Volleyball Ireland is pleased to confirm the structure of its National Academy and Team Ireland programmes for the upcoming season, providing a clearer development pathway for players within the Irish performance system.
As part of the updated structure, the National Academy will operate separately from Team Ireland, with each programme having its own purpose and period within the annual calendar.
National Academy | September – May
The Volleyball Ireland National Academy encompasses the U18 and U20 age groups and will operate annually from September through to May.
The primary focus of the National Academy is player development, providing identified players with additional high-performance training and an opportunity to continue developing within the national pathway.
The Academy will not participate in the National League this season. Training matches and other competitive opportunities may be organised throughout the programme where appropriate, at the discretion of the respective National Academy Head Coaches.
This structure allows the Academy programme to place greater emphasis on the long-term development of players rather than preparation for a specific international competition.
Meet the National Academy Head Coaches
Leading the National Academy programme for the September-May season are four experienced coaches working across Ireland’s U18 and U20 age groups.
U20 Men – Graham Bell
U20 Women – Edyta Jozwiak McMullan
U18 Men – Dorota Pykosz
U18 Women – Erica Fatini
Team Ireland | International Competition Programme
Team Ireland is separate from the National Academy and represents Volleyball Ireland in international competition.
For the underage indoor teams, the Team Ireland programme will generally operate from May through to September, depending on the international competition calendar and preparation requirements.
Ireland currently has six indoor National Teams:
- U18 Women & U18 Men
- U20 Women & U20 Men
- Senior Women & Senior Men
The Beach Volleyball National Team pathway currently consists of U18, U20, U22 and Senior teams.
Players involved in the National Academy are therefore not automatically members of a Team Ireland competition squad. Selection for Team Ireland is a separate process, based on the requirements of each National Team and its upcoming international competitions.
Senior National Teams
The Senior Men’s and Women’s National Teams will operate according to the FIVB international competition calendar, rather than following the September-to-May National Academy season.
Training camps and preparation periods will therefore be scheduled around the international competitions entered by Volleyball Ireland.
