“I just loved it; there was a good teamwork dynamic.”— Ben Hood, Developing Beach Volleyroo
Ben Hood (2011–2021) represents Australia in beach volleyball and is a 2024 Developing Beach Volleyroo.
Ben’s sport takes him to the best beaches on the planet, but his love of volleyball began back at Toowoomba Grammar School, inspired after seeing his older brother play. As Ben explains, he was hooked:
Over time, his skills became more obvious. By Year 10, he had begun focusing on volleyball more seriously. He counts this period as a turning point in his young sporting career, one that prompted his decision to put all his effort into training and playing volleyball. Around this time, Ben and his family decided to move him into boarding at TGS, allowing him to easily get to early and late training sessions. He’s very quick to acknowledge and thank his parents, particularly his mum, for ferrying him to all his commitments during his early playing years.
In Year 12, he made the decision to leave Toowoomba Grammar School and attend the Australian Institute of Sport. His invitation to the Australian Volleyball Academy in Canberra saw him begin to develop as an athlete through their centralised and integrated program. Reminiscing about TGS, he credits Mr Eric Smith as a long-time mentor and someone he has stayed connected with. He especially likes running into Mr Smith at the bigger competitions, “We both have a similar passion for the game.”
At the end of 2022, Ben had to make a choice between indoor and beach volleyball. He chose the version of the sport which sees him playing on Earth’s most beautiful beaches. Ben’s inclusion in the South Australian Sports Institute’s elite performance squad has led to him joining the Developing Volleyroos, a key part of the national beach volleyball program.
Last year, Ben was part of the winning pair that claimed the Asian Volleyball Confederation’s U21 Beach Volleyball Championships in Thailand and another pair that won the Pacific Championships held in the Solomon Islands. Earlier this year, he and partner D’Artagnan Potts took home a bronze medal from the Nuvali Open Men’s Competition in Laguna in the Philippines.
Ben says finding balance as an elite athlete is challenging.
“Switching off from the game is sometimes tricky, but I like going camping and enjoying that part of my life.”— Ben Hood, 2024 Developing Beach Volleyroo
He always loves coming home to his family, who are involved in horticulture in the Lockyer Valley, “I get to work on the farm; I’m very lucky in that aspect.”
Ben wants to encourage current TGS students to give unexpected things a go and “make a different sporting choice.” Following this advice is what put him on his current path to success. Keep an eye out for Ben — he is again heading overseas to commence a European campaign.
Latest Blog
TGS Academic Enrichment Program for Boarders
Toowoomba Grammar School provides an inspiring and broad curriculum for boys, delivered by dedicated educators who understand how to engage boys in their learning. Our staff go above and beyond in providing an outstanding education and support network for our boys. They are regularly available to answer questions, assist with homework and assignments and provide academic support for all our students. This is particularly so for our boarders, thanks to our Academic Enrichment Program (AEP). All…
Teacher as a Student
As a teacher at Toowoomba Grammar School, I teach mathematics and business studies, and manage the GPS Chess team. Prior to teaching, I worked as a financial analyst. Recently I have completed a master's degree in science at the University of Southern Queensland. My study was focused exclusively on data science, and I have become an expert in the management of big data with a specialisation in modelling and forecasting using machine learning techniques. The motivation for this study was…
Developing Healthy Relationships
Healthy relationships are extremely important for the development of mental health in our youth. When you spend time with people you care about, who care about you, this can help you feel connected and supported. This term is one of the largest in regard to boys participating in activities and sports ranging from field, to court, to thought. This is in addition to music and drama programs. At Toowoomba Grammar School, we believe this allows for plenty of opportunity to develop the ability to…
Striving for the Best
Director of Volleyball, Mr Eric Smith has spent the past 20 years at Toowoomba Grammar School not only shaping the minds of the young men in his science classroom but also working tirelessly on improving his capacity to coach volleyball to the highest level. Starting at the School in 2003, Eric quickly rediscovered his passion for volleyball, something he had not experienced since playing for Ipswich Grammar School during the ‘90s. “I felt completely at home back on the volleyball court and…
When it comes to Music, Variety is the Spice of Life
In the Queensland Curriculum, the content of the music syllabus includes the study of the people, places and cultures involved in musical creation and performance. As our country becomes increasingly diverse, it is important for students in every school setting to study a wide variety of musical styles, cultures and genres. The Toowoomba Grammar School Music program of 2022 embraces this holistic approach to the study of music, encouraging teachers and students to explore a variety of musical…
Successful Decision Making - Subject Selections
Term 3 tends to be an important time for students making decisions, and for some, possibly the first time they have really had the opportunity to make a decision that could impact the course of their future. Year 8 students are taking control of their academic program for the first time, being able to select their electives for Year 9. For most, these decisions are mainly about getting the opportunity to pursue subjects which interest them and the joy of not taking some subjects which really do…
TGS Rugby Ambassadors' Program
“As a Grammar boy, you have the Blue and Gold in your blood for life. You’ve got connections and networks because of this special bond. It’s hard to describe what it is exactly; I think it stems from the history and traditions that are passed down to each generation but it’s something you carry your entire life, you’re part of this team.” – TGS Old Boy (1960-63) John Campbell, Senior Prefect 1963, Captain 1st XV Rugby 1963. John was excited to learn in a recent edition of The Blue and Gold…
TGS Leading the Way for IT in Education
Toowoomba Grammar School is fortunate to have a strong partnership with Microsoft / School Locker. We are a Microsoft Lighthouse School, leading the way in technological advancement and deployment in Australian schools. This recognition would not be possible without two key factors: our “whole school” approach to IT, whereby the School supplies every student with the same devices, ensuring equality for all boys from Prep to Year 12.our dedicated IT team, who are based on-site to immediately…
Holiday Reading
Reading is one of those activities that, the more you do, the better you get, and with the holidays fast approaching, now is the perfect time to read that book you’ve always wanted to, finish a book you’ve started or try something new. It is important to keep reading over the holidays, so that we don’t step backward in our reading journey. As the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has found, reading for pleasure is a habit that can prove essential to performing well…
