By Jody Jewers
It didn’t take long for Ribin John to start digging volleyball once he arrived in Halifax 14 years ago.
A basketball and badminton player when he was in school, Ribin used to watch people play volleyball in the school ground behind his apartment in the evenings. One night, he decided to ask if he could join in and that’s how he got his start with the sport.
“I enjoyed it, so I started playing more and more. Learning volleyball was never something I had planned to do, it just happened organically,” he says.
And now, Ribin is hoping others might be able to do the same as an organizer with the Nova Scotia Super Smashers volleyball program.
The Super Smashers, in partnership with the South Indian Cultural Association of the Maritimes and with help from Sport Nova Scotia’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Fund, has organized a learn to play program. The program is usually held on Saturdays at locations in metro Halifax including the Canada Games Centre and Citadel High School.
“You don’t have to worry about knowing anything about volleyball to start,” explains Ribin. “I didn’t know anything about it when I did. We have a retired teacher who used to be a coach and he comes in and helps out with teaching, and some of our more senior players also help out with the basics of the sport, so we’re very fortunate in that regard.”
Ribin says a typical session lasts about two hours and usually brings about 12 to 15 players, and involves a combination of instruction, warmup and games. He noted the social component is as much of a driving factor as having any sort of athletic background when it comes to attracting participants.
“The main thing is to come and be active and play and enjoy the social side of it. We’re also developing a more competitive aspect for those who want to try and get better at the game.”
The Super Smashers held its inaugural Mallu Cup in 2024 and operated a five-team league in 2025. The Mallu Cup 2.0 was held last August and the league added a sixth team last year.
“The league has gone very well so far,” says Ribin. “We’re looking at adding coaches with more experience who can come in and teach more of the tactical aspects of the game.”
Ribin adds that the program is always looking to add more people, regardless of experience.
“I see more players, I see more people being active and I see more people who can become competitive in the sport. Sidney Crosby came out of Atlantic Canada and became one of the most famous hockey players in the world, so who knows? Maybe someday we can produce somebody who could go on and do some great things in the sport.”
For more information about the program, email nssupersmashers@gmail.com or check out their Instagram account.
