Expressions of Interest: Junior National Women’s Team Head Coach Roles
 
Volleyball Ireland are seeking Expressions of Interest for the roles of u17s Women’s National Team Head Coach and u19 Women’s National Team Head Coach.
 
The u17s Coach will work with players born in 2006 and 2007.
The u19s Coach will work with players born in 2004 and 2005.
 
The voluntary positions will work alongside the Senior National Team Coaching panel and other junior national team pathway coaches to deliver a systemic and athlete centred performance programme.

The role will involve leading teams to CEV Zonal Championships, as well as identifying other competitions and tournaments to attend, that will aid the holistic and long term development of players.

A more detailed role description will be available to interested parties.
 
If you’re interested in the role please send a brief email to Gary Stewart, General Manager, outlining your suitability for the role; gm@volleyballireland.com Deadline; no later than Friday July 17th 2020.

Volleyball Ireland are delighted to announce that Mark Delahunty has been appointed Senior Women's National Team Head Coach, on a permanent basis.

The DVC man has impressed whilst in temporary control, overseeing National Team trials that attracted 38 players. Mark said, "I am very privileged to be appointed to the role. What I have seen in terms of the talent available and interest in the sport makes this an exciting time for Irish Volleyball."

Mark has an ambitious vision for the National Women's team programme and aims to create a system that will give Irish teams success over many years, "I can't wait to get started and I hope that by working in partnership with Coaches, Clubs, Schools, the Association and most importantly the players we can continue to develop and grow our amazing sport."

Work is underway to establish a coaching and support team at a number of key National Team age groups. 

On the inside scoop we have a club who are from Munster and bring the Thunder!! That's right Munster Thunder join us for the Club Q&A. This dynamic and homely team have teams competing in the National League in Premier Women, Division 1 Men and Women's Division 2. This club is a mix of experienced international players and up and coming young stars!   

Club Name
Munster Thunder VC
Give a brief background of the club. i.e year founded, titles won, highlights, junior/senior club etc..
The club has currentrly 3 teams (Premier W- D2W and D1 Men) Winner of D2W in 2017/18 - Winner of D1W in 2018/2019 - The current D2W is mostly composed by U18 players
What 3 words would best describe the club?
Dynamic- International- Homely
What Social Activities does your club do?
We do organise a beach volleyball camp abroad every year
Tell us a fun fact we don't know about the club.
After each training session we go for a pint (adults only)
Does your club have a special tradition/chant/routine? Tell us about it!
Not specifically
Which club would you consider to be your biggest rivals?
Depends on the team and on the year
What does the club do in the off season?
One indoor training a week runs through the year- then we play beachvolleball
Finally, what song would be your clubs anthem/jam/walk in song? Include a link!
Thunderstruck AC/DC
​

Volleyball Ireland's Clubmark Programme has been in operation since 2017 when Santry VC were the first club to achieve the status. Since then, Galway VC worked their way through it and is accredited since 2019. There are a number of clubs working through the programme and hope to complete it by the end of 2020.

What is Clubmark?
Volleyball Ireland (VI) Clubmark Programme is designed to support and develop clubs in various areas. The programme rewards those who meet the minimum standards set and encourages clubs to continually develop. The VI provide support and resources to ensure clubs are on the right track towards accreditation. The areas covered are Effective Management, Safety in Sport and Quality Assurance and Development.

How it Works?
Clubs complete set criteria with the help and support of Volleyball Ireland staff. Templates are available so clubs aren't expected to 'recreate the wheel' by starting documents from scratch. Get a team of people involved so various areas can be worked on at the same time.

The Benefits
Clubs structure and governance will be enhanced with best practices and policies put in place. Club volunteers will be trained and have the opportunity to expand their skills and be part of the growth of their club.
Clubs who complete the programme will receive a €500 equipment grant from Volleyball Ireland for Sportsset.

View the programme HERE and contact Norma who can arrange a quick chat to talk you and your team through the programme and set a plan of action.

Volleyball Ireland ran a Club Development Planning Webinar which centered around Development Plans. A number of clubs including, Gardians VC, BMP, Santry VC, Kilkenny Spartans VC, Netforce VC and DVC all tuned in and some clubs shared their experience of creating and implementing Development Plans.

So What is a Development Plan?
A Club Development Plan explains where the club wants to be in the future. It outlines the club’s objectives, how these objectives will be achieved and by when.

Why Bother Doing One?
•Identifies aspects that need attention and strong areas of club
•Can help focus club activity and keeps track of bigger picture
•Sends a message of growth and opportunities to stakeholders
•May be required for Grant Applications

VI have put together a handy guide and easy to follow templates clubs can use. The slideshow is also included.
​
The Plan
Handy Guide
Slideshow

Some Top Tips to Remember when Creating and Implementing a Plan
•Get a number of people with skills and qualities involved
•Give clear ownership to individuals
•Remember, Where are we now? Where do you want to be? How are you going to get there?
•Set Goals and break them down into objectives (SMART)
•Review the plan, update progress and make changes if needed.

Following on from the Webinar that took place last week about Club Development Planning we thought we would share some tips for clubs who are beginning to write theirs.

What is it?
A Club Development Plan explains where the club wants to be in the future. It outlines the club’s objectives, how these objectives will be achieved and by when.

Why Bother?
•Identifies aspects that need attention and strong areas of club
•Can help focus club activity and keeps track of bigger picture
•Sends a message of growth and opportunities to stakeholders
•May be required for Grant Applications

Top Tips
•Get a number of people with skills and qualities involved
•Give clear ownership to individuals
•Remember, Where are we now? Where do you want to be? How are you going to get there?
•Set Goals and break them down into objectives (SMART)
•Review the plan, update progress and make changes if needed.

You will find a Club Development Plan Template HERE and a comprehensive yet simple guide to complete one HERE.

UCD Volleyball appears in this weeks Inside Scoop. UCD have been around for 40years and have a number of titles to their name both domestic and international! Check them out below and on Facebook and Instagram

Club Name
UCD Volleyball Club
Give a brief background of the club. i.e year founded, titles won, highlights, junior/senior club etc..
UCD Volleyball Club began in or around 40 years ago, in fact, not even the more mature graduates can remember when we started! The club has been very successful in both Intervarsity competition and National league and cup over the years. UCD women's team are the only Irish team to win the student cup in the UK. And didn't just do it once, but 3 years in a row in the early 2000's More recently our Men's team have been featuring at the the top of the premier league and cup competition. More to come we hope!
What 3 words would best describe the club?
Friendliness, passion, dedication
What Social Activities does your club do?
Team nights, quizzes, fancy dress Halloween parties, "mini blitz" competitions, after game food and/or refreshments, the list is endless!
Tell us a fun fact we don't know about the club.
We own Gianma, the libero that probably has won the most libero all stars ever
Does your club have a special tradition/chant/routine? Tell us about it!
UCD Annual Blitz. The Blitz is currently the longest running annual tournament. It started in 1983 and has been running annually ever since, it's a tradition that has been passed on and maintained year after year no matter who is involved in the club.
Which club would you consider to be your biggest rivals?
DVC, Aer Lingus, has changed over the years!
What does the club do in the off season?
Grass volleyball, beach volleyball, or any "outside"volleyball
Finally, what song would be your clubs anthem/jam/walk in song? Include a link!
​Anything that gets us dancing at the champ dinner! Depends on who you ask, but many would claim Mamma Mia to be the main anthem!

As a result of the publication of the Government’s Reopening Business & Society Road Map and the phased approach included within, it is not likely that we will be able to conclude the 2019/20 National League & Association Cup Competitions.
 
As a result, and following consultation with member clubs (zoom meeting held on 25th March), the National League and Association Cup are declared null and void.
 
A number of options were discussed with the Competitions & Development Commission.  In the main these included;

          1. Completing the season over the summer months:
Feedback from clubs suggested that only 60% of teams would have enough players to compete over the Summer, making the arrangement of fixtures impossible.  Other problems included the impact on the Beach Volleyball National Tour calendar, as well as the unlikely availability of indoor facilities with most school and college facilities closed until September.

         2. Delaying the start of the 2020/21 season and completing the current season (2019/20) later in the year:
This also disadvantages teams whose players would not be available later in the year and in addition the likely transfer of players and coaches during this time would also have an impact.  This option was deemed unworkable.

        3. Declaring the National League and Association Cup Null and Void
This decision is in line with a series of phased return scenarios sent to clubs in late March, while not satisfactory it is the most practical solution and provides certainty for all concerned.
 
On balance, declaring the season null and void was the least worst solution.  This decision led to a number of possible solutions for how to close off the 2019/20 season and determine, for instance, how league places would be allocated in the upcoming 2020/21 season. 

These solutions include;

        a. Using Current Standings:
With teams having played an unequal amount of matches this option would probably not produce a fair representation of each Division.

        b. Points Per Game:
This solution would see each team’s points divided by the number of games played, unlike option 1 this would allow comparison of teams with unequal matches played. However, it was felt that with the current league positions being so close, the number of matches in each Division being relatively small, with teams having played an unequal amount of fixtures and some with more home games than away games left to play, a PPG system would not adequately produce a fair representation of each Division.

           c. Negotiation
In some Divisions, there are team positions that are clear at the top and bottom of the league which would in some cases allow a fair assessment of promotion/relegation.  This would only work in some cases and would leave others unclear or open to challenge.

          d. Revert to team positions at the end of the 2018/19 season
While it is unfortunate that the National League standings cannot be decided on sporting merit, these are unprecedented times “Null and Void” is the fairest option for all teams.  2020/21 league positions will be allocated according to placings at the beginning of the 2019/20 season.

In any case allocation of teams into each Division will be discussed as always, once the National League entry process is opened for the 2020/21 season, teams can always make requests for reallocation based on particular circumstances.  

Cup Competitions
The Association Cup and Shield Competitions are at various stage of completion, and for the reasons listed above it is unlikely to be able completed in a reasonable time frame. And as such, The Association Cup and Shield Competitions will be cancelled.
 
The Way Forward
The Competitions & Development Commission, in consultation with the Board and staff of Volleyball Ireland is working with Sport Ireland and the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport to produce a set of Return to Sport Protocols that will allow Volleyball to be played as soon as it is safe to do so.

At present, it is not expected that any organised format of Volleyball, including Beach Volleyball, will be able to take place before the start of Phase 3, at the very earliest of the Government’s Road Map, (June 29th).
 
Volleyball Ireland would like to thank all clubs and their members for their input and wish all of our members the best of health now and into the future.
 
Ends.
 

Following on from the Garda Vetting update last week. This week we bring you guidance produced by Sport Ireland Ethics Unit on Safeguarding and Wellbeing during Covid-19. Click HERE to read the guidance. 

The Inside Scoop...Club Q&A catches up with the new kids on the block, Craigavon Aztecs VC. The club has teams competing in the VI Youth League and is one of the strong competitors of the league. Keep reading to find out more about the club!

Club Name
Craigavon Aztecs volleyball club
Give a brief background of the club. i.e year founded, titles won, highlights, junior/senior club etc..
Running since 1976, we have 6 senior team, 3 male & 3 female and 250 juniors. 12 titles male & Female and 1000 kids a week being coached in our school Links programme.
What 3 words would best describe the club?
Fun community Family
What Social Activities does your club do?
Community volleyball League , Dinner, Bowling
Tell us a fun fact we don't know about the club.
The club got its name Aztecs in 1976 as it started as a night tect course eg as - tect
Does your club have a special tradition/chant/routine? Tell us about it!
We hold a end of season awards dinner every year with 150 players junior & senior members.
Which club would you consider to be your biggest rivals?
Ballymoney Blaze
What does the club do in the off season?
Summer camps & Beach volleyball, Club tours
Finally, what song would be your clubs anthem/jam/walk in song? Include a link!
Sweet Caroline

The Inside Scoop features Santry VC, international super heroes from all over the world. These beach boys and beach girls see Aer Lingus as their friendly rivals…careful now Santry VC or you could be kicked off your next Aer Lingus flight! Why not check-out Santry VC's Facebook Page, Instagram and Website!

​Club Name
Santry VC
 
Give a brief background of the club. i.e year founded, titles won, highlights, junior/senior club etc..
Santry Volleyball Santry VC was established in 1994, but it all started in school way back before that. The club originated from Margaret Aylward Secondary School in Whitehall in the mid-eighties by Denise Tallon who was a teacher in that school at that time. She was an instrumental figure in setting up the club and she remains a key figure today. At that time, Santry VC had an important tie-in with the school and that was a good source for attracting new players. In the early days, an after-school volleyball group was formed and as well as playing in school competitions. The group decided to play in the National Division 3 League which they played from 1985-1988 and were runners up in the cup final in 1987. Unfortunately, that group broke up due to lack of commitment of players to train once they started in college. The next group then began in 1988 and only played National League for one year. A two-year break from the sport followed from 1991-1993 because of loss interest in volleyball in school at that time. Arising from the school success, Santry VC was formed in the spring of 1994 when a very interested group of first and second years came together. This group won the Cadette B final in 1995 and were runners-up in Cadette A in the following year in a school's competitions. More players started to arrive in the club following this success. In 1994, the group entered Division 3 of the National Volleyball League and won the Division 3 Cup in 1995. They finished second in Division 2 and won the promotion to Division 1. It was around this time that a junior team was entered into Division 3. In 1996-97, the group were runners up in the senior A section of a schools competition. The following year, the group won the senior A title. In the years since, many girls in the school have played the sport and reached in All-Ireland quarters and semi-finals but unfortunately never made the big break-through. Between 1997-98 seasons, a breakthrough for Santry's senior came when they won Division 1 of the National League and the Intermediate championship, which they then promoted to a top flight in volleyball - the Premier League. The junior team were promoted to Division 2 in 1998 and won Division 2 in the 2000/01 season- this earned them promotion to Division 1. At the start of 2000/01 season, a third team from the school started to play in Division 3 of the National League and they finished third in their first season. Over the years, Santry VC has had players represented on the Irish Junior team. During the season of 2012/13, our Premier Women team has won different tittles at a different tournaments. Many of those players, at the time, have been in the club since it started but later left due to having families of their own and/or focusing on their own career. As a result, the club lost potential players, but new members coming in and out every year from different countries all over the world, and some stayed. The success of the club follows through the year up until now where a men's division has been created and a junior team that has been redeveloped Santry V. Club currently consists of 5 divisions covering a range of ages and abilities for both male and female participants. The club is involved at both a recreational level and a competitive level with involvement in league, cup and tournament competitions organised through Volleyball Ireland (VI) and its affiliated clubs. The club trains out of the Artane Beaumont Family Recreation Centre in the North side of Dublin (Dublin 5). Santry VC is the first club in Ireland that has been awarded Clubmarked by Volleyball Ireland (VI).
What 3 words would best describe the club?
Family, Sport and Fun
 
What Social Activities does your club do?
The aim of Santry VC is to promote the playing of volleyball at all levels in a friendly and social atmosphere. We also strive to provide more opportunity for young people to try and experience Volleyball in a positive, fun and safe environment at the grassroots level. We firmly believe in welcoming everyone in the right to enjoy sport at every level. Santry VC wants to provide an opportunity for everyone to fulfil the desire to practice sport in a respectful manner. Sport's values are at the centre of everything we do.
 
Tell us a fun fact we don't know about the club.
We are international super heroes
 
Does your club have a special tradition/chant/routine? Tell us about it!
We have an inner chant I am sure, we can all agreed with that. We sing it in our hearts when we play that’s why we are very quiet. It’s a secret, so we don’t chant it out loud you know
 
Which club would you consider to be your biggest rivals?
Aerlingus... very near, very involved with each other and we help each other ..but we are the best
 
What does the club do in the off season?
Beach beach beach .. we are 10 minutes from Dollymount, we are very lucky- then we go home .. most of us are from Italy, Germany, Poland, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Spain ... can’t beat that, can you?
 
Finally, what song would be your clubs anthem/jam/walk in song? Include a link!
Avicii -Wake me up

Volleyball Ireland are delighted to announce an innovative partnership with global super star Vladimir ‘Vanja’ Grbic. 

The inspirational Olympic Gold Medallist will deliver a four week webinar programme that focusses on player development with key information, guidance and advice.
 
Each session will include a 45minute presentation followed by a Q&A opportunity. Registration is imperative with limited places available. Register here >
(https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BLn3hBgdRWuyK79RvIEXHQ)

Commenting on the programme Volleyball Ireland President Grainne Culliton said, “We are really ecstatic that our great friend Vanja is ‘returning’ to Ireland to help inspire our coaches, teachers and players alike. As well as being a phenomenal player Vanja is a highly inspiring coach with extensive experience developing skills in a fun and enjoyable way that keeps children in Volleyball for life. We cannot urge you enough to take part in the programme and learn from his holistic player-centred approach .”

Each event will explore motivation, dealing with fear, handling failure, and maturation of children and the key differences between boys and girls at each age group. Each session will include a 45min presentation and an opportunity for participants to ask your own questions related to the theme that week. 

The programme is designed for coaches, teachers, parents and players - to help everyone best understand how players acquire skills and are motivated to enjoy a long term, happy and active lifestyle. More information on the initiative can be found here >
http://www.volleyballireland.com/vanja.html#/

As part of Volleyball Ireland’s commitment to up skilling coaches, teachers, players and clubs, there is no charge for participation. The aim of the project to help inspire a life long love of our wonderful sport.

Volleyball Ireland, in conjunction with the CEV today announces the postponement of the scheduled FIVB World Tour 1* Beach Volleyball event planned for July in Bettystown, County Meath.

The current Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent Government guidelines means that the event cannot go ahead as planned. Volleyball Ireland are working with our International, National and local partners to coordinate a new date when safe and appropriate to do so.

The men only tournament would have been Ireland’s hosting debut on the World Tour after the successful staging of the CEV Continental Cup a little over 12 months ago. 

Volleyball Ireland is committed to bringing elite Beach Volleyball to this country to showcase a wonderful sport and inspire the next generation of players.  


​Ends.

Volleyball Ireland Development Officer Norma McIntyre will host the next in the series of Club Development Webinars: Planning for Success.

Date: Thurs May 14th, 7pm
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcodOGsrj8iH9JetitDgFFblQgy-VCgy5k7

The Zoom webinar will discuss tips for effective club planning.

This week for Club Resource section I want to go back to the Developing Youth Club Webinar that took place on the 30th April. We heard from 4 clubs who are running youth sections who gave great insights and invaluable advice. To see the Common Challenges & Positives clubs shared and their top tips, jump over to the infographic by clicking HERE

Kilkenny Spartans VC will feature in this weeks Inside Scoop. A recently formed club who offer a range of volleyball activities for any ability and age in the community. The Spartans are also the winners of Volleyball Ireland's #MeetTheQuaranTeamChallenge and you can check out the winning video HERE
While you're there, see what these Volleyball enthusiasts get up to by visiting their Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Club Name
Kilkenny Spartans VC
Give a brief background of the club. i.e year founded, titles won, highlights, junior/senior club etc..
​"The Social Club with a Volleyball Problem" Founded in August 2018, the club started off as a Social Volley outlet after collaboration between Volleyball Ireland and Watershed Sports Centre Kilkenny helped to install well-equipped volleyball courts. This resulted in local International Volleyball player, Benny O'Regan, leading Social Volley sessions on Friday nights to boost potential new recruits to Volleyball. Since then, the club has established itself not only as a new innovative sports club in volleyball circles but also gathering notoriety in the local community, and South East region. The player base has grown so much that the club now holds 4 trainings weekly, all catering for a different group. Kilkenny Spartans VC registered for first team ever in the Irish League this 2019/20 season. The women's team have been competitive in Division 2, 4th from 9 teams with 3 games remaining before the lockdown. Numbers grew every Thursday night where by this time, they were over 20 female players registered to represent the club. Spartans VC collaborate frequently with the Premier Men's Team of IT Carlow, where men's training takes place on Tuesday nights. Social Volley became Family Volley over time on Fridays, which led to high numbers at the start of 2020 that a Junior Volley training was established for school goers, having their own training on Mondays. With an active committee working in the local community, promotional initiatives and events have been hosted by the club with assistance of public funding to promote the benefits in health from a volleyball culture. Furthermore, the club took over the void left behind by Enniskillen for hosting the annual Xmas Volleyball tournament, and the event saw high standard of play for the mixed volley event. Adding to that, the club hosted the first Teqvoly Cup, an alternative volleyball game with a table, with 16 teams competing. This will be another activity the club will help to develop along with the other volleyball activities, having hosted a few Teqvoly only trainings for members before the lockdown. The club was awarded Best Participition by Volleyball Ireland, recognising the efforts put in by the club in its maiden year
What 3 words would best describe the club?
Inclusive, Innovative, Inspiring
What Social Activities does your club do?
Social Volley - Fridays nights
Grass Volley Meet-Ups in Summertime
Social Meet-Ups every month
Host Local Promotional Events
Tell us a fun fact we don't know about the club.
The club evolved from the "Multi-Sport Social Group" in Kilkenny where all participants played team games at Meet-Ups...but never volleyball. Once proper volleyball equipment was installed in Kilkenny, Benny O'Regan led the others to his real passion, and the rest is history.
Does your club have a special tradition/chant/routine? Tell us about it!
Spartan Chant - "1,2,3 - AHOO"
Which club would you consider to be your biggest rivals?
Any other sport club that's not a volleyball club.
What does the club do in the off season?
Continue with indoor Friday Volleyball sessions at the Watershed Sports Centre but also, look to play outside more, either locally on grass, or go to neighbouring countries with a beach. Social Meet-Ups off-court also continue throughout the summer
Finally, what song would be your clubs anthem/jam/walk in song? Include a link!
I'm Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys

10 clubs from across Ireland signed up to the webinar and to hear from Tom Landers of Newbridge VC, Karina Higgins of Naas VC, Mikal O'Boyle of Mayo VC and Leigh O'Connell from Burren VC. Our 4 guest speakers  spoke about their experience in setting up a junior club/section, the challenges they faced and how they tried to overcome them and what is next for the club. 

The speakers whose clubs are at varies stages of developing their junior clubs provided an honest insight and tips for clubs starting out. Volleyball Ireland would like to thank the guest speakers for their time and contribution and to the clubs and individuals who logged in eager to learn.

Check out the infograph for a summary of the webinar. Also attached is the slideshow giving clubs a flavour of what programmes Volleyball Ireland run which clubs can tap into to establish links with schools and to assist clubs with recruitment. 

The 2019/20 Volleyball Ireland Stakeholder Survey is out now, and provides the perfect opportunity for members to present their ideas for improving Irish Volleyball.
The survey, now in its second year, has established ‘performance benchmarks’ in a range of different areas including Communications, Coach Education, Player Development and Leadership.
 
Last years version provided a range of ideas which Volleyball Ireland has since implemented including; regular newsletters, online player registration system, a coaching workshop series and a move to a fun non-competitive primary school competition.
 
The survey also asks ‘how successful you perceive Volleyball Ireland to be’. General Manager, Gary Stewart, said, “The Stakeholder survey is really important as the ideas and suggestions impact our operational plans and programmes. Last year we had around 65 responses with a range of brilliant ideas, some of which we’ve managed to put in place. It also gives us an idea whether or not members have seen an improvement in what we’re doing – that’s what it’s all about, continuously getting better. As a members organisation the views of our members are absolutely vital.”
 
Last year around 5% of members completed the survey, now with the weekly newsletter reaching over 1700 subscribers, Gary is confident the numbers can increase, “Hopefully we can double the number of responses which will give us even more information to work with. Naturally, we have a lot of conversations with people over the year and getting feedback that way is great, but having hard data and scores that can be measured is invaluable.”
 
You can complete the survey here; http://www.volleyballireland.com/stakeholder-survey-2020.html#/
 
The 2018/19 edition returned the following results:
Out of Ten
1. Rate the overall effectiveness of Volleyball Ireland as your NGB 7.04
2. Marketing, Engagement and Promotion: 6.5
3. Competitions: 6.9
4. Coach and Referee Education: 7.3
5. Leadership and Governance: 7.1
6. Participation Development: 6.5
7. Player Development: 6.4
8. Do you perceive Volleyball Ireland to be successful at governing the sport? 58% YES, 15% NO, 27% DON’T KNOW
9. How do you rate the overall image of Volleyball Ireland? POSITIVE 69%, NEGATIVE 16%, 15% DON’T KNOW 

​

What is a Code of Conduct?
A Code of Conduct is a set of rules and regulations that include what is and is not acceptable and expected behaviour within and when representing your club.
Why is it important?
As mentioned above a Code of Conduct is a set of rules and regulations. It also clarifies the mission and values of the club and sets the culture of the club. Having a Code of Conduct in place supports club committees for if issues are to arise they are easier to deal with. The important aspect is that club members (juniors and adults), club volunteers (coaches, referees, supervisors etc..) and parents reads and signs the code of conduct stating they understand and agree to comply.
Where do I get one?
Here are sample templates. Code of Conduct for.. Adults, Officials, Young People, Parents and Sports Leaders

The Inside Scoop features those Devils from Dalkey who when they’re not playing volleyball are baking and eating some very tasty looking cakes! Check out their > Facebook Page < > Website <

Club Name
Dalkey Devils
Give a brief background of the club. i.e year founded, titles won, highlights, junior/senior club etc..
"Dalkey Devils Volleyball Club was established in May 2011. For the 8 years of the club’s activity,  we established women’s and men’s team which compete in the National Irish Volleyball League and junior’s team which participates in the schools and clubs competitions. We also support 'social' volleyball by organizing Fun sessions every week to bring people from all sexes, ages and abilities to exercise and socialise with a great crowd, in a fun and friendly environment.
We train twice per week at Castle Park School under the close supervision of Piotr, Per and Matt. "
 What 3 words would best describe the club?
Stubborn - Inclusive – Friendly
 What Social Activities does your club do?
Eating is our preferred activity :)
 Tell us a fun fact we don't know about the club.
In our women's team the youngest player is 16 and the oldest 54
 Does your club have a special tradition/chant/routine? Tell us about it!
Our ritual is to put very loud music during the official warm-up
 Which club would you consider to be your biggest rivals?
Santry
 What does the club do in the off season?
We play in beach volley tournaments and play board games
 Finally, what song would be your clubs anthem/jam/walk in song? Include a link!
We Are the Champions

​Volleyball Ireland has published in first quarterly report of 2020, with a significant increase in registered junior players compared to the same period of last year.

227 under 18s have active player licenses compared with the end of March 2019, which is mainly due to the fantastic development work carried out in clubs across the country. The newly formed youth national leagues at u18 and u16 level for girls, is driving participation. 

Commenting on the data, General Manager Gary Stewart said, "The Q1 participation report shows that the investment in proper youth competitions is paying off. Not only that, there is clearly an improvement in the standard of youth players coming through which means that the average age of players in the adult national league competition is coming down. There are lots of elements contribute to this including quality school programmes, proactive clubs, a progressive youth national team programme and decent coach education courses and workshops."
 
A chunk of the youth participation is related to a new Beginner Club Tour that the VI Development team had planned for March in Limerick, which had almost 50 u13s registered. The week after the first National level boys competition set of Loughrea also had to be postponed due to the Covid19 outbreak.
 
With this in mind Volleyball Ireland are hosting a webinar on youth section development next Thursday at 8pm. (See http://www.volleyballireland.com/webinar-series.html#/)

It will be interesting to see what impact the Covid19 situation will have on the figures this time next year, Gary added, "For obvious reasons we haven't opened the beach registration yet which is skewing figures slightly. Also it's worth noting that the number of licensed referees has reduced, so this is an area we need to address quickly and team working with the Education & Training Commission are planning some new initiatives ahead of the new season."

Away from the court, the marketing and promotion of Volleyball is improving with a 37% increase in digital followers, mainly driven through more creative content and an increase in the streaming of various events. 

This week we will be looking at the importance of having a Club Constitution document in place within your club.

What is a Constitution?
Simply put, a Club Constitution is a set of rules that guides how a club works and should be run.
Why is it important?
A club constitution is a written document that states the rules and structures that govern the club. It outlines the functions of the club and the procedures for membership, disciplinary, meetings and committees to name a few. A club constitution is usually required to open a club bank account and when applying for funding through grant applications.
Where do I get one?
Your club can use this Club Constitution Template to begin with. Feel free to search other club constitutions to see what else they cover in theirs. Remember, this is unique to your club so time should be invested.

If you need any help you can contact norma@volleyballrieland.com 

This weeks Inside Scoop features Galway VC... Here's the answers they gave...

Give a brief background of the club. i.e year founded, titles won, highlights, junior/senior club etc..
"Founded by Olivia Molloy and Hanka Novakova in 2015.
The Womans team have League and Cup titles in Div1 and Premier League since entering the League.
The Mens team 3rd in Div1 since entering the league.
Junior girls are unbeaten in the Youth League this their first season."
What 3 words would best describe the club?
Love for Volleyball
What Social Activities does your club do?
Quiz nights, House parties, nights out, Christmas Parties, Awards Night and Charity Dinners.
Tell us a fun fact we don't know about the club.
Both our coaches are involved in running coaching sessions around the country.
Does your club have a special tradition/chant/routine? Tell us about it!
Thats a secret :)
Which club would you consider to be your biggest rivals?
Every club
What does the club do in the off season?
Beach Volleyball
Finally, what song would be your clubs anthem/jam/walk in song? Include a link!
Hello Remix by Martin Garrix

 H135 players registered for Volleyball Ireland's first ever online camp.

The programme featured a range of practical volleyball challenges, fitness workouts, yoga and guest talks from some of the biggest names in Volleyball.

The camp kicked off with a Q&A with Cody Kessel - a male USA player who is currently playing pro with Champions League team Berlin Recycling Volleys. Cody discussed his career and dreams of playing in the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. Cody's key messages:

"Focus on the things you can control, dont worry about noise"
"Be a holistic athlete, 24/7, eat well, sleep well, stretch"

Cody talked through his favourite match when he played in the semi final of the German Cup for underdogs SVG Luneberg as they came from 2nil down to beat his current club and powerhouse Berlin Recycling Volleys. Cody highlighted some key aspects of his technique and what he works on so jump so high. He also talked about the importance of team culture and how his Luneberg team mates had the mission to "Choose Joy".

Jessie Carmody provided an educational insight on Anti Doping in sport with great engagement from our participants asking about banned substances and the testing process. We also followed an online documentary about the Stanford College University Team.

On Thursday we had the pleasure of welcoming Australian Beach Coach Lauren Soderberg who presented an inspiring talk on 'What it takes to become an Olympian". Lauren provided some remarkable insights including some great words of wisdom:

"Talent only gets you in the door"
"Winning is a terrible teacher"
"Tear your losses apart"
"Celebrate small successes"
"Take responsibility for your own learning"

USC's Victoria Garrick provided a TedTalk on the Hidden Opponent - and the importance of looking after your mental health. 

Thursday evening featured a Q&A with Izzy Carey and Alex Graves, where preparation was again a consistent theme. "You can only play as well as you train".

Friday morning saw a change of pace with CEV Development Manager and 10 year professional Vuk Karanovic chatting about life as a professional playing and working in Volleyball. His 108 caps for Macedonia prepared himself for a career off the court. He reiterated the great "gift sport gives, it teachers discipline, team work and continuous improvement".  Vuk reiterated that the group should have an open mindset to different cultures and learning. "Volleyball can provide you with amazing experiences in different cultures around the world". 

Our final guest speaker was Nutrition expert and Intl Basketball player Hannah Thornton who provided a brilliant insight on the importance of nutrition, particularly for Teens - which is an area she specialises in after studying the subject in Colorado. Hannah explored the 'Complete Athlete Checklist' and talked about carb loads before performance. 

We hope the Camp was enjoyable and insightful for participants and we'd like to thank our special guests for their time supporting the programme. 

Volleyball Ireland are delighted to bring you the 2019 Season Beach Volleyball Awards evening...direct from your own living room!

The awards ceremony will be held at 8pm on the Zoom Webinar platform. 

To join the webinar simply register here before 8pm on Saturday.
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xPjQ9tqiQsShnW0GP5njpA 

Date: Saturday April 18th...8pm sharp.
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Cocktails: Optional
What to expect: Some emotional speeches and highlights of 2019!

Volleyball Ireland's School Competition programme has maintained a steady participation rate for the third successive year with 923 teams participating in the 2019/20 season.

Volleyball Development Officer and Schools Competition lead Conor Flood said, "Based on feedback from teachers we've revamped and re-structured the school competition structure with more fun events for younger players and phasing out of spikeball for 13year olds. We are transitioning more to a mini volleyball system at that age group which give players more relevant skills for enjoying life long participation in the sport."

Notes:

• For player development purposes we are phasing out Spikeball at 2nd year in Secondary School and transitioning to Mini Volleyball, hence a significant fluctuation in participation on those two programmes.
• At primary school level the Spikeball Competition has been replaced with 'The Spikeball Tour' which is an entry level fun based participation event, rather than a formal competition. This is particularly popular with new players, and better promotes the inclusive nature of Volleyball. 
• Furthermore, we have introduced a Mini Volleyball competition at primary level for more advanced players, hence the reduction in Spikeball Competition numbers and an increase in the fun tour and mini volleyball programmes.
• The Special Schools programme, introduced in 2018/19 has not yet been delivered this year. It is planned for after the Easter mid term break. Numbers are projections for this.
• The CEV Schools Project may yet see a further increase in numbers before the school year ends, dependant on the current Covid19 situation.
• In the Secondary School Competitions, some teams may be double counted as they enter both league and cup competitions.
  

Volleyball Ireland ran part one of Clubmark: Your Clubs Development Tool webinar last night. Joining in on the action were Ballymun Patriots, DVC, Munster Thunder, Kilkenny Spartans and Naas VC.

Naas VC are looking like the next club to achieve the accreditation. Karina Higgins Chairperson of the club has been working on the programme with a team of people over the season and shared some of her experience and tips with some of the other clubs who are starting their venture. Karina sensibly advised to get a team of people from the club involved and to delegate the workload. Norma, Club Development & Governance Coordinator, echoed Karina’s advice and said this isn’t a one-person job and that club members need to pull together to support their club in achieving the Clubmark award.

The webinar looked at Effective Management and we went through in depth each criteria and how clubs could complete each section. As well as it being a Clubmark webinar it also touched on the purpose of why clubs should have things like a Constitution, code of conduct etc… in place.

The Part 2 of the webinar will look at Safety in Sport and Quality Assurance and Development and takes place on 9th April @ 6pm. If your club would like information on the Clubamrk programme contact norma@volleyballireland.com  

27.03.2020

Volleyball Ireland Statement: Covid19 Update

Volleyball Ireland continues to follow the advice of the Government and Sport Ireland and has noted recent Government announcements that further measures are being introduced to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

With this in mind all Volleyball activity will remain suspended indefinitely. This includes the cancellation of the upcoming Student Sport Beach Volleyball Varsities event, scheduled for early April.
 
The Volleyball Ireland Competitions & Development Commission, recently held a consultation session with 17 member clubs to explore options to complete the 2019/20 National League Season. There are a number of factors that require consideration and an update will be provided to members in due course.

Volleyball Ireland would like to thank the clubs for their involvement and continued feedback.

Volleyball Ireland has a designated Coronavirus Information page with a range of HSE approved guidelines and resources for members, clubs and communities.  http://www.volleyballireland.com/coronavirus.html

​Ends.