Addressing a priority goal for the club during the off-season, DIGS has announced a partnership with the Wyckoff Family YMCA that significantly expands DIGS's footprint in Bergen County.

"The Wyckoff YMCA offers a perfect opportunity for DIGS and for the 'Y' to bring DIGS-style volleyball to the western side of the county" observed Bill Lee, club president.  Mr. Lee noted that the Wyckoff Y's gym allows for three full practice courts, creating an environment in which three teams can practice comfortably.

"We are now able to bring together our two 17s teams and our one 18 team into a combined practice - something we have sought to do for years in order to enhance the scrimmage environment and skills development activities.  We will also be running our new Boy's Clinic at the Wyckoff Y in January 2010, providing an opportunity for non-club members to participate in DIGS programming."

The Wyckoff Y felt that DIGS's core values closely matched theirs and that DIGS would be best positioned to grow the sport in their community.  Other opportunities under consideration for the future include launching a Y-based youth program, expanding the DIGS Little Spikes! program for girls ages 6 - 12 to this facility, and organizing summer grass clinics and tournaments.

The arrangement will also help the Wyckoff Y expand its own programming in the field of volleyball.  As part of the arrangement, the Wyckoff Y decided to invest in a high-quality, three-court, volleyball net system as a long-term investment for their facility.  The DIGS staff recommended the Senoh system because of its long history of performance.  Senoh is the official net system for all international competitions, including the Olympics.  DIGS also supervised the system installation.

The Wyckoff Y arrangement will complement DIGS's well-established facilities arrangement with the Solomon Schechter Day School in New Milford, which continues.  Other supplemental facilities arrangements, such as access to the gym at the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, will also continue.  "DIGS has established agreements with several other facilities this season.  This will help the club address the challenges of providing adequate practice space in mid winter when weather cancellations and the needs of the hosts schools impact our ability to hold regular practices," noted Mr. Lee.