Volleyball England 09-13 Plan
Progress Report Year 1
INTRODUCTION
Volleyball England has had an increased investment from Sport England in the 09-13 funding period, which has been enhanced
by the national governing body securing additional funding from other partners. This has meant that the focus in year one has
been the development of an infrastructure to support delivery. Volleyball has shifted focus from the ‘traditional’indoor game to the
development of outdoor grass and beach volleyball. Year two is an important year for the sport where the transition from planning
to delivery will occur.
Summary of progress by intervention
LET’S PLAY VOLLEYBALL (NATIONAL PESSYP VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMME)
This intervention specifically sets out to increase the number of young people aged 5-19 participating in volleyball.
The outputs are as follows:
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Increase the number of Clubmark (Volley 123) Clubs by 60
Increase the number of young people participating in clubs by 5,000
Increase the number of young people accessing high quality volleyball competitions
Increase the number of young people volunteering in volleyball
Increase the quality of delivery of volleyball in the curriculum
Volleyball England currently has 40 accredited clubs at Volley 1 level, the progress of clubs through this process has been slower
than would have been expected due to the time required for the necessary restructuring of the NGB and the need to update the
accredition process. The new criteria have now been developed (updated to meet the current requirements of Clubmark and the
changing environment clubs with junior members work in) and are due to be launched alongside the new brand in Summer 2010.
Volleyball England has exceeded the target for the number of young people participating in clubs reflecting the number of new
programmes targeting this age group. Although the active volunteer figures are below target, Volleyball England has only
captured this information from the start of the employment of the Community Development Coaches, therefore this is reporting
from November 2009.
Volleyball England has developed a robust suite of teaching aids and training that establish the fundamentals of delivering
volleyball at Key Stage 2 (Volleysport), Key Stage 3 (Mini Volley) and Key Stage 4 (Super Mini Volley). Training courses to deliver
these mini modules can be delivered in 3 hours and are user friendly for all levels of coach/teacher/teaching assistant. The front
line delivery of the Community Development Coaches has also enabled improved technical quality of volleyball delivered in the
areas where the coaches operate.
HEVO-HIGHER EDUCATION VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMME
This intervention is designed to increase the number of students participating in and enjoying volleyball. With such a large
proportion of volleyball participants coming from the HE sector, increasing the number and capacity of high quality volleyball
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Volleyball England 09-13 Plan
Progress Report Year 1
clubs is a key focus for Volleyball England. The primary aim of the Higher Education Volleyball is to provide an appropriate, well
organised and safe environment for student volleyball participants to experience and further develop skills in playing, leadership
and officiating.
Volleyball aims to maximise and develop the voluntary workforce within HE to establish a network of Higher Education Volleyball
Coordinators (HEVos) who will work to improve the quality of provision within student clubs through accreditation; grow new
activity where capacity and/or potential to do so exists; and develop continuity of structures reaching beyond the campus,
facilitating opportunities for the large number of alumni who graduate each year.
The competitions offer from Volleyball recognises the varied nature of student participants and their engagement with physical
activity. As a result, there will be opportunities to participate in traditional and non-traditional forms of the game, both indoor and
beach, for mixed gender or single sex teams and in intra mural and inter university festivals and competitions.
The HEVos will also identify, train and support student volunteers and provide them with the opportunities to gain valuable
experience in coaching, officiating and event organisation.
The outputs are as follows:
 Increase the number of Clubmark (Volley 123) Clubs coming from or linking to the HE sector
 Increase the number of students participating in clubs
 Increase the number of students accessing high quality volleyball competitions
 Increase the number of students volunteering in volleyball
A comprehensive audit of activity has been completed with support from BUCS and Sport England. All the preparation work is now
in place to appropriately launch and support this intervention next year. Due to the late start to the year and wanting to align to the
academic year this has been delayed. A new National Development Manager has been appointed to manage the delivery of this
key intervention. To date Volleyball England has 4 HEVO’s confirmed and initial agreements with a further 15 institutions.
Volleyball England has continued to build capacity with 370 people accessing UKCC Level 1 coach education courses at HEIs
and estimate 80% of these are students who then continue in volunteering at the university. At present 11 HEIs are recognised
centres for volleyball.
In terms of students accessing high quality volleyball competitions, the Student Cup entry increased to 700 participants in
2009/10, along with an increase in the Student Beach Cup with 164 students participating. Alongside this Volleyball England has
improved the service and quality of provision for higher level competition working with BUCS with 1,136 students taking part.
Working alongside this Volleyball England introduced the new Facebook Project with over 1500 people registered on the specific
Volleyball Facebook. Volleyball England are keen to drive this innovative project forwards and have appointed a New Social Media
Officer to lead this next year.
OUTDOOR 1 – CLUB EQUIPMENT FRANCHISE
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Volleyball England 09-13 Plan
Progress Report Year 1
The aim of this intervention is to increase the number of youth and adult players and non-players participating in outdoor (grass)
volleyball and ensure a high quality of experience.
The outputs are as follows:
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Regular weekly local outdoor opportunities run by club for adult members and non-members. 2000 participants weekly
per year by 2013.
Club links to Community Development Coaches and Competition Managers for outdoor SSP festivals.
Club links to Further Education Sports Coordinators (FESCos), HEVos and CDC for outdoor Intra-mural festivals.
Club links to other clubs for large scale outdoor competitions/interventions.
To date the equipment has been purchased, 62 nominated clubs have signed franchise agreements and equipment has been
delivered in preparation for the forthcoming outdoor season. The equipment will be in use at the following events in summer 2010.
Let’s Play Volleyball Festivals:
Lincoln Castle, Manchester, Madeley, Brentwood, Ashcombe
VolleyFests:
Regents Park, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Darlington, Chester, Ashcombe, Sandwell, York, Bath, Cambridge
BeachFests:
Whitby, Canterbury, Brighton, Croyde, Perranporth, Bridlington, Bournemouth, Sandbanks
OUTDOOR 2 – REGIONAL GRASS SERIES
This intervention is designed to increase the number of players and non-players participating in outdoor (grass) volleyball and
ensure a high quality experience.
The output is as follows:
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Nine regional large scale mass participation recreational grass volleyball tournaments.
Nine regional events were delivered in the first six months of year one. The locations were Wimbledon, Nottingham, Darlington,
Chester, Birmingham, York, Bath, Brentwood and Havant. A total of 2384 participants attended these events.
Agreements with promoters for the 2010 series are in place to enhance the series and introduce improved evaluation processes
capable of providing qualitative and quantitative data. An Outdoor Tournament Officer has been employed to provide a dedicated
support service to Tournament Organisers in planning and improving tournaments. Furthermore, an Outdoor Tournament
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Volleyball England 09-13 Plan
Progress Report Year 1
Conference was facilitated to bring together tournament organisers to discuss and agree how VolleyFest should be developed for
2010/11.
OUTDOOR 3 – MAJOR EVENTS LEGACY
This intervention is designed to increase the number of players and non-players participating in outdoor (beach) volleyball and
ensure a high quality of experience.
The outputs are as follows:
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10 permanent multi court beach volleyball centres.
10 mass participation recreational beach volleyball tournaments per year (2000 monthly participants).
7 high quality VE Beach Tour events per year.
2 high quality International Beach Volleyball events per year.
20 newly formed beach volleyball clubs.
The Beach Facilities Initiative for 2010-13 capital investment received a very positive response with 17 expressions of interest form
potential partners in stage 1 of the application process. Projects range from small scale, single court outdoor to large multi-court
indoor and in a number of contexts including; university, commercial, local authority, urban and coastal locations. The initial
applications are currently under review by an independent panel and successful projects will be invited to develop their
applications in full throughout summer 2010.
Tournament organisers were provided with grants and support to improve the planning, provision and services at tournaments.
This included improved marketing to attract increasing numbers of participants, improved presentation and services to enhance
the satisfaction of participant’s, i.e. provision and training of officials.
5 mass participation BeachFest events were delivered in five locations: Sussex, Croyde, Bridlington, Sandbanks and Brighton.
This resulted in a total of 1131 participants.
5 high quality Beach Tour events were delivered at: Great Yarmouth, Margate, Skegness, Weymouth, and Blackpool. This resulted
in a total of 350 participants.
2 high quality International Beach Volleyball Events were held:
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CEV (European) Masters Blackpool
SWATCH FIVB World Junior Championships (Under 21) Blackpool
The Volley 1, 2, 3 criteria have been successfully reviewed. This now includes 8 beach clubs. 1 beach club has already achieved
Volley 1 accreditation.
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Volleyball England 09-13 Plan
Progress Report Year 1
TALENT PATHWAYS 1 – CLUB AND COACH
This intervention incorporates the former club and coach award and aims to increase the number and quality of players in high
quality training environments and feeding into national programmes.
The outputs are as follows:
Club England
- Identify and enhance a minimum of four networked high quality club environments in each region
- Identify and develop a minimum of four high quality club coaches per region through a scholarship programme
Regional Talent Development
- Deliver four high quality regional training environments in each region
- Identify and develop a minimum of four high quality regional talent coaches per region through a scholarship
programme
- Deliver appropriate inter-regional competitions for the Regional Talent Programme at key age groups
Divisional Talent Development
- Deliver six high quality training environments
- Identify and develop six high quality National Development Coaches through a scholarship programme
- Develop appropriate inter-divisional competitions
Target
Actual
Measure
Baseline
Number of 'Club England' clubs
Number of quality coaching hours to regional talent
programmes
Number of scholarship coaches gaining new
qualifications
50
50
50
45
50
45
0
15
20
Year 1
(09/10)
Club England –The project has now been extended to include all regions and clubs have been identified, formally briefed and are
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Volleyball England 09-13 Plan
Progress Report Year 1
now receiving support to enhance their environment. Twenty eight clubs attended a Club England development day at the
National Volleyball Centre as part of this work.
Regional Talent programmes - Regional programmes continue to offer the first step on the representative squad pathway with
monthly sessions throughout the year. These have been supported through additional grant aid aimed at enhancing the physical
training environment with all regional programmes receiving new and updated equipment to ensure a minimum standard of
provision in this aspect.
Coaching Scholarships – This element of the intervention has made significant progress. Seventy two coaches have been
identified and are now formally engaged in the scholarship programme and a number of national CPD opportunities have been
delivered. Forty coaches took part in a five day study trip to the European Youth Championships in Rotterdam, April with another
thirty successfully completing International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) level 1 and 2 coaching awards in Norwich this August. In
addition, Volleyball England coaching staff have been working closely with SCUK to develop the scholarship programme and have
completed a training needs analysis for all nominated coaches. This has led to individual development plans and a more extensive
calendar of national CPD opportunities for the coming year.
Divisional Talent – divisional squads have continued to operate this year in preparation for the UK School Games. In order to
widen the talent pool and increase the number of talented players in high quality environments at this age, permanent squads at
divisional level (north, central, south) for boys and girls have been established. This will increase numbers from fifteen to forty five
in each gender.
TALENT PATHWAYS 2 – NATIONAL PROGRAMME
This intervention sets out to increase the number and quality of players in high quality, full time training environments and feeding
into Great Britain Programmes.
The outputs are as follows:
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Increase the number and quality of cadet aged players feeding into the Junior National Programme
Increase the number and quality of junior players feeding into performance clubs and the Senior National Development
Programmes (indoor and beach)
Increase the number and quality of senior players feeding into performance clubs and the GB Olympic Programmes
(indoor and beach)
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Volleyball England 09-13 Plan
Progress Report Year 1
Some major progress has been made in this area during the last twelve months:
Cadet Restructure – Cadet national squads have continued to operate this year as have cadet divisions in preparation for the UK
School Games. In order to widen the talent pool and increase the number of talented players in high quality environments at this
age, permanent squads at divisional level (north, central, south) for boys and girls have been established. This will increase
numbers from fifteen to forty five in each gender.
Junior National Academies - The concept aimed at providing full-time training environments for players in post 16 education has
made a significant jump forward this year. An extensive process aimed at identifying potential FE partners began with 21
applications, 9 of which were selected for a site visit. The preferred delivery partner has now been selected and planning has
commenced for the first cohort to begin in September 2010. This will provide a high quality, full time training environment for
approximately twenty players.
Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) - Following some complex negotiation around interface with British Volleyball high
performance programmes it was formally agreed that Volleyball England would lead and manage TASS programmes. This has
allowed a continuation of the successful partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and the Volleyball England’s Men’s
Development programme together with some new expansion into supporting Women’s Development for the first time. New
programmes for Beach Volleyball in partnership with University of Bath, and Sitting Volleyball in partnership with Roehampton
University have also been established this year. This will ensure that a total of thirty five players will be in full time training.
TALENT PATHWAYS 3 – PLAYGROUND TO PODIUM
This intervention aims to develop pathways where talented athletes with a disability can progress to the GB Paralympic
programme.
The outputs are as follows:
 Increase the number of players feeding into the GB Paralympic programme
 Increase the number of clubs working with sitting volleyball (12 clubs, 200 players)
 Increase the number of coaches trained to work with players with a disability (25 coaches per year)
 Increase the number of competitive opportunities for players with a disability
 Increase the number of schools working with sitting volleyball (50 schools targeted)
As a brand new area of Volleyball England activity some significant progress has been made in this intervention:
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Volleyball England 09-13 Plan
Progress Report Year 1
Clubs - Eight regionally based hub clubs have been identified and now form a national network for Sitting Volleyball with
approximately 120 players participating weekly and four more clubs identified to come on stream in 2010.
Workforce – a UKCC workshop for sitting volleyball has been piloted and subsequently two further coach training days have been
held involving more than 20 coaches. In addition, the process of providing individual support to the eight nominated hub club
Head Coaches have commenced with a training needs analysis leading to personalised development programmes. In refereeing
a new training structure has been developed and three courses have been delivered at the National Volleyball Centre, qualifying
twenty two referees new to sitting volleyball. A further two attended a WOVD (International) course in Egypt, achieving international
qualification.
Competitions –a new domestic competition for sitting volleyball was successfully launched this year. The Sitting Volleyball Grand
Prix series was delivered over five tournament events hosted at the National Volleyball Centre involving ten teams with the final
held at Crystal Palace as part of the Volleyball England National Finals alongside mainstream senior and junior events.
Great Britain Paralympic – As part of the holistic development of sitting volleyball, Volleyball England has agreed to manage and
operate the Great Britain programmes on behalf of the British Volleyball Federation. From a position of minimal activity (Red status
via Mission 2012) the Men’s and Women’s performance programmes are now fully operational with an appointed staff, support
services and a competitive/training programme alongside other talent programmes at the National Volleyball Centre. The men
have competed in both the European Championship and World Cup this year, winning their first full international matches since
their inception.
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