The Krush Volleyball Association of Niles, in accordance with some of the local area schools, is starting a new youth Spiker Volleyball League with the intent of introducing and teaching the game to students much earlier than is currently practiced.

The league will have third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade divisions and will act as “feeder” programs into each of their own respective school districts. Spiker Volleyball will be ran on a Rocket Football format with the schools themselves handling certain aspects of their youth teams.

As of now Dowagiac, Cassopolis, Brandywine, River Valley and Bridgman have all committed to league.

Krush will be offering spots on house teams (Krush sponsored) for players from school districts who are not affiliated already with the league. The Krush sponsored teams will only be for players whose schools are not participating; all others will be referred to their own district teams.

The league will get started Oct. 12, and will run for six weeks with a single elimination tournament being held on Nov. 23 to crown league champions in each division. Teams will play one match of three games to 25 each week.

League sign-ups will be held Sept. 21 from 9 to 11 a.m. at each district’s elementary school, while Krush house team sign-up will be held at the Krush Volleyball courts on Terminal Road in Niles. Sign-up costs will be $35 per player with the fee covering all uniform and equipment purchases for the season.

Anyone with any questions pertaining to the league are encouraged to contact Krush director Dennis Cooper at (574) 298-0898 or via email at dennis.cooper@krushvbc.com.