News
Richmond meets Volley Sitting Star!
12th February 2007
Richmond Volleyball Chairman met over the weekend former Dutch National Women’s Head Coach Joze Banfi, who took Holland to a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics and Gold in recent World Championships with the view to develop sitting volleyball demonstration in Richmond in the very near future.
Sitting Volleyball is a great integrative variation of volleyball, with able-bodied and disabled players being able to play together. It is a fast and exciting game to play and to watch. The adaptation is considered more intense and quicker than its standing format. Able-bodied participants have no advantage over disabled, making the game very suitable for integrating able bodied and disabled players. In fact all learn a great deal from the experience including the need for more precision in passing, better handling skills and an appreciation of the adaptation of the skill sets used commented Jose Banfi. Key points to note is that players sit on the floor, the game has few sports injuries and can easily be played in smaller gymnastic or sport halls, including squash courts.
Sitting volleyball has enjoyed full Paralympic status since 1980, with a Great Britain Team competing at the highest level until 1991. The current Great Britain Sitting Volleyball Programme for London 2012 Paralympic is currently based in London and Kent. Richmond Volleyball is up for ‘new challenges’ and wants to be part of this programme otherwise we cannot progress and contribute to our local community. “Improving inclusiveness will bring many benefits to any club. What you can learn about yourself, others and communications will help you to recruit and retain players from any minority background”.
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