A new spring and summer coed sport is coming to Tuscaloosa.
Northridge head volleyball coach Danielle Stephenson is bringing beach volleyball to T-Town. Stephenson, who has 17 years of high school coaching experience, will lead junior beach club volleyball session for ages 7-18. Adults, don’t worry: plans for an adult league will be coming as soon as June.
“It’s a similar game to indoor (volleyball), but also totally different in so many respects,” Stephenson said. “You’re only playing with one other person, your communication looks different, your technique, your strategies are totally different, but you’re still learning the game of volleyball. You’re still harnessing those skills, just in a different way.”
The junior league spring season will hold its first practice at 4 p.m. March 25 at the Venue, located at 6052 Watermelon Road in Northport. The first practice will be free for anyone interested in the 7-18 age bracket.
The spring season, which usually begins in February, will be shortened this year as the courts were getting their finishing touches last month. The season will last from March 25 to May 2.
In beach volleyball, a participant picks a partner, and the pair can choose wherever the’d like to sign up for tournaments. There are various opportunities across the state in areas like Birmingham, Huntsville, Pelham and Gulf Shores.
“It’s pretty relaxed, and you can make it what you want to make it,” Stephenson said. “If you want to come to just practice and learn the game, you can come. If you have a partner in mind and you want to practice and sign up for all these tournaments, we’re there to help you do all that, too.”
Stephenson will be joined by two student coaches: University of Alabama junior Ady Pitts and Northridge senior Chloe Calhoun.
Pitts, while working toward a degree in advertising and public relations, founded the Bama Beach Volleyball Club her freshman year at UA with six years of beach volleyball experience under her belt in Panama City, Florida.
Calhoun has played volleyball for nine years. In her senior season, the libero amassed 233 digs, 53 assists, 37 aces and six kills in Northridge’s 25-21 record that ended with an Elite Eight berth in the AHSAA postseason. Calhoun was named a 2026 Tuscaloosa News All-Area volleyball honorable mention.
There are three tiered rates to participate. The mini spring season, which lasts until May 2, has a basic, full time plan, which includes all practices offered, coaching at two tournaments and a spirit pack of apparel for $500.
If participants would like to combine packages for spring and the summer season, they can save 10% by signing up for both for all practices offered, coaching at five tournaments and a spirit pack of apparel for $1,328.
The program also offers a try out rate, which includes five practices that participants may choose throughout the season for $175. Tournament coaching and apparel is separate from this offer.
Those interested can register here.
For more information, email tuscaloosabeachclub@gmail.com.
Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa welcomes new beach volleyball league
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