He played at the A/AA level in Albany with a team called Brothers Grimm. As a coach, he worked with the Albany High School girls’ team and he also coached a women’s BB club and a Capital District VBC junior girls’ team. He was also a volleyball “promoter” in the Albany area. While working at the Schenectady YMCA, he expanded their volleyball program, and when he moved to the Clifton Park YMCA as Youth Activities Coordinator, he started a program there that is still going strong to this day. He also helped expand ‘existing volleyball’ and still brings Boston area teams to the RugRats Charity Tournament at the Albany YMCA every January.
In Boston, he not only plays at the upper levels of Yankee – he also plays in intermediate leagues as well as ‘community’ pick up at Cambridge Rindge and Latin. The unique quality about him as a player is that he fits in at any level – he has just as much fun diving for balls at an A/AA tournament as he does diving for balls at Cambridge R&L. He adjusts his game according to the situation and sees every opportunity to play, regardless of level, as just that – an opportunity to play. He also elevates his fellow players, teammates and opponents alike, no matter where he is. He never has anything negative to say about any player, choosing instead to focus on each person’s strengths and perhaps suggesting areas where there is room for improvement. He looks at each person in the context of the level at which he or she plays. He rarely “loses his cool” on the court. I believe this is the definition of sportsmanship.
As a Regional referee he aims to reach the highest level of competence, consistency, fairness and professionalism. His goal is to continue improving. He referees USAV tournaments and college matches. He sees every match he referees as a learning opportunity, looking to better his skills all the time.
He currently takes time from a very busy schedule to work at an elementary afterschool program in Cambridge. He proposed having a volleyball class, and got it approved. Right now, he’s teaching volleyball to a group of elementary school kids (grades 4-6).
Whew! There is so much more to say about what he does for volleyball. Let me end with a few quotes that friends have said about him: “a selfless player – in improving himself, he looks to improve other people.”; “He is supportive, kind, energetic, and just looks to make volleyball a fun time for everyone present.”; “He is respectful of everyone involved in the game (players, coaches, referees, fans). And this is the way he carries himself in all arenas.” This year’s male Rick Pierce award recipient is the epitome of what this award represents and that man is:
Darryl Bullock
