Ambitious plans for Volleyball Ireland
Volleyball Ireland has launched a new strategic plan. Raising the Game maps out the vision, mission and strategic objectives that will guide the development of Volleyball in Ireland over the next four years.
The overarching vision is to create a vibrant volleyball community that allows all clubs, players and officials to reach their potential. The strategy is ambitious with significant growth targets including a 50% increase in the number of licensed players and coaches.
Raising the Game is divided into five key strategic areas; Raising Participation, Raising Operational Standards, Raising Performance, Raising the Profile and FundRaising & Finance. These pillars provide a clear focus with substantial actions and hard targets providing a detailed and transparent approach to planning the next four years.
Over 9,000 school children currently play competitive Volleyball through an impressive schools calendar – the key focus of Raising the Game is to develop pathways for those pupils to join Volleyball clubs and create a vibrant community of exciting competitions.
Highlights of the plan include;
- Host major international Volleyball events that will raise the profile of the sport
- Raise participation of the Youth National League programme by 300%
- Increase the number of school teams competing in National competitions to over 1,100
- Establish 4 x Sitting Volleyball Centres for people with a physical disability
- Employment of a development officer with a focus on Inclusion
- Full roll out of the Volleyball ClubMark programme
- Develop a long term player development plan
- Implementation of a High Performance strategy to improve the performance of National Teams
- Development of a Social Volley programme that targets recreational players and beginners in the community and workplace
- Increase participation in the National Beach Tour to over 300 players
- Work with local authorities and landlords to develop quality facilities
- Creation of a Higher Education Volleyball Officer programme to inspire participation in third level colleges and institutions
A core belief of Volleyball Ireland is that Volleyball is for life. With that in mind the NGB has been rolling out a number of new programmes that will provide life long participation in the sport, including the popular Chair Volleyball developed in partnership with Age & Opportunity. As well as the Mini Spikers physical literacy initiative for 5-8year olds.
Strategy lead and board member Jeff King said, “Make no mistake this plan has ambitious targets. It will place Volleyball as one of the fastest growing sports in Ireland and through our inclusion programmes we hope to be an exemplar amongst other National Governing Bodies of Sport.”
President of Volleyball Ireland Grainne Culliton added, “Our Strategy is ambitious, challenging and exciting. It will leave a legacy for a strong and vibrant Volleyball Ireland. Putting the emphasis on club development and supporting exciting competitions will help us grow the sport and improve performance.”
Gary Stewart, General Manager of Volleyball Ireland commented, “We’ve produced a really detailed and transparent map that will guide us over the coming years. What we’ve demonstrated here is we aren’t afraid to challenge ourselves put hard numbers against our objectives. There is huge potential in Irish Volleyball and over the next four years we will develop a significant programme that will allow everyone regardless of age, background or ability to reach their potential.”
Volleyball Ireland has already began working on some key targets with the recent announcement they will be hosting an Olympic Qualifier in Beach Volleyball this June in Bettystown, Co. Meath.
Recent achievements for Volleyball Ireland;
- Received 30k in Dormant Accounts funding to develop inclusion programmes with key partners
- Received 23k in funding to employ an Aspire Graduate to support the development of the HEVO programme
- Participated in their first Youth European Championships. The girls u16s were competitive throughout the event in the Faroe Islands before beating Iceland 3-1.
- Awarded the first stage of the Beach Volleyball Continental Cup – an Olympic Qualifier.
- Dublin City Council awarded 65k to develop an inland beach volleyball court in Clontarf.
