This is just great news!
World ParaVolley and VolleySLIDE Join Forces
World ParaVolley are pleased to announce that the highly successful VolleySLIDE initiative, which was set up as an independent organization but has always worked in cooperation with the International Federation, has now become an integral part of World ParaVolley. The International Federation will be using VolleySLIDE materials as their start point for ‘grassroot’ sport development and initial workforce education for their Paralympic discipline of Sitting Volleyball.
As a result of excellent use of the internet and all forms of social media, VolleySLIDE has a growing presence in the sport, and with the assistance of World ParaVolley staff has established a global internet based programme which provides a complete set of tools to help enthusiasts introduce ‘low level’ recreational Sitting Volleyball around the world. The programme focuses on the accessible and inclusive nature of the sport and encourages mass integrated participation at club level, integration which World ParaVolley encourages at national level, prior to the need for classification for International players. The decision will see the VolleySLIDE materials being used as ‘Level 0’ on the World ParaVolley Education Pathway, prior to individuals engaging in the full World ParaVolley Level 1 (National), Level 2 (Regional) and Level 3 (International) programmes.
VolleySLIDE was the brainchild of Matt Rogers, who was the driving force behind the re-establishment of Sitting Volleyball in Great Britain. Following this he worked for the London 2012 Organising Committee as the Volleyball Technical Manager, working closely with World ParaVolley staff to deliver the Sitting Volleyball competition. Since then he has set about establishing VolleySLIDE to help others who share his enthusiasm and wish to learn about and start Sitting Volleyball. Over the past year he has pulled together many of World’s leading experts, including senior World ParaVolley Staff, to contribute to the VolleySLIDE self-led Workshop template, Coaching Resources, Educational Articles, Player/Coach stories and Competition Blogs.
The whole VolleySLIDE programme of materials are either on, or linked from the website: www.volleyslide.net, which will continue to publish World ParaVolley announcements in liaison with the Marketing, Sport and Development Directors, and General Manager. To date, VolleySLIDE materials have been sent out to 49 different countries identified by the World ParaVolley Sport Director, and people from over 84 countries have visited the VolleySLIDE website in the last month alone. VolleySLIDE are already very active in the field of social media and World ParaVolley and the VolleySLIDE media team will work together to ensure that all releases are coordinated appropriately. VolleySLIDE presently have a team of 6 coordinators and 13 translators, and are gaining more followers and advocates each day. Key members of the team are already being added to the World ParaVolley Commissions and Committees.
World ParaVolley’s Sport Director, Denis Le Breuilly, commented:
‘I have known and worked closely with Matt for many years and have been following VolleySLIDE, prior to and since its official inception last year. Having seen what Matt’s enthusiastic team have achieved on a zero budget in only a year, I strongly believe that VolleySLIDE can make a very valuable contribution to the future development of Sitting Volleyball world wide. I am delighted that they have become an integral part of World ParaVolley and will be part of the IF team taking the next major step in providing services for all athletes interested in SLIDING into Sitting Volleyball.’
Congratulations to everyone on this partnership!
We can’t wait to see and share the bright future ahead!