Tiny Wizards is an initiative created by Jenn Hartley as a way to introduce volleyball to kids at a younger age. Volleyball is a late-development sport, which means by the time kids reach traditional club age, they are typically occupied with other sports. 

“Starting a youth program would not only get them interested in volleyball sooner, but be a way to improve fundamental movement skills that will help kids in all of their sports,” Jenn Hartley, founder of Tiny Wizards. 

Tiny Wizards has been running for six years, at three different schools in the Windsor area, which have seen close to 300 kids come through the program. Participants can move on from Tiny Wizards to the Smashball program, before they move on to a regular club. 

As Tiny Wizards has grown, the local volleyball club has been an important supporter. The older teams volunteer to work with the Tiny Wizards, as well as parents and older athletes help run the jamborees that Tiny Wizards host. 

“We strive for a family feeling in our club, and having our oldest athletes help our youngest athletes helps that. People recognize our Tiny Wizards when they wear their t-shirts, and that really fosters a sense of pride in our little ones,” said Hartley. 

Creating an after-school sport program is no small feat. There were responsibilities to navigate, and volunteers needed. The community and volunteers turned out to support the program and have since its inception. However, there will be a need for more volunteers, especially as Tiny Wizards hope to expand to more elementary schools within the area. 

The program runs throughout the fall of each year, the best way to connect with Tiny Wizards is through their Facebook Page (@Wizards Volleyball). They do send out flyers to the schools that already host their program, so if families are interested in signing up their child or want to find out more, information starts being circulated in late September.