It's not hard to have a ball - or at least play with one - around the Stanford School of Medicine's campus. As long as you know where to look.
For those who are interested in making a few friends and getting in a bit of exercise during lunchtime, there's a group of people who have been playing volleyball for the past 12 years and they're always looking for more players.
As you'll read in my story today in Inside Stanford Medicine, the volleyball games take place on the lawn behind the Medical School Office Building on Wednesdays at noon and Thursdays at 12:30 p.m.
The games are organized by a few of the people who work at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, but they're open to anyone of any skill level who wants to play. Camaraderie and teamwork matter more than the score in these games.
As longtime player Allison Akana told me, "You don't necessarily get props for scoring points; you get props for setting up your teammates and being a good team member."
So if you want to brush up on your volleyball skills and you're local, stop by. Organizer Christopher Gardner says he's pining for the day when there are enough players for two simultaneous games. "We're ready to expand," he says.
Photo by Norbert von der Groeben
