Gameday Sports Academy launched in 2021 as an all-boys volleyball club at Dignity Health Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art facility owned by retired professional basketball player Kyle Shiloh. The program filled a void across the country as previous attempts to establish boys’ volleyball teams had been unsuccessful.
Four years later, Gameday’s boys volleyball program has expanded to include 14U, 16U and 18U indoor teams, sand volleyball for boys and an offseason training program that runs from January through April.
Later that year, Gameday launched the Developmental League (DLeague) for boys and girls in grades three through twelve. By early spring, the DLeague had grown to 18 teams and VolleyTots were added for the TK – 2nd grade.
The program now operates in three different training seasons: the non-travel tournament season (January-May), the summer skills development (June-July) and the developmental competition season (August-December). The DLeague currently serves approximately 250 student-athletes per session across 25 teams, making it the first year-round volleyball league in Central California.
In January 2023, Gameday launched its first girls travel volleyball season. The academy currently has eleven girls’ teams from 12U to 18U, in addition to three boys’ travel teams. In the Fresno Heat Valley JVA League, about half of Gameday teams finish in the top 10 percent each season.
“In addition to competitive matches, we emphasize building relationships with other programs through competitive and collaborative events,” said volleyball director Johnitta Clemons. “Our teams have participated in friendship events with Bakersfield Volleyball Club, Syndicate Volleyball Club, Starlings, Antelope Valley and SNP.
We also participate in major tournaments including West Coast Cup, SoCal Cup, In It Win It, Winter Classic, West Coast Invitational, AAU Nationals, MLK Super Regional, Bay Area Battle and WCVBA Spikefest. This year our schedule expands to include 18U Nationals, the Hawaii Spam Slam, the NuBreed Tribal Gathering and the SCVA Summer Soiree.
Gameday Sports Academy was named a JVA Sponsor Club during the 2024 season. With support from the sponsorship program, Gameday sent its 16U national team to the AAU National Championships in Florida. This year, Sponsorship Program funds will be used to provide Gameday coaches with advanced professional development at the Align Volleyball Summit.
Johnitta Clemons has more than 40 years of coaching experience and has retired as a high school coach after the 2022 season to focus full-time on building the Gameday Sports Academy. She was named County Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2021 and was recognized as Kern County’s Most Outstanding Woman in 2020 for her impact on the community.
Throughout her career, Clemons has worked with multiple volleyball organizations to increase accessibility and affordability for athletes. She previously directed and coached for Starlings USA, launching the region’s first Starlings club.
“After years of trying to build a sustainable volleyball league in Central California, I learned about the Junior Volleyball Association through my Starlings connections,” Clemons said. “I joined before I even had a team. The affordability and structure made it possible for me and other club directors to finally build a successful volleyball circuit in Central California. The education, training and ongoing support make it sustainable.”
Service is a cornerstone of the Gameday Sports Academy culture. To maintain accessibility to both the Gameday Sports Academy and the DLeague, high school students volunteer as coaches and officials. They receive compensation and discounts on their own club fees, while being provided with structured opportunities to develop leadership skills. The roles of team captain and manager are assigned, and all athletes share responsibility for equipment, uniforms and facilities, adhering to the same standards of professionalism and responsibility expected of every employee.
High school athletes also serve as teachers, coaches and trainers. During camps they guide children from kindergarten through eighth grade. Gameday athletes participate in community events both on and off the field, including Clean Up America, the Valley Fever Walk and year-round food, clothing and toy drives.
“Gameday Sports Academy regularly hosts community events and special tournaments, with athletes serving as volunteers,” said volleyball director Johnitta Clemons. “They especially enjoyed participating as guests of honor at a Princess Tea Party event. We also host an annual Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament and a Fentanyl Awareness Tournament, where athletes educate the community and help raise money.”
Gameday Sports Academy’s colors, lime and purple, honor the memory of former athlete Destiny Love Ayala, who died of accidental fentanyl poisoning on her high school graduation night. Athletes on Gameday uphold her legacy by making responsible choices, avoiding risky behavior and committing to protecting their own “destiny.”
Here are reflections from a few Gameday Sports Academy players on their experiences as members of GSA:
For the past two years, Gameday Sports Academy has hosted the Play Equity Fund Block Party on National Play Day, offering free activities to engage children and families in physical activity. Gameday athletes volunteer as coaches, manage activity stations and encourage participation. Last summer, the club hosted its first Adaptive Fair, connecting the disability community to resources and opportunities, with athletes serving as event volunteers.
This year, Gameday is expanding its programming to include sand volleyball training. Through a partnership with a local country club, the club now has a permanent home for its sand program. The program, open to athletes in grades seven through 12, focuses on developing skills for both developmental and competitive play. Expanding the boys’ travel program is also a priority. Although all high schools in the county offer boys’ volleyball, no public high school programs exist despite strong interest. Gameday plans to launch a high school recreational league this season and work toward the long-term adoption of high school boys volleyball.
Gameday Sports Academy is developing a homeschool program to meet the needs of the community, including morning volleyball practice. The club currently hosts two to three small tournaments every month and aims to grow these events into a major JVA tournament hub.
“We believe Central California is an ideal location to connect clubs from Northern and Southern California and surrounding western states,” Clemons said.
Gameday Sports Academybased in Bakersfield, California, is a member of the Junior Volleyball Association, an organization dedicated to improving the junior volleyball experience for club directors, coaches, players and fans.
See more about participating in the JVA. See more about JVA Awards. Nominate your club for JVA Club of the Month.
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