Jewish beach volleyball players at top of their sport

Maccabi Canada’s men’s indoor volleyball team did something at this summer’s Maccabiah Games they never did before: they won a medal – bronze to be precise.

Cole Grossinger, left, and Aaron Nusbaum 

The accomplishment is particularly noteworthy in that several key players who were shoo-ins to make the team were unavailable for the Games. Some were otherwise involved in playing for or training with Canada’s national beach volleyball team.

Nevertheless, said Daniel Shermer, a member of the medal-winning squad along with his brothers, Elie and Joshua, the Canadians played well and with a full lineup could probably have challenged Israel for the gold.

As it happens, there is a wealth of Jewish volleyball talent in Canada these days – not just good club players, but athletes at the very top of the Canadian rankings in the beach version of the sport.

Shermer is not exactly sure why that’s the case, but the list of players who didn’t make it to Israel is almost long enough to fill a starting lineup: Josh Binstock, right, Aaron Nusbaum, Cole Grossinger and Sam Schachter.

He believes those athletes, though primarily beach players, would have acclimatized to the indoor sport quite readily.

The four attended different public schools and developed their skills separately. “So it’s pure chance,” that all of them became so good, Shermer said.

“It’s the luck of the draw, and it so happens that we’re raising a ruckus now. You don’t hear about that in a lot of sports.”

At the top of Shermer’s list is Binstock. At six-foot-six, “he’s a phenomenal all-round athlete… He has the wingspan of someone who’s six-foot-nine. He’s got a great body for beach volleyball. He’s been working his ass off since he was 15. He’s put in the time to get to the level he’s at.”

Binstock, 28, missed the Maccabiah Games to represent Canada on the FIVB World Tour. An Olympic hopeful, he’s won back to back Canadian National Beach Volleyball Championships.

Nusbaum, 16, “has far beyond the average skill level of most 16-year-olds in this country.” He’s six-foot-one and can jump 35 inches in the sand, Shermer said. “He has a huge determination to win.”

The winner of the 16-and-under Canadian beach championships, Nusbaum was competing in the national championship at Ashbridges Bay during the Maccabiah Games.

Grossinger is one of the smaller athletes in his sport, but his natural abilities allow him to compete against kids four or five inches taller. “He’s just extremely skilled. He’s not overpowering, but that’s where the true essence of finesse comes out.” Grossinger is excellent at ball control, and his mental toughness is remarkable, Shermer said.

Grossinger won the 14-and-under national beach volleyball championship, he added.

Schachter, along with Binstock, is a member of the national beach volleyball team. He regularly competes against older athletes, and with his six-foot-four frame and “great vertical jump,” he’s “a phenomenal indoor player,” Shermer said.

Schachter recently finished ninth in the open men’s beach volleyball championship. As a member of Team Canada, he participated in the 2008 FIVB World Youth 19 and under World Championships in The Hague, Netherlands.

Shermer, 26, admits to being a little past his best playing days. Instead he’s focusing on growing the sport – something that should come naturally given his pedigree. His father, George, is one of the principals behind Beach Blast, an indoor facility that serves as the training centre for the Canadian beach team, and is a former coach for the Canadian Maccabiah team.

Daniel coaches young players and plans to offer Jewish schools volleyball development programs as extracurricular activities. That would include training coaches and developing players.

“I want to share my passion with as many kids and coaches as possible,” he said.