The Spike Back

Annual Report 2020-2021 1 CONTENTS

Page 3 Welcome: Adam Walker, Chairman

Pages 4-5 View From The Top: Sue Storey, Chief Executive, and Sam Jamieson, Deputy Chief Executive

Pages 6-7 Volleyball For Life: Gillian Harrison, Strategic Manager

Pages 8-9 Get Keep Grow: Vicki Carr, Strategic Manager

Pages 10-11 An Ace Service: Rob Payne, Strategic Manager

Page 12 Volleyball England Foundation Report

Page 13 Finance Report: Kevin Fletcher, Financial Consultant

Pages 14-15 Regional Reports

2 WELCOME from Adam Walker, Chairman to overcome obstacles and An Ace Service, which is preventing their return to play. about improving our member In last year’s Annual products and service. Despite What a year. No one could Report, I spoke about laying the significant disruption of have predicted the vast the foundations for a strong the last year, I am pleased we challenges facing the Volleyball future and how, after a period have been able to set out this Family and society as a result of repair and rebuild, we have blueprint for what success of the Covid-19 pandemic. moved to a state of stability and looks like and have already For the first time in Volleyball sustainability. I also touched started to move ahead with England’s history, we had to – on the iterative development of ambitious plans, including at times – discourage the play volleyball in England, and the preparatory work around next of volleyball, beach volleyball need to put key building blocks year’s Commonwealth Games and sitting volleyball. We in place to help it grow. Despite in Birmingham. created virtual challenges and the difficult year, I am delighted Before we dive into what is workout ideas that members that we were able to work with a scaled back Annual Report could enjoy from the confines the community to launch our – one that is reflective of the of their own homes to keep ambitious new strategy, The year we have experienced and the spirit of the game alive, Game Plan. This new vision what has, rather than what has and the community connected. will run through until 2030 and not, happened – I want to pay We held virtual meetings will see us work closer with our tribute to the volunteers who with thousands of you and clubs and members to grow the have risen to the immeasurable worked with clubs to unpick game. challenges of keeping the the Government’s complex Within The Game Plan game alive this last year, and to Covid-19 guidance. It has been there are three key strands: everyone who has played their a year like no other as we have Volleyball for Life, which is part in keeping our Volleyball flexed, adapted, and innovated about pathways and creating Family safe. Now, with to meet the changing needs opportunities for all; Get Keep restrictions relaxing, it is time of our members. And we will Grow, to strengthen the English for volleyball to return stronger continue to support members volleyball club structure; than before. 3 Sue Storey was interviewed by Sky Sports News about the crisis caused by the lack of access to indoor playing spaces (August 2020) VIEW FROM THE TOP Sue Storey, Chief Executive, and Sam Jamieson, Deputy Chief Executive, look back on how Volleyball England responded to the multifaceted challenges of 2020/21 and how projects undertaken during lockdown have put the organisation in a strong position moving forward.

At the start of March the precautionary measure clubs too, who have followed 2020, Volleyball England is something that has the meticulous return to play was mentioned across BBC characterised our approach to protocols to – where possible – radio stations as part of news the Covid-19 pandemic: safety get volleyball, beach volleyball bulletins telling listeners first. and sitting volleyball activity that we were encouraging Throughout these back up and running. Thank players to replace handshakes unprecedented times we have you for your support and with a wave or bow to lessen always prioritised the safety cooperation. personal contact. The situation of our members – despite When it became apparent rapidly developed over the sometimes facing criticism that 2020 – and later 2021 – next fortnight, eventually for being too cautious. And it would be a year like no other, leading to lockdown, and has been pleasing to see this we reshaped and innovated our early introduction of approach has been shared by to provide services to help 4 4 the community to get through what will be a huge opportunity Like any good game plan, this period. When courts lay to showcase beach volleyball, we have had to be flexible empty and teammates were Birmingham 2022. Key working and react to changing left separated, we brought groups have been busy working circumstances, but we are people together through on supporting the competition, pleased we have been able social media campaigns the England beach volleyball to also press forward and such as #digginginthegarden performance team, and – to make progress. We are not out and #VolleyRoundTheWorld. of the woods yet regarding We organised webinars to “Like any good Covid-19 restrictions, and there navigate clubs, coaches, and is much to do to ensure the referees through the Covid-19 game plan, we community re-builds back to guidance. When volleyball have had to be pre-pandemic levels, especially began to return, we lobbied the with an expected impact on Government for better access to flexible and react participants because of Brexit. indoor playing spaces and were to changing However, working together joined by so many volleyballers circumstances” with members, we know we and sport lovers in making that can achieve remarkable things rallying cry. We also launched make sure we capitalise on and are excited about what is to volleyball and sitting volleyball this golden opportunity – how come. specific fitness plans, created we ensure there is a lasting For their support in content to keep you entertained legacy. Volleyball England staff developing our new strategy and much, much more.We are also working closely with and working with us throughout even made tough cost-saving organisers – including former the Covid-19 pandemic, we measures to protect the colleague Jonathan Moore, who want to say a huge thank you organisation and the sport. has joined Birmingham 2022 to all our members. And finally, Looking ahead, progress on secondment. Governance we would also like to place on on several fronts will ensure is a key area we have also record our thanks to our Board volleyball emerges out of this worked on during this period, of Directors, staff, volunteers, period in a strong position. reviewing and refreshing our partners and supporters for The first is our new 10-year policies to ensure we maintain their hard work and support strategy, which you will read the highest standards while during this difficult year. much about in this Annual also changing our governance We could not do what we do Report. Labelled The Game structure to align it to our new without you. Plan, it gives us a clear vision strategy as well. and, thanks to the recently published implementation England athlete Jess Grimson plan, a roadmap of how we will pictured at Smithfield, achieve that. The Hub team Birmingham - the location of the beach volleyball competition at re-structure to align resource Birmingham 2022 (July 2020) to our three key strategy priorities: Volleyball for Life, Get Keep Grow, and An Ace Service and key themes such as data, insights, and digital transformation; as well as the recruitment of additional personnel, highlights how it is already changing our approach. Our Annual Report has also been revamped to explain how we are making progress against each strategic priority. Another is how we are preparing for 5 Team GB Olympic swimmer Jazz Carlin joined us for the launch of our new junior programme Volley2s in Birmingham (May 2021)

VOLLEYBALL FOR LIFE We aim to better understand, articulate, and promote the opportunities that volleyball provides for anyone, at any stage of their life, says Strategic Manager Gillian Harrison. If you are unfamiliar with we launched a player survey, our bold new strategy, you which focused on player may be asking what this key experiences, satisfaction with strand means. Volleyball For products and services, and the Life is about pathways – for challenges and issues facing players, coaches, officials, players. We also continue to our elite beach volleyball and volunteers – and keeping regularly listen and act on athletes to play abroad. When people on those pathways feedback from England Talent restrictions lifted towards the and engaged with the sport Pathway athletes and their end of 2020, we were delighted for as long as possible. This parents. Thank you to the to send teams to the U18 and strategic priority is about thousands of people who have U22 European Championships better understanding how responded to our requests. in Izmir, Turkey. Out of both people enter our sport, what We are listening to you and competitions, it was perhaps keeps them engaged, and learning what can be improved the performance of Katie what causes them to leave it, and will then be, among other Keefe and Isabelle Tucker in drawing insights from those things, performing a gap the women’s U18 competition learnings to improve pathways. analysis to identify ‘leaky gaps’ that stood out the most. Keefe- and develop more structured Tucker began with a bang by Data & insights pathways. beating France 2-1 and then Gathering accurate, reliable, dominated hosts Turkey in and complete date is important National teams straight sets. However, Poland for making evidence-based International travel restrictions stopped them in their tracks decisions around pathways, have prevented many of our in the Round of 16. Overall, and you may have noticed we national team athletes from England pairs Enrique Bello and are asking for your feedback flying the flag for England Peter Soczewka (U18s), Saskia more than before. For example, abroad. Nevertheless, working Freitas Schoffel and Lauren to coincide with the launch of with our partners we have Huggins (U22s), and Javier our new strategy in September established protocols to allow Bello and Freddie Bialokoz 6 (U22s) showed good spirit and the BVF secured £635,000 from the game to begin with, before signs of even better promise in UK Sport’s National Squads advancing to more technical tough conditions. Support Fund, which is the first volleyball skills. Thanks to Nick Moving into 2021, Javier and time volleyball has received Shaffery and Bertrand Olie for – after recovering from injury – UK Sport funding since London leading this project. Almost Joaquin Bello, gained valuable 2012. This award will provide 200 coaches and teachers experience on the FIVB World the BVF with a way forward to have downloaded the free Tour, including three back-to- allow athletes to compete and supporting guide. We are now back competitions in Cancun, train in preparation for Paris in the project’s next stage Mexico. In May, the Bellos 2024. England athletes have where we will support coaches and Freddie Bialokoz & Issa also benefited from more than and teachers to deliver Volley2s Batrane represented England £50,000 from SportsAid and sessions. in the rescheduled Phase 2 Backing the Best funding while DiSE, our Diploma in of the CEV Continental Cup, a others have received crucial Sporting Excellence that is qualification route for the 2020 support from TASS this year. taught by Bertrand to junior Olympics. England Women Due to issues connected players looking into higher were unfortunately eliminated to the pandemic, England’s education after their GCSEs, during Phase 1. Countless senior indoor volleyball and has adapted to continue to help challenges had to be overcome Great Britain’s sitting volleyball youngsters reach the next level before the tournament in teams have not been able to as scholars and athletes which, Izmir, began, but the players return to competition. However, in the circumstances, is a great came through them and put on I have been delighted to success. good performances, showing see the GB sitting volleyball great competitiveness with athletes return to training in Coaches, officials, volunteers a 7th place finish. A special recent times. We look forward We have already been able to thank you to the athletes for to seeing all squads back in provide, or work to towards following meticulous Covid action as soon as possible. creating, new development protocols. Javier and Joaquin Thanks to the support of opportunities that we know Bello returned to the U22s parents and volunteers, our the community want to see. Championships shortly after England Talent Pathway has After much work, our new level the Continental Cup, finishing continued to develop our most one coaching award is now so in 9th place. talented athletes, even if we close to completion. This award Thanks to the British have had to take training camps will give coaches blended Volleyball Federation (BVF), online. We hope to see them learning, combining face-to- top pairs Javier & Joaquin Bello return to competition soon. face with digital elements to and Ellie Austin & Anaya Evans make it more accessible. On the secured much-needed funding Volley2s officiating front, Nick Heckford, to aid their development. At the We have launched a new Officials Lead, has done a great start of July, we host a funding national junior programme for job of keeping officials in touch tournament in Bournemouth children aged 7-11, Volley2s. with the game during lockdown to provide even more financial Dozens of people have through the Let’s Talk Rules support. All of this will give contributed to this fantastic series. England’s chances of medaling programme which introduces at Birmingham 2022 a major children to an adapted and Progress boost. In other exciting news, easy to follow 2v2 version of We are in the early stages of working towards Volleyball Javier and Joaquin Bello on the FIVB World Tour For Life, ramping up data in Mexico (April 2021) and insight activity to inform decision-making in the next stage. Despite challenges, we have made good progress and hope to build on that to achieve more in the year ahead.

77 Malory Eagles at the rescheduled U15s National Championships (May 2021)

GET. KEEP. GROW. Clubs are the absolute backbone of volleyball in England. To help them to achieve their goals, we want to work closely with them, transforming our work to provide even better support, says Strategic Manager Vicki Carr.

A major shift in thinking from clubs, we know that many are our new strategy is that we aim in desperate need of help to to make the biggest impact rebuild to where they were pre- on developing volleyball by pandemic. focusing on better supporting One of the biggest pieces be able to assist. This type of those that deliver the majority of work we have already work will tie into longer-term of volleyball in England – completed has come off the projects around establishing clubs. It’s so important to back of our recent Club Health consistent support mechanisms us that we have dedicated Check Survey. Clubs were asked for affiliated clubs. one of our strategic priorities about urgent support they A key part of The Game Plan (Get Keep Grow) to helping required right now, especially is that we will consult and affiliated clubs, an area that I around venue availability, the gather feedback more often to now oversee as the Strategic need for financial support, and ensure members are placed at Manager. equipment requirements. For the heart of our insight-based those who were struggling in decision-making. As well as Club focus any of those areas, the team helping to provide immediate While we have restructured were immediately able to reach support to those in need, our and are working to establish out to suggest local venues, 2021 Club Health Check survey better systems to support funders or suppliers that might also influenced the workshops 8 that have been organised for during lockdown. VOLLEYFIT average rating of 7.5 out of 10. our 2021 Club Conference, got people up on their feet Memberships namely: funding, building back and keeping physically and Get Keep Grow is the pillar stronger, junior development, mentally active during a time under which memberships engaging communities, and when volleyball was grounded. and registrations now sit and social media. Thank you to instructors Phil for 2020/21 the number of Spalding, Alex Jenkins and Mel coaches, officials and coaches Covid support Young for making it possible. who took out a membership During the long period of It began with a session on is, understandably, a lot lower downtime, we also seized coordination and finished than in previous years. This and created opportunities with power development, season we have seen 256 take to support members. From racking up more than 9,100 out a coach membership, 137 a the numerous Covid-19 views across the volleyball and referee membership, and 202 support webinars to helping sitting volleyball programmes. clubs affiliate with Volleyball clubs secure Return to Play Members of Volleyball England. Opportunities have grant funding from Sport England, whether registered been limited this season and while members have still enjoyed benefits such as dedicated newsletters and access to platforms such as the newly refreshed Officials Academy, we want to place “VOLLEYFIT got people up on their feet and keeping physically and mentally active during a time when volleyball was grounded.” on record our thanks for the support those members have shown to Volleyball England and, overall, the sport during this tough period.

England and re-imagining the coaches, officials, national Growth Annual Awards to ensure the team athletes or members of By providing appropriate tools celebrations could continue affiliate clubs, received access and resources and by sharing online, clubs have always been to VOLLEYFIT as a new benefit knowledge and good practice, at the forefront of our minds. for 2020/2021. Their feedback we aim to inspire clubs to It’s why, when England on this innovative new project deliver more volleyball. Our plunged into a second was extremely encouraging journey in working towards The lockdown at the end of 2020, too. In a snap survey, members Game Plan has only just begun we quickly assembled a team to described VOLLEYFIT as easy to and I am excited about what produce a special programme follow with clear instructions we can achieve through greater that would keep players fit and a good variety of exercises, support and collaboration. and engaged with the sport giving the programme an 9 IBB Polonia London vs Trentino in the CEV Champions League Volley (September 2020)

AN ACE SERVICE This priority is not just a cool play on words, it is a serious pledge to develop a suite of products and services that most benefit members’ needs, says Strategic Manager Rob Payne.

After a significant period the rescheduled U15s National of downtime, we know the Championships gave us an volleyball community is, much opportunity to take stock of like us, itching to get back our usual event delivery and to competitions. We have all see where improvements could competitions moving forward played our part in keeping each be made. The most visible in a move to make it easier to other safe and while we must change for that event was our watch top level volleyball in continue to follow measures live coverage. Not only did we England. Thank you to the army to minimise risks, in May set up live scores and league of volunteers who helped to we were delighted to finally tables that could be followed make both events a reality. be able to organise our first throughout the day online, but competition since lockdown we also organised a four-court Polonia in Europe was introduced in 2020. This life stream system to capture Indoor volleyball competitions milestone had been a long the action from every match. have been put on hold across time coming, and it was fitting Live streams will also England. However, fans were that junior players, who are be established for our treated to action from Europe’s the future of our sport, were next competition, the premier competition in 2020 the first to get back on court Commonwealth Games Funding thanks to the hard work for competition at the National Tournament in Bournemouth, and dogged determination Volleyball Centre in Kettering. and we aim for this to be the of IBB Polonia London. The As it was our first event back, benchmark for all of our major reigning English Super League 10 champions can be rightly proud staff, a dedicated group of 2020/21 competition calendar of their second campaign in volunteers and key partners as for volleyball and sitting the CEV Champions League well as the ingenuity of Steve volleyball in England were Volley. They put on a superb Smith, member of our Sitting majorly disrupted by the performance against some of Volleyball Working Group and Covid pandemic, so we are Europe’s very best on free-to- founder of Sitting Bucks VC, looking forward to returning watch television and once more a solution was created – an to a full season of activity from made history by becoming the impermeable net system to September. On that front, thank first English volleyball club to reduce the risk of Covid-19 you to the members who have win a set in the competition. droplets being transmitted fed ideas and shared their Afterwards they dropped into between players. This piece of thoughts through our player, the second-tier competition, sporting innovation and the club and National Volleyball the CEV Cup, and came close supporting safety plan has League surveys, and also those to qualifying for the quarter enabled the sitting volleyball who attended the innovation finals. In extremely challenging community to overcome the debate, The Next Big Idea. We circumstances, IBB Polonia sizeable challenges that are listening to your feedback made big improvements in had prevented it to return to to make sure our competitions Europe this year and made us training. We now look forward are tailored to the wants and all so proud. Well done to the to the next major milestone of needs of everyone involved. club’s players, coaches and returning to sitting volleyball We will continue to review all backroom staff – it’s been great competitions. of our products and services to fun following your journey. ensure they are fit for purpose 2021/22 and hope you will continue Beach and sitting volleyball The end of the 2019/20 to engage with opportunities UKBT, our beach volleyball and the entirety of the to provide feedback. For event provider, should be example, we have developed applauded for plotting a way “We are listening plans to improve the quality through the meticulous return to your feedback of our junior competitions by to play guidance to organise a switching from a cup-style series of events during 2020 to make sure our knockout format to a league. – even securing new sponsors competitions are After a severely diminished in the process. They returned tailored to the domestic calendar, we are with a bang for 2021 too, with very much looking forward to a extensive calendar of events wants and needs September and the start of the that now includes a Junior UKBT of everyone 2021/22 season – we have so series to provide competitive involved.” much volleyball to catch up on! opportunities for our youngster beach volleyball athletes. Before each discipline could return, a comprehensive return to play evaluation process had to be followed to ensure the sport could safely resume. Of the numerous cases that had to be established and submitted to the Department for Media, Culture and Sport for approval, the one for sitting volleyball was the trickiest because of the set of unique challenges the A prototype sitting volleyball sport presents. Nevertheless, net was tested at the National Volleyball Centre (October 2020) thanks to the hard work of 11 Great Britain Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team returned to training thanks to the new sitting volleyball net (May 2021)

FOUNDATION REPORT Simone Turner, Chairwoman of the Volleyball England Foundation, reflects on the organisation’s accomplishments from the past year.

Philanthropy, in particular to become the next sporting making further awards sports philanthropy and leaders. Our current cohort giving, has been hit hard, of 12 are receiving monthly Donations dogged by uncertainty of training and adding knowledge We are grateful for the generous when and how programmes and capacity to the work of the donations we have received were to be delivered and, in Foundation. during the last 12 months - our case, how the Foundation including the first legacy gift could successfully launch Ambassadors and £1,200 raised through new initiatives. Yet, despite Current advocates include Dan our Christmas auction. We everything, I’m pleased to Hunter, Carol Gordon, Javier & have a number of members report the Foundation is Joaquin Bello, Bryan Youden. who regularly donate and a making strong and steady significant number of individual progress towards all its goals. Return to play donations. As a result, last This year has been marked by The Foundation secured £9,500 year we received over £800 in some notable highlights, which from Sport England’s Return donations, thank you for your I have outlined below. For full to Play fund to provide sitting continued support. In addition, details, please refer to our 2021 volleyball clubs with one of the we were successful in receiving Annual Report. innovative new nets that enable funds from two charities, the sport to safely return the Bruce Wake Foundation New trustees as well as PPE and cleaning donated £2,500 towards our We welcomed five new trustees equipment. sitting campaign and Movement to the Board in 2021. Manni for Good donated £1,000, Sehmbi, Steve Schindler, Bev Sitting campaign thanks to you nominating us as Ward, Andy Narayanan, and The first recipients of our sitting your preferred charity. Joelle Watkins come from volleyball award, which was set diverse backgrounds and up to support the creation of Looking ahead bring with them a wealth of new teams, were Leeds Gorse, We look forward to working knowledge and experience. Manchester Marvel and Hull with the Volleyball Family Thunder. Each club received a throughout the rest of 2021 Step into My Shoes start-up package worth £1,000. and into 2022 as, together, we The Foundation introduced a We were grateful to receive work to develop, educate, and board volunteer programme support from World ParaVolley promote the health benefits of to nurture and developstalent and Molten,and look forward to volleyball. 12 FINANCE REPORT An update from Financial Consultant Kevin Fletcher.

I ended last year’s finance result of stringent cost controls. report by stating that whilst Non-Sport England income we faced fiscal challenges in has been negatively impacted exams and has now embarked 20/21, we had improved our as activity, such as courses on his next qualification. financial stability by changing and competitions, were put on Although Covid-19 continues the ways we work and that hold or cancelled. In addition, to disrupt volleyball, we have I was confident we would we have reprofiled £59,000 of tried to protect Volleyball meet whatever challenges Sport England grant income England during this pandemic lay ahead. Little did I know which will be used to support to enable it to lead the growth what challenges lay ahead, our return to play during 21/22. and improvement of the sport but the steps that we took The strength of our balance through 21/22 and beyond. in 19/20 have been crucial sheet will also assist with the in maintaining our strong implementation of our strategy. financial position. The changes we Sport England quickly made last year to our realised the Covid-19 pandemic Finance Department would bring financial insecurity (new personnel and and cash flow challenges for finance system) allowed Sports Bodies. To assist with greater visibility of key this, they released six months information in a more of grant income in April 2020 timely manner to the and repeated a six month senior management payment in September, which team. In addition, our greatly improved our cash flow. Finance Assistant Adam For the financial year 20/21, our Freundlich passed expenses were £27,000 lower his Association of than our revenue, mainly as a Accounting Technicians

1313 Stockport vs Malory Eagles in the U15s National Championships (May 2021)

REGIONAL REPORTS North East, by Sue Sowden North West, by Phil Chanin Championships. In the meantime, Before lockdown we were With the pandemic closing teams were entered into Volleyball struggling to find volunteers to volleyball across the region, big England junior age groups for join the North East Committee. shoutouts must be made to clubs 19/20 with great success, with Unfortunately, that is still the case and individuals who kept the teams reaching the last eight for now. flame alight. the first time in years. Several Since restrictions have been Frodsham trained under of the juniors were successful in lifted, clubs – particularly those floodlights in the snow. Stockport being selected to join the England based at schools – struggled to Volleyball Club ran virtual strength Talent Pathway. return to indoor volleyball, but it and conditioning sessions. City of Yorkshire took part in the has been pleasing to see many Salford ran outdoor sessions. And inaugural Beach Inter Regional organising outdoor sessions. Adrian and Kaya Stores completed Championships in 2019 and is now Each month we are seeing more a ‘Corona Cycle’ to raise money for developing beach training squads. and more clubs get back up and the Volleyball England Foundation The Yorkshire Series continues running. and the NHS. to grow and the region hosted My own club, Newcastle, With volleyball slowly UKBT events thanks to Skyball returned earlier than others returning, Urmston Grammar and BVC. In sitting volleyball, Sheffield because we offer junior volleyball Stockport flew the flag for the continue to represent Yorkshire. and because we are not school- North West at the finals of the In total, there are more than 40 based – which has allowed us to boys U15s National Championship. volleyball teams competing in the restart adult sessions as soon Whilst Everton set up summer NVL, regional or area leagues. as possible. I am biased, but I beach training and competitions think Newcastle has been a major at Crosby. East Midlands, by Paul Kaerger success in the region because our As restrictions ease and people membership has skyrocketed. Yorkshire, by Tim Godson are being allowed to play again, Since returning, the Northern Our biggest achievement has been something wonderful seems to be Counties’ beach league is the success of our juniors. Two happening. I am getting reports going well and all eyes are on training squads were set up and from clubs across the regions that Bridlington for the return of one of they were due to come together the number of juniors turning up the most hotly anticipated beach to train under the Yorkshire to training sessions amongst East tournaments on the calendar. banner for the Inter Regional Midlands clubs has gone through 14 the roof. We hope that we can impact on the sport in our area. The other good news has been keep this interest going and help the explosion of demand for create a whole new generation of South East, John Biddiscombe junior and adult outdoor sessions players. Junior volleyball has been thriving coming out of lockdown. Many In terms of adults, people are in many areas. Clubs across the of our clubs have responded playing again, whether on grass, South East are telling us that with new programmes and have beach or indoor, but it is too early existing junior players flocked successfully brought these new to say what the longer-term impact back when restrictions allowed. players into the game. We hope to of lockdown has had on players, Even more encouraging has been see the benefit of this in our local coaches and volunteers. the surge in interest from new and regional junior competitions At East Midlands, we have junior players. next season. some work to do to help our As restrictions on outdoor sport Our regional junior squads local clubs rebuild and we will be were relaxed, clubs ran outdoor trained up to Christmas and it getting in touch with them over sessions and the beach facilities is sad that these players have the summer to see what help we in the region were popular. missed their opportunity to can provide. This information will Several junior players entered and represent the region at the Inter help us define our new strategy. had success in UKBT events and Regional Championships in the Worthing beach courts brought last two seasons. West Midlands UKBT to the town for the first time. Initial surveys suggest that After such a difficult year it While getting coaches the we should see viable local and has been fantastic to see clubs qualifications necessary to take regional leagues next season returning to court, whether that training sessions is desperately – possibly slightly down on be in a sports hall, on the grass needed to cope with the increased numbers, but hopefully we can or on sand. Some of those clubs demand, Invicta held an build again from there. have had their returns bolster innovative beach coach workshop As always, a huge vote of by significant grants from Sport with Vangelis Koutouleas. thanks to those who give up England – including Volleyball The challenges we face in the their time as volunteers to make England’s Club of the Year, coming year are getting existing organised volleyball activity Coventry & Warwick Riga, who adult competitions up and possible. received £1,600. running again as well as providing As a region, we are working competitive outlets for junior London, by Gary Beckford hard with Volleyball England to players. Since lockdown has eased we capitalise on the Commonwealth All things considered, there are have found that the community is Games in Birmingham next year. a lot of positive things happening desperate to get back to playing, in the region especially around even if that means setting up Eastern, by Frances Balaam junior volleyball so a massive sessions in the park that would Thanks to our amazing coaches thank you to everybody who have otherwise been indoors. and volunteers, clubs across has worked so hard in difficult Like many other regions, the region are doing their best circumstances to not only keep London has also experienced a to engage with members, from the sport going but also grow surge in junior volleyball, driven running home workouts to participation. by the continued popularity of the organising outdoor sessions. Japanese manga series Haikyu. There has been a sharp South West, by Ron Richards Competitive opportunities are key increase in junior participation in SWVA has “ticked over” to capitalise on that interest and the region. The Eastern region will effectively, holding two Executive work is underway to explore the also take part in the upcoming U18 meetings and the AGM online. possibility of a junior league. In Inter-Regional Beach Volleyball The good news is that these respect of the adult game, plans Cup in Cardiff. have included open sessions are progressing for the return of To keep the sport going within with a much larger attendance the London League. our region, we hope to increase than normal. These have been One of the challenges going the number of coaches and informative – looking at coaching forward is the impact of Brexit and referees by running courses when drills, competition formats and the number of volleyball players they return. Our biggest challenge online tools – and popular. It is that have left the country. We do is people’s time. We need to find likely that we will adopt a mix of not yet know where we are at with more volunteers to be part of face-to-face and online meetings that. the association to have a bigger moving forward. 15 16