English Access Microscholarship Program students from Taguig and Muntinlupa National High Schools. The two coaches also held volley clinics for 50 girls from Visayas and Mindanao at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City.

Sports envoys are athletes and coaches who travel all over the world to lead sports diplomacy activities. The envoys hold sports clinics for young people and their coaches, participate in community outreach activities, and engage youth in a dialogue on the importance of leadership and respect for diversity. This year’s program in the Philippines is focused on empowering young women and girls.