BVF Funding announcement (19.8.10)
Welsh Team on Mosgito (5.7.10)
Inter-regional Championships Review (17.5.10)
Welsh Teams play in British College Championships (6.5.10)
Celtic Dragons - Top of the League (22.2.10)
Junior Development Squad announced (31.1.10)
Wales Juniors v Argentina (21.1.10)
Statement from BVF Board to News Media on the funding arrangements for British Volleyball - 18 August 2010
Since 2006 the British Volleyball Federation has maintained its investment in the six Olympic and Paralympic disciplines under its control, with a view to allowing each squad to pursue its objective of competing with credibility in the London 2012 Games.
The Great Britain Volleyball programme is the largest of any team sport and consists of Indoor Volleyball for both men and women, Beach Volleyball for men and women, and Sitting (Paralympic) Volleyball for men and women.
All six teams have automatic host-country qualification for London 2012, as laid down by the respective international federations the FIVB and WOVD.
BVF President Richard Callicott said: "Since 2009, the BVF has faced increasing difficulties in continuing to support all of its programmes within the funding allocation made available to it by UK Sport. Accordingly, and following discussion with UK Sport, the BVF Board has determined that it will henceforward expend UK Sport funding only on the Men's Indoor Volleyball, Women's Beach Volleyball and Sitting Volleyball programmes. This decision is in recognition especially of UK Sport's investment principles, which prioritise support for sports on the basis of relative performance merit taking into account current performances and future medal potential,. The BVF Board's decision seeks to ensure that the teams with the greatest potential can continue to develop towards the fulfilment of their performance targets for 2012.
"This decision means that that Women's Indoor Volleyball and Men's Beach programmes will no longer be funded directly with monies from UK Sport with effect from 1 October 2010. This does not, however, mean that the BVF is abandoning these teams."
Mr. Callicott stressed the Federation is working hard to find additional income from sponsorship and commercial sources to enable these players to continue their preparation and to compete in London 2012. For the forthcoming winter season the majority of the players in the Women's Indoor programme will be taking up playing contracts with European club sides, and the BVF is hopeful that during that time sufficient income will be found to enable them to play competitive matches and continue their training from May 2011 onwards.
"We want to help all those people active in our volleyball programmes to fulfil their dreams and enrich the Olympic experience in London in 23 months' time," he concluded.
Audrey Cooper, head coach, GB women's volleyball, said: "It is obviously difficult to register our shock and disappointment after three years of phenomenal progress. However, will we give up - no. We have a group of determined and resilient athletes and staff, as proved by our recent highly successful profile raising cycle ride from Sheffield to London. We will assess what this means for us and look for a solution. Clearly that solution will involve the development of partnerships with external organisations and commercial companies with similar characteristics and desires. Only two years away from London 2012 we have come too far to let the dream die."
Liz Nicholl, Chief Operating Officer at UK Sport, added:
"For the London Games, UK Sport has invested record sums in volleyball, with over £4 million supporting the Olympic and Paralympic programmes. The decision made today by the BVF Board maximises the support for those teams with the greatest performance potential. This was no doubt a difficult decision for the Board, but it is one we feel took great courage and that is right from a performance perspective, especially in these economically challenging times."
For further information contact:
Richard Calicott, President, British Volleyball Federation: mobile 07810 181111
Audrey Cooper, head coach, GB women's volleyball: mobile: 07771 940511 or
office: 0114 223 5744
Sue Mott, David Welch Management: mobile 07836 283566
Office: 01832 274340
Mobile: 07774 811581
Welsh Juniors on Mosgito, S4C at 5.30pm on 6th July 2010
On the 6th July 2010, several of the Welsh Under 14/15 squad members appeared on S4C's Mosgito. The programme targets under 16 year olds to try new activities and focuses on exciting new experiences each week. U17 squad players Cai Morgan and Lewys Mann were interviewed by the shows main presentor and even taught her how to serve. If you would like to try volleyball, send your details to mail@volleyballwales.org to find out about clubs near you.
Inter-regional Championships Review (17.5.10)
U15 boys - Coach Chris Webb
A team that was very much brought together at the last minute, with a mix of experience from one year to one week meant that on paper this team should not have been able to challenge any of their competitors. Against the odds the boys got off to a dream start convincingly winning the first set against Yorkshire with strong serving and good defence. The team then came through a tougher second set to confirm the perfect start with a match win. Tough games followed and although they were competitive in every game and even ran the eventual group winners within 5 points of a victory the team were unable to win another game and eventually finished fourth out five teams in their group. This took them into a playoff for seventh and eighth place and another hard fought game took them close to another unexpected victory but it wasn't to be and the team finished in a very respective eighth place.
I'm extremely proud of all the players for the way they worked as a team and dealt brilliantly with this very tough challenge. I would like to give a special mention to Conor Robins, whose aggressive serving and hitting won us a large number of points and my Coach's player of the tournament Matt Perry, our captain who lead by example with great setting, solid blocking and motivating comments throughout the weekend. (Written by Chris Webb, U15's Boys coach)
Welsh Teams play in British College Championships (6.5.10)
Following the Welsh Colleges competition held in October 2009, the top Girls and Boys teams went through to represent Wales in the British College Championships in April. The Girls team came from Llandrillo College in North Wales, whilst the Boys team came from St Davids College in Cardiff.
Girls team report
Teacher Mr Paul Lloyd from Llandrillo College coached the girls team up to the British Championships but the inexperienced team had a tough path ahead. There were 3 pools and Llandrillo were drawn with the South West and South East team (who won last year and lost in the final this year to Stoke). Llandrillo lost both games but gave a good performance dispite the obvious nerves and lack of confidence and experience.
Second round pool saw Llandrillo drawn against Scotland and the North West where they again lost both games but this time giving both teams a real run for their money. Due to points difference Llandrillo finally ended the competition in 8th place. (Written by Paul Murray - 5x60 Officer, Llandrillo College)
Boys team report
St.Davids Catholic college located on Ty Gwyn road in Penylan Cardiff represented Wales at the British colleges volleyball competition in Loughborough from the 16th-18th of April. Despite the teams lack of training the St.Davids college squad with two experienced players in the squad - Polish born Maciej Mlodzianowski and Welsh volleyball junior captain Aiden Lewis the team exceeded expectations. The team were placed in a reasonably strong pool with teams from the South West, South East and East of England.
Wales (St.Davids College) saw their first game against a very strong South West team that included an England cadet player in their ranks. Wales lost the game 2-0 but managed to push the South West team all the way through each set. They then played a college from the South East of England which they managed to win 2- 1. This was a great achievement for the college and they beat the previous record of winning more than one set. The final pool game saw them face a team from the East of England which they lost 2-0. After the pool stages, the Welsh team were put in to a league table with all of the teams regarding their outcome from the two pools. The Welsh team had to play in a play-off game to see whether they played in the 7thand 8th place or 9thand 10th play off game.
The team battled hard but eventually lost 2-0 to the East Midlands. This meant that they played in the 9th and 10th play off where they faced the team they had beaten in the pool stages the South East. Wales took the first set quite comfortably but then the tiredness and lack of match play kicked in and the inexperienced players found it difficult. The Welsh team eventually lost the match 2-1 and finished the tournament in last place (10th) however this did not reflect the performance of the team over the weekend.
The St.Davids and Wales captain Aiden Lewis added 'the team performed exceptionally well over the weekend. Our objective was to win at least two sets and managing to win a game was a massive achievement. We did not have much preparation going in to the tournament and with some players playing in only their second competitive competition I think we can only take this weekend as a massive confidence boost and platform to build on for next year'. (Written by Aiden Lewis, Captain)
St.Davids College Squad
Next year Volleyball Wales plan to support the colleges leading up to the Welsh Rounds and then offering support up to and during the British Championships. Should you be interested in finding out how VW can help, please get in touch.
Celtic Dragons - Top of the League (22.2.10)
Wales' 1st Sitting Volleyball Team, the FDSW Celtic Dragons, are top of the leaderboard in the Sitting Volleyball Grand Prix series after three events (Dec 09, Jan 10 and Feb 10). The new comers to the sport formed in Oct 2009 and after some intensive training under the watchful eye of FDSW Performance Director Anthony Hughes, travelled to Kettering in Dec 2009 to surpise the English teams by winning the 1st event.
The other teams fought hard in the Jan 2010 event to knock the Dragons off the top spot but were unable to do so. Eventually the winning streak was broken in the 3rd event with the Dragons coming 2nd to the East London Lynx however The Celtic Dragons lead from the previous two events meant that they were able to hold on to 1st place overall.
For more information about Sitting Volleyball,click here.
Junior Development Squad announced (31.1.10)
Following the trials at the Welsh institute of Sport, Head Coaches Sandra Stoll (Boys) and Jack Allman (Girls) have selected a development squad to work towards the pending UK School Games in Sept 2010. The Games are being held in Newcastle and will be the first year that Wales have been invited to compete in the full competition. As well as regular training sessions, the development squad will be going on tour to Germany in April and will be competiting in the Inter regional Competition in May in Kettering. Keep checking this site for updates on their progress.
Wales Juniors v Argentina (21.1.10)
On Thursday 21st January Wales Under 16 girl's team competed in a friendly match at The Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff against an Argentinean School who were in their final stages of their UK Tour. The two teams played 3 sets with the Argentinean School coming away with a very close win, however both teams played some impressive volleyball. It was a great atmosphere and a good opportunity for the Welsh players to experience an international and competitive match. We hope to keep in touch with Belgrano Day School in the future.
Jack Allman - Head Coach, Wales U16's Girls