Saikley carries on family legacy as coach
Charles Saikley instructs Lindsey Tomasson at his volleyball academy. Photo by Olivia Kestin
by Mirelle Eid
“Higher, higher…diagnose where the ball is before you hit it…better!”
Coach Charles Saikley, 33, calls out across the 4th Street volleyball courts to 14-year-old Cecelia Allen, a student of the Charles Saikley Volleyball Academy. It’s 5 p.m. and the summer sun still burns down relentlessly as coach and player practice drills.
Saikley is wearing bright red board shorts, sunglasses, and a tiger’s eye necklace. He dons socks that reach just below his knees to cover the blisters that accompany days of volleyball lessons on the scalding hot sands of Manhattan Beach. Next to the volleyball net are Saikley’s daily essentials – a beach umbrella, a gallon jug of water, and a mesh bag full of volleyballs.
He sets ball after ball to Cecelia while encouraging her to “strike using her torso” as opposed to her back and to “absorb the ball” before she goes to spike it over the net. He instructs with a gentle authority and praises her when she masters a move.
His patience and knowledge of the game make him a natural coach.
“He taught me everything from scratch,” says Cecelia, “I thought I knew everything but he incorporated drills here and there that have improved my game so much. I started taking lessons with him last summer and since then I’ve gained so much confidence and a much better sense of what to do on the court.”
Cecelia plays club volleyball and since working with Saikley has begun playing in beach tournaments as well.
As the youngest son of the late volleyball legend, Charlie Saikley Sr. – known locally as “the godfather of beach volleyball” – the traditional beach sport of the South Bay has always been a large part of Saikley’s life.
“I started going to tournaments with my dad when I was five years old,” Saikley says. “He was tournament director so he’d take me with him to help set up the nets and court lines. I took classes, participated in countless tournaments, and became immersed in the culture.”
The Academy is, in a way, a tribute to his father.
“My dad did the work of three or four men – it was a lot – so me and my brother Jay are trying to carry on that legacy and do what we can to continue what our dad started,” Saikley says.
His passion for the sport translates into his dedication as a coach. On average, Saikley gives four or five two-hour lessons each day. Between lessons, he brainstorms new drills to streamline his students’ skills.
“Within the first 30 seconds of a lesson I can tell what kind of player I’m working with,” says Saikley.
He never comes to a lesson with a set agenda.
“I’ll gauge how the student’s feeling that day and adjust the practice to work with their individual skill level,” Saikley explains.
Volleyball, for Saikley, is as much a way of life as a sport. He is constantly encouraging positivity both on and off the courts while also instilling confidence in his players.
“A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E,” Saikley spells out affirmatively. “A positive attitude is what makes a great athlete.”
Saikley takes issue with the fact that shorter players are often the last ones chosen for teams. He considers himself a shorter player and bases his lessons around skill as opposed to height.
“Over time the game has sort of been changed to favor taller players when volleyball is actually a sport that anyone can be great at, no matter their height,” says Saikley.
The Academy offers lessons to people of all ages and skill levels. The youngest group, Tiny Hot Shots, is comprised of 6- to 8-year-olds. Parents tag along and participate in the lesson so they can practice the fundamentals of the sport with their kids at home or on the beach.
“The focus is primarily on children, but I give lessons to people in their forties and fifties as well,” Saikley says. “I’m willing to teach anyone who really wants to play.”
For more information on the Charles Saikley Volleyball Academy or to schedule lessons, visit www.csvba.com or contact Charles directly at (424) 789-9982 or e-mail him at CHARLES@CSVBA.com.