3touch november

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF VOLLEYBALL ENGLAND

THE VOLLEYBALL GAMESAn interview with LOCOG Volleyball Manager Bob Clarke

GAMES MAKER DIARYLife as a Games Maker at London 2012

November 2012 www.volleyballengland.org £3

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF VOLLEYBALL ENGLANDInside: Volleyball’s Olympians

and Paralympians ref ect on London 2012

Inside: Volleyball’s Olympians

and Paralympians ref ect on London 2012

www.volleyballengland.org

3 WELCOME WelcomemessagesfromChiefExecutiveLisaWainwright andPresidentRichardCallicott

4 VOLLEYNEWS Newsandviewsfromtheworldofvolleyball

6 THE QUEEN OF THE BEACH DeniseAustintalksVolleyballEnglandBeachTour,Olympic

Gamesandherhopesforthefuture

8 THE GAMES EFFECT: CHESTERFIELD COBRAS AclubcasestudyontheimpactofLondon2012

10 BUILDING A BRIGHT FUTURE Anupdateonthemembershipproposal

12 30 MINUTES WITH DAVE GOODCHILD DaveGoodchildonhisroleintheGBwomen’sOlympiccampaign andcoachingTeamNorthumbria

14 THE VOLLEYBALL GAMES: BOB CLARKE AninterviewwithLOCOGVolleyballManagerBobClarke

16 PERFORMING AT LONDON 2012 OlympiansZaraDampneyandDanHunterandParalympian

EmmaWiggsreflectontheirexperiences

18 LONDON 2012 IN PICTURES Alookbackatsomeofvolleyball’smosthistoricmoments duringtheGames

22 GAMES MAKER DIARY AbehindthescenesaccountoflifeasaGamesMaker duringLondon2012

24 OLYMPIC REFEREEING: DAMIEN SEARLE Wegettherefereeinglowdownfromgoldmedalmatchreferee

DamienSearle

26 BEHIND THE LENS AcloseupwithphotographerBarbaraTotterdellonwhatitwas

likecapturingtheGamesoncamera


contents

2

Onthecover:GBbeachvolleyballpairingZaraDampneyandShaunaMullincelebratetheirfirstOlympicvictoryagainstCanadianpairingMarie-AndreeLessardandAnnieMartin(photograph©BMTotterdell))

Bimonthly-Volume11-No1ISSN1479-0785

Ifyouwouldlikeyournewsorviewsprintedin3TouchVolleyball,getintouchwiththeeditorat:VolleyballEnglandSportPark,LoughboroughUniversity,No.3OakwoodDrive,LoughboroughLeicestershireLE113QFE-mail:[email protected]:01509227722Fax:01509227733EnglishVolleyballAssociationLtd.isregisteredinEnglandnumber2023635.

PublishedNovember2012by

NewarkStreet,Accrington,LancsBB50BPEmail:[email protected]

EditorialBoard:LisaWainwright-ChiefExecutiveRobHarding-HeadofMarketingandCommunicationsJessicaTaylor-MarketingandCommunicationsOfficerMarkPritchard-NewMediaOfficerKirstyMeynell-WriterChrisGregory-WriterTimGriffiths-WriterAndyHopper–MemberSubscriptions/Merchandise:£3perissue,£15annuallyVolleyballEngland:01509227722©VolleyballEngland2012

Forallqueriesregardingsubscriptions,non-receiptandaddresschanges,emailVolleyballEnglandatinfo@volleyballengland.orgorwritetoVolleyballEnglandattheaddressshownabove.Pleaseincludeyouraffiliationnumberinallcorrespondence.AlthoughthisisanofficialpublicationofVolleyballEngland,theviewsexpressedinthismagazinemaynotbethoseoftheAssociation.Productsappearingin3TouchVolleyballmagazinearenotnecessarilyendorsedbyVolleyballEngland.Allcontributionswelcomed.Theseshouldbeemailedtotheeditoratinfo@volleyballengland.org,wherepossible,orsenttoVolleyballEnglandfortheattentionoftheeditor,3TouchVolleyballmagazine.Allphotographsshouldbecaptionedtoidentifytheircontentsandthephotographernotedtoacknowledgethesource.

VolleyballEnglandEqualityStatement:VolleyballEnglandsupportstheprincipleofequalopportunitiesforallparticipants,members,representativesandemployeeswhilstworkingfor,oronbehalfoftheEVA.Itopposesallformsofunlawfulandunfairdiscriminationonthegroundsofage,colour,race,nationality,religion,ethnicornationalorigin,gender,maritalstatus,sexuality,HIVstatus,orunrelatedcriminalconvictions,ordisability.


2

33

IthasbeenafantasticsummerforoursportandeveryonedidanexcellentjobinnotonlyputtingononeofthebestOlympicandParalympicGameseverbutoneofthebestvolleyballGames

ever.

Thefeedbackfromtheworldfederation,theFIVB,hasbeenextremelypositiveandtheynowknowthatthereisahugeappetiteforvolleyballinEngland.

WemustpaytributetoallofthevolunteersandcurrentandformerVolleyballEnglandstaffthathelpedputonthegreatestshowonearth.Welldoneeveryone!

It’salsoatimetoreflectonhowwegrowoursportinallitsformsandbuildasustainablesporttosecureitsbrightfuture.WearebusytalkingtoSport

Richard Callicott - PresidentWelcome

Englandaboutfundingforthenextfouryearstocontinuetoengageininitiativesthatwillhelpgrowparticipationinoursport,notonlyplayingbutvolunteering,coachingandrefereeing.

It’salsoclearthatweshouldnotrelyonthisfunding–it’saprivilegenotarightandsowemustensurecoreactivitiesareabletostandontheirowntwofeet.Atthesametimewemustdeliverbetterservicesandbenefitstothepeoplewhoputinahugeamountofhourstomakeoursporthappen.WehavecalledanEGMonthe10thNovemberwhereweproposetochangeourmembershipstructuretodevelopabetterservicetomembers.

TherearestillhugeopportunitiesontheworldstageandweareplayinganactiveroleindevelopingbetterrelationshipstopromotevolleyballinEngland.AttheWorldCongressIwasre-appointedasChairoftheCommonwealthGamesSteeringCommitteeaswestrivetosecureinclusionofbeachvolleyballinthe2018CommonwealthGamesatwhichEnglishteamswouldplay.

IwouldalsoliketocongratulateLisaWainwrightonherappointmentonthefirsteverEthicsPanelfortheFIVBastheEuropeanrepresentative.

Wehaveagreatsport,andnowwemustcapitaliseonprevioussuccessesandbuildforthefuture.

Lisa Wainwright - Chief ExecutiveSowhatasummer!SixGreatBritainteamssuccessfullycompetedintheLondon2012OlympicandParalympicGames!Thousandsofstaff,volunteers(GamesMakers),Torchbearersand

fansenjoyedthebesteverGames!ThenationasawholewasGREAT!Youwereapartofit!

Sonowontoourvisionfor2022!WehaveachievedsomuchoverthelastfewyearsandiftheGamesdemonstratedanythingitis…thatanythingispossible!Nomatterwhatthedoubtersthink,withclearvision,planning,focus,teamworkanda‘cando’attitude–wecanachieve!We’vejuststartedtheprocessofthinkingaheadforthenext10years–ifyouhaveanyideaspleasedoletmeknowviaemailatl.wainwright@volleyballengland.org.

FollowingtheGames,RichardandIattendedtheWorldCongressintheUSA.Forthefirsttimein65yearstheFIVBheldanelectiontoappointanewPresident.ThreecandidateswerenominatedandthePresidentwaselected–DrAryGraçafromBrazil.ThisisrealprogressforthesportintermsofdemocracyandtransparencyandwelookforwardtosupportingthenewPresidentashestartshistenure.Alsoanotherfirst,IwaselectedontothefirsteverEthicsPanelfortheFIVB,theonlywomanandalsotheonlyrepresentativeforEurope.SoIhopetoensuretheFIVBcontinueswiththenewfoundtransparencyasweheadtowardsRio2016andbeyond.

Moreathome,it’sthattimeofyearwhenallsportsbidtoGovernmentforfundingforthenextfouryearcycle.Wearebusycompletingapplicationforms,providingevidence,producingcasestudies,capturingresults,presentingtopanelsandshowcasingeverythingwehavedoneoverthelastthreeandahalfyearstohopefullycontinuewiththesupportwehavepreviouslygainedfromGovernment.Itisclearwehaveso

muchmoretoofferasafullyintegratedsportandwewilldoeverythingwecantorepresentthesportinthebestlight.FundingannouncementsaredueinDecembertobereadyforthenewfinancialyearstartinginApril.Keepuptheexcellentwork,itallhelpsshowwhatwehaveandcancontinuetodeliver.

TheflagsflyingatHorseGuardsParade,London2012

LisawithformerFIVBpresidentJizhongWeiandhiswifeLingpeiLiatLondon2012


VolleynewsTheclimaxofahighlyentertainingandcompetitive2012VolleyballEnglandBeachTourwasairedonSkySportsinOctober–showcasingtheverybestofthedomesticgame.

DuringthesummertheVolleyballEnglandBeachTour(VEBT)visitedseveralseasideresortsaroundtheEnglishcoastlinesettingthesceneforanactionpackedfinalsevent,wherethe2012NationalBeachVolleyballChampionswerecrownedonBoscombeBeach,Bournemouth.

ThankstoanewpartnershipwithLEDSportEurope,adivisionofMaritimeMediaServicesLtd,thefinalsfeatureda35ftwidescreen,whichrelayedeverymomentoftheactiontotheplayers,spectatorsandpublicduringtheevent.

NEW BEACh VOLLEyBALL fACILItIEs OPEN IN LONdON

TheLondon2012OlympicGameshasintroducedawholenewfanbasetothesportofbeachvolleyballinEngland.ThankstoauniquepartnershipbetweenVolleyballEngland,TheLondon2012OrganisingCommittee(LOCOG)andSportEngland–fournewbeachfacilitiesopenedinLondonlastmonth.

ItishopedthattheGoSpikefacilitieswillhelptocreatealastinglegacyforvolleyballandencourageyoungpeopleinLondontoadopthealthier,moreactivelifestyles,creatingasportinghabitforlife.

OverthecourseoftheprojectLOCOGdonatedover4,000tonnesofsandfromtheHorseGuardsParadeBeachVolleyballvenueandthetrainingcourtsinStJames’Park.TheprojecthasbeenfundedbySportEnglandwithalmosthalfamillionpoundsworthoffundingsecuredthroughlocalpartnerships.

the locations of the new courts include: WimbledonPark,MertonBarnElmsSportsCentre,WandsworthSamuelMontaguYouthCentre,Kidbrooke

LoxfordPark,Redbridge

TheinvestmentformspartofVolleyballEngland’sgrassrootsGoSpikecampaignwhichisaimedatincreasingparticipationinvolleyball.GoSpikecomprisesfree‘comeandtry’tastersessionsacrossthecountry.

LisaWainwright,ChiefExecutiveofVolleyballEngland,adds:“WearehopingthatthebuzzaroundtheLondon2012OlympicGameswillinspiremorepeopletotryoutbeachvolleyballasafunandexcitingnewsport,soit’simportantthatweprovideaccessiblefacilitiestoencouragemoreregularspectatorsandplayers.”

TherearenownineteencourtsacrosssevennewbeachvolleyballfacilitiesinLondonusingsandfromtheLondon2012GamesandtheTesteventin2011atHorseGuardsParade.

for more information and to find out about the local opportunities in your area, please visit www.gospike.net.

44

2012 VOLLEyBALL ENGLANd BEACh tOuR shOWCAsEd ON

sky sPORts 4 hd

AmemorialeventwasheldinhonourofDrDonAnthonyMBEonThursday8thNovemberat5:00pm.DrAnthonyspentthepast60yearsdeveloping,educatingandempoweringpeoplethroughhisworkinsport,bothasaprofessionaleducatorandinavoluntarycapacity.InOctober2011hewasawardedanMBEinrecognitionofhisimportantroleinthedevelopmentofvolleyballinthiscountryandforhisworkaroundthephilosophy,historyandevolutionofsportfortheBritishOlympicAssociation.

HispassinginMay2012,soclosetotheLondon2012OlympicandParalympicGameswasahugelosstooursport.ThememorialeventwasanopportunitytorememberandhonourDrDonAnthonyMBEwhowasawonderfulinspirationtosomanypeople.

for more information please visit the Volleyball England website www.volleyballengland.org JakeSheafinactionatBoscombe

dR dON ANthONy MBE MEMORIAL EVENt

GoSpikesessiononthenewbeachcourtsinRedbridge


35ftscreenshowingtheactionliveonBoscombeBeachduringtheVEBTFinals

ThepairwhobothplayedprofessionallyinHollandpriortotheOlympicswillbeacrucialpartofWessex’sbidforpromotion.

Huntercommented,“It’sadifferentlevel,ofcourse.Weareusedtoplayinginfrontof15,000peopleabroadandwehadjustover100attheWatfordgamethisweekend.

“Butit’sastartandourroleshavechangednowfromgettingresultsforGreatBritaintotryingtodevelopthesportinthiscountry.”

WessexLadieshavesignedGreatBritain

internationalVickyPalmerforthecurrentwomen’sSuper8scampaign.PalmerlearnedhertradeatWessexbeforeplayingprofessionallyinBelgiumaheadoftheGameswhereshenarrowlymissedoutonaplaceintheTeamGBsquad.

MeanwhileGBbeachvolleyballplayerShaunaMullinwhopartneredZaraDampneyatHorseGuardsParadethissummerrejoinsherformerteamMaloryEaglesintheirbidfortheSuper8stitle.

55

GB stARs jOIN thE NAtIONAL VOLLEyBALL LEAGuE OlympiansDanHunterandBenPipes,whobothplayedcrucialrolesforTeamGBintheLondon2012

Gamesthissummer,havejoinedNationalLeagueDivisionOneside,Wessex.

BenPipesinactionforGB,atLondon2012

Afterseveralmonthsofcollaborationwithrepresentativesofthehomenations,theVolleyballEnglandUKCCLevel2CertificateinCoachingVolleyball(QCF)willbelaunchedinDecemberintheNorthEast.WorkinginpartnershipwiththeNorthEastVolleyballAssociation,theinauguralUKCCLevel2willbeheldatMiddlesbroughCollege,asafourdaycourse,overtwoweekends.

TheUKCCLevel2hasbeenapprovedby1st4SportandisalignedwiththeQualificationsandCreditFramework(QCF)asarecognisedandprofessionalcoachingqualification.

TheUKCCLevel2coursebuildsontheprinciplesestablishedatUKCCLevel1incorporatingthegeneric‘howto’craftskillsofcoachinginavolleyballcontext.Theseareextendedfurther,particularlywithregardtopracticalcoachingwhichisconductedonandoffthecourse.Learnerswillbegiventimetoreflectontheconceptslearned,andhowthesenewconceptscanbeappliedintheirowncoachingenvironments.

TheessenceofaUKCCLevel2courseistopreparecoachestobeabletoplan,deliverandreviewaprogressiveseriesofcoachingsessions.Learnersaresupportedthroughaprocessofmentorshipandshadowing.Inthedesignofthecoursethereareopportunitiesforlearnerstoreturntotheirchosenclubenvironmenttoengageinthisprocessas

wellasundertakesomepracticeincoachingwithplayersintheteam.

ThereisanopportunityforclubsandtheirHeadCoaches(withaminimumLevel2qualification)tosupportlearnercoacheswhomaybetheirownclubmembersandalsotoassistguestcoacheswherepossible.ThesupportgiventoHeadCoachesandthespecificdocumentationrelatedtoassessmentwillenablethemtoextendtheirskillsinmentoring,assessmentandactionplanning.

Inawidercontextweseepositiveoutcomessuchasanoverallimprovementinvolleyballcoachingandmoregenerally,theopportunitytomeetmorelocalcoachesandtoexchangeideasbetweencoaches.

ThereisaphasedapproachtothedevelopmentoftheUKCCLevel2.ThefirstseriesofUKCCLevel2courseswillfocusontheindoorgame.Therewillbelateropportunitytoattendadditionalspecialistmodulesinthebeachvolleyballandsittingvolleyballdisciplines.

INtROduCtION Of thE ukCC LEVEL 2

TeamNorthumbria’sHeadCoachDaveGoodchildwatchesonfromthesideline

TofindoutmoreaboutVolleyballEngland’scoachingcoursesortoregisteronacoursepleasevisitwww.volleyballengland.org/coursesorcontactKevTann,CoachingDevelopmentOfficeratk.tann@volley-ballengland.orgor01509227730

Go spike is Volleyball England’s campaign to get more adults (16+) playing volleyball. Get involved at www.gospike.net.

6,445usersonthepermanentbeachcourts

5,420usersonsemi-permanentbeachcourts

10,666peoplehavetakenpartatvolleyballoncomeandtrycourtsatevents

2,383newparticipantsinclubs1,426arenowparticipatingregularly

1,114 newstudentsareparticipatinginvolleyballatUniversitywith955nowplayingregularlywiththesupportofourHEVOnetwork

2,683 newparticipantsviaCommunityDevelopmentCoachesofwhich1,260arenowparticipatingregularly

487 Twitterfollowers

353Facebooklikes

22,782uniquevisitorstotheGoSpikewebsite(30,266total)

GO sPIkE IN NuMBERs


phot

ogra

ph©

BM

Tot

terd

ell

6

Queen of the beach – denise Austin talks about her experiences on the Volleyball England Beach tour (VEBt), the Olympic buzz and her hopes for the future of the sport in Great Britain...

THEREISNODENYINGTHATDENISEAUSTINISONEOFTHEALLTIMEGREATSONTHEENGLISHBEACHVOLLEYBALLSCENE.WITHANIMPRESSIVECAREERSPANNINGOVERTWODECADES,THERE’SJUSTNOSTOPPINGHER!DENISEDOMINATEDTHE2012SEASONWITHTHREEVEBTTITLEWINSANDWASCROWNEDCHAMPIONOFTHETOURTOGETHERWITHPLAYINGPARTNERMELCOUTTS.

so what gives denise such ‘staying power’? ForDenise“tenacity”isthekeywordforherconsistentsuccess,andthereasonshestaysatthetopofhergameandthedomestictour.DenisehasahugepassionforthegameandrelishesthethoughtofanotherseasonontheVEBTcompetingagainstthejuniorathletesshecoachesandmentorswithintheCroydebeachvolleyballclub.

“Atfirst,theydon’treallyknowwhat’shitthem,butaftertheglovesareoffitmakesthemrealisewhattheyhavetodoandpushesthemtobebetterathletesandimprovetheirgame.”

Inthis‘master’againstthe‘apprentice’scenario,thejuniorsoftheCroydebeacheshavemorehungertoprovethemselvesagainsttheirguruthananyoneelse,Deniseexplains,“becausetheyknowit’smygoal,theyseehowhardIhaveworkedtoachieveit.Ithelpsthemtounderstandwhattheyhavetodoinordertobesuccessful.”

AsaVolleyballEnglandCommunityDevelopmentOfficerandcoachinherregion,DenisestressestheimportanceofnurturingpromisingtalentandprovidingopportunitiesforthemtocompeteincompetitionsliketheVEBTthroughatalentpathway.“Theplayerscontinuetothriveontheirexperiencesasyoungathletes,andhavegreatambitionfortheirfutureinthesportsoit’simportanttosupportandencouragethemasmuchaspossible–theVEBTisafantasticwayforthemtomeasuretheirprogressagainstthetopplayersinthecountry.”

Anothersourceofinspirationforthenext

QUEENOF THE BEACH

generationofbeachvolleyballplayerscamefromLondon2012–andintheaftermathoftheGames,manyofusaresufferingwith‘POD’(PostOlympicDepression).HoweverDenisereflectsontheimpactithadamongsthercurrentplayersoftheCroydebeachclub.“Theyareallalreadyverymotivated;it’sallpartofabiggerpictureforthem,buttheywereamazedandverygratefultohavehadtheopportunitytoseesuchanamazingspectacleandgreatathletesatthehomegames.”

ThegeneralpublicinCroydehavealsorespondedtothemarvelswitnessedatHorseGuards.“Whilesomeofthecourtsaren’tadvertisedasmuchasothers,theyareallinhigherdemand;Ihavebeenbombardedwithemailsfrompeoplewantingtogetinvolved.ThesessionsinCroydewereextrabusy.Now

weneedtolookatwherewecanmakethebiggestdifferencelongterm!”

Whilethecourtsarebeingusedmoreandmore,Denisestillpromotesthegameandencouragespeopletogetinvolvedwhereverandwhenevershecan.“Ultimately,youneverknowwhereyoursuccessisgoingtocomefrom;it’salldonethroughanetwork.”

so from denise’s view what will the London Olympics mean for English beach volleyball in the future? TheOlympicSandLegacyandnewbeachcourtsopeningaroundcertainareasinthecountryisamajormovementinprogressingthesporttonewheightsinEngland.Denisesaid“Obviouslythelegacyisahugely

DenisedivesfortheballduringtheBournem

outhFinalsonBoscombeB

each

By Chris Gregory


(Fromlefttoright)JessGrimson,MelCoutts,DeniseAustinandVickyPalmer

7

positivethingandwillhaveamajorimpactonthesport,especiallyinLondon.”

TheiconicvenueatHorseGuardsParadewasastartinprofilingandexposingthesportfurtherandhavingtheopportunitytoplayontheOlympicsandishugelyinspiring.ButwhileLondonwillbenefitwithalmosttennewoutdoorbeachfacilities,othermajorcitiesaroundtheUKwillalsoneedtobeconsideredinthefuture–tostrengthenthenetworkoftalentedplayersandenhancetheaccessibilityandnationalprofileofthesport.

“SportEnglandandUKSportneedtoworkmorecloselyandtogethertheyneedtoformastrategy.Therearenichepocketsaroundthecountrynowandtheknowledgethatiscomingthroughfromthejuniorsisexceedingexpectations.Thestandardisgettinghigherandit’sfundamentalthatthisisacknowledgedandnurtured.Wesharegoodpracticebutweneedtoinspireamorewidespreadcompetitiveness,”shesays.DenisehasseenasolidjuniorprogrammeinplaceforfiveyearsandhasproducedthehighestnumberofjuniorcoachesintheUK.Couldweseefurtheradministrationandorganisationtomakethishappenelsewhere?

ForDenise’sambitionsnow,it’sallaboutthenextgeneration.“Themaindrivingforceformeistosustainmyenergyandenthusiasmforthesport.Iwanttoseemykidscompeteinternationally,andtoseeapathwayformtoahigherlevelofcompetition.Iwanttochangethefutureforthegenerationunderneathme.It’sbeenveryhard,andthekidsneedtounderstandthatgoalsettingiskey.Ifweacknowledgethis,asasmallcountrywecanbesuccessfulinbeachvolleyball.”

NowthattheOlympicsareover,canwereally“inspireageneration”andputthenecessarystepsintoensurethatbeachvolleyballreceivestherecognitionitdeservesinEngland?ForDenise,theQueenoftheVEBT,whohasexperiencedthesportworldwideandcarriedadrivefromthepasttothepresent,thisisalong-termdream.

DenisedivesfortheballduringtheBournem

outhFinalsonBoscombeB

each

The2012BeachTourFinals,BoscombeBeach,Bournemouth


51 Behonest.Anydoubtaplayerhasabout

whatyousaytothemwillaffecttheirabilitytotakeyourknowledgeforward.Theycannotabsorbwhatyousayaboutanythingifthereisn’t100%trust.

Allowyourpassionforthegametodriveyourdesiretoshareknowledge,inspire,create,

reward,laugh,shout,crywithyourplayers.

Whencoachingpairsremotelydon’tdoitwithoutvideoevidence.Thehumandynamicsofyoungplayerswhoarepassionatebutnotalwaysobjectivemeansthevideorecallhelpsyouandthemseeallthelittlethingsthathappened.

Haveamentor,ortwo.Surroundyourselfwithpeopleyoutrustto

helpyouasacoach.Someonesaidtomeittakesabout35yearssoI

amabouthalfwayin!Havingwiseearstolistentoyouwillkeepyou

focusedandmotivated.Ihaveabout10mentorswhoIregularlysound

outforideas.

Beaccessibleevenwhenathletesmoveon,andshareexperiences.TodayIwastalkingbeachvolleyballtopeopleinIsraelandHermosaBeach,coachingpracticeinPlymouthandsharingondropboxvideoclipswithteachersacrossDevon.

COAChING tIPs

dENIsE’stOP

23

45

ToseetheresultsoflastseasonortofindoutmoreabouttheVolleyballEnglandBeachTourpleasevisithttp://www.volleyballengland.org/competitions/ve_beach_tour

8

VolleyballEnglandisdelightedtoreportthattheexposurevolleyballhasreceivedsincetheLondon2012Gameshastranslatedintoariseinenquiriesandpeoplewantingtoplaythesport.However,thegoodnewsdoesn’tstoptherewithclubsfromacrossthecountryalsoreportinganincrease.ManyclubsarenowtakingtotwitterandFacebooktoattractnewmembersandadvertisenew‘comeandtrysessions’.

3TouchcaughtupwithChesterfieldCobras’HeadCoach,KevTann,toseewhatimpacttheLondonGameshasreallyhadonthisfriendlyandinclusive,communityvolleyballclub.

Establishedin2007ChesterfieldCobrasisasmallclubwithaverybrightfuture.Withbothmen’sandwomen’steamsinanumberoflocalandregionalleaguesacrosstheEastMidlands;theirmaingoalsaretoexpandthenumberoftrainingnightsonoffertobettercaterfortherangeofabilities,agesandenthusiasmtheclubattracts.TheyalsoharbouralongtermambitiontoenterteamsintotheNationalVolleyballLeague.

PriortotheGames,theCobras,likemanyotherclubs,reliedonwordofmouthandfromadvertisingwithlocalcollegesand

businessesinthearea.Kevexplains“Itwasgreatbecausetheplayerswantedsomewheretoplayoncetheyhadfinishedtheircollegeeducation–whichwasfantasticfortheclub.Wealsorecruitedanumberofplayersthroughourlocalfireserviceandtherestcamefromenquiriesonsocialmediaandgeneralwordofmouth.”

so how has the Games affected Chesterfield Cobras?SincetheGames,theclubhasenjoyedasignificantriseinenquiresandpeopleapproachingtheCobras.“WehavehadareallypositiveresponsesincetheOlympics,withasurgeofpeopleenquiringaboutplaying.We’vehadanumberofnewmembersattendingtheclubalready,ithasbeenbrilliant!”Kevcomments.

Likemanyclubs,theCobrashasbeenlookingforwaystocapitaliseonthisincreaseddemand.FromKev’sexperienceoneofthemostsuccessfultechniquesforwelcomingnewplayerswastoholdanopenday.“Tostrikewhiletheironwashotwedecidedtoholda‘JoinIn’weekendinAugust,afewdaysaftertheclosingceremony.Theweekendwentreallywell–forusthere’s

reallynobetterwaytoattractpeoplethantoletthemexperiencethegameandtryitoutforthemselves–boththeGamesandthe‘Joinin’campaignhasreallygivenusaheadstart.”

“Manyofournewmembersdoattributetheirnew(orrenewed)interestinthesporttoseeingvolleyballontheTVandtheywantedtogetinvolvedbecauseitlookedlikeanexcitingandfunsport.”

TheCobrashasalsonoticedarevitalisedenthusiasmamongtheirexistingmembers“Everybodyhasreturnedtotrainingre-energisedandreadyfortheseason.Ithasalsobeenfantasticthatfamilyandfriendswhopreviouslyhadnointerestinthesporthavewatchedthecoverageandapproacheduswithquestionsaboutwhyoneplayerwearsadifferentcolourtop!”

so how does a club of this size cope with the increased demand? AsaclubemergingandlookingtoexpanditsofferingtheCobrashavecomeacrosssomecommonchallenges.“We’vefoundthatthecostsassociatedwithplayingcandeter

THE GAMES EFFECT

CHESTERFIELD COBRAS

MembersoftheChesterfieldCobrasVolleyballClubgatherforateamshotafteratrainingsession


SHOUTABOUTYOURSESSIONSUseavarietyofmethodstoletpeopleknowaboutyoursessions.Useawarmandwelcomingtoneand

emphasisethatbeginnersarewelcome.Havesomeflyersandcardsreadytohandoutthatpromoteyourclubandsessionsofferedanddisplayyourclubcontactdetails.Checkfordemandfirstandlinkinwiththelocalschoolsandorganisationsthatalreadyoffervolleyball.

TOP TIP: Look to use the internet to advertise your sessions – Facebook and twitter are fantastic and a free way to generate interest. Post messages in sports and community pages to get your message to the right people!

MONITORTHECOSTSIt’sgoodpracticetolinkinwithkeystakeholders,theLocalAuthorityandcommunitygroups.Youmaybeabletorunthesessionsinpartnershiporgetreducedratesforhallhire,extra

equipmentorlowprintingcosts.

TOP TIP: This is also an opportunity to sell club merchandise or run a tuck shop to generate additional funds for the club.

IT’SALLABOUTTHEEXPERIENCEOnthedaymakesureallactivitieshavebeenplannedand

volunteersbriefed.Thisisyoursalespitch,gettoknowyourparticipantsandfindoutwhattheywantoutofsport.Giveexamplesofhowyourclubcanmeetthoseneeds,expectationsandgoals.

TOP TIP: Invite your club players to support the sessions and encourage the new participants. If the attendees feel comfortable and enjoy the session they are more likely to come back!

9

fast facts Established:2007No.ofmembers:31Teams:Men’s1–EastMidlandsRegional;Men’s2–SouthYorkshireDevelopmental;Women’s–EastMidlandsRegional;2mixedteams–NottinghamshireLeagueandDerbyshireLeague

Club contact details Telephone:07825332979Email:[email protected]:www.chesterfieldcobras.co.ukTwitter:@cobras_vball


PLANYOURDAYWELLItisimportanttoidentifywhatthepurposeisofholdingyouropendayandwhothetargetmarketisintermsofageandabilitylevels.Itmaybetoattractacertaintypeofmemberorgenerateextraincomeforyourclub.Ifyou

haveconductedyourresearchcorrectlyyoushouldhaveanideaonwhatyouareabletodeliverandthenumberofpeopleyourequiretodeliverthesessions.TOP TIP:Checklocalcal-endarsforeventsthatmay

conflictyoursessionandlimitthenumberofpeoplewhomaywishtoattend.

things to consider when planning a club open day

RECORDTHEIRDETAILSEnsureyoutakearegisterandtaketheircontactdetails.Askthemiftheyknowofanyfriendsthatmightbeinterestedinattendingthesessions.

TOP TIP: Tell them what the next steps will be and how you plan to follow up with them. Will you ask them all to come to a particular session if they would like to continue playing?

potentialnewplayers.Thefacilityhirefeesarehigh,andwerequireatleast18peopletoattendtrainingtocoverthecost.Thisthencausesotherissues,as18peopleon1courtcanbedifficulttocoach!”

TocombattheseissuestheCobrashaslookedtodeveloparelationshipwiththeirlocalcouncilandleisureprovider.“Imetwith

thelocalauthority,ChesterfieldBoroughCouncil(CBC)andQueensParkSportscentretoseehowwecanworktogethertonotonlydevelopvolleyballattheclubbutalsowithinthecommunity–whichwaskeytogettingthecouncilonside,”Kevexplains.AsaresultofthisworktheCobrashasrecentlyreceiveda£1,000granttobuynewequipmentandofferadditionalvolleyballtoincludejuniorandsittingvolleyballsessionsintheirprogramme.

Thecouncilhasalsoagreedtohelpstartupajuniorsectiontotheclubbyofferingfreefacilityhireuntilweareabletosubsidiseourselvesandthenchargeconcessionary

ratesforalljuniorsessions.“Thissupportisinvaluabletotheclubandhasallowedustobegindeliveringafterschoolclubsatthelocaljuniorandsecondaryschools.WealsohaveinterestfromotherschoolsasaresultofthecoverageoftheLondon2012Games.”

KevalsohashopesthatthisnewfoundpartnershipwillenabletheCobrastorun

sittingvolleyballsessions,adisciplinethatisclosetothecoach’sheart.“Asasittingvolleyballplayermyself,Ihavealwayswantedtobringthisrelativelynewdisciplinetotheclubandgiveplayerstheopportunitytotryitout.FollowingitscoverageduringtheParalympicsthecouncilisinterestedtohelpsubsidisethesenewsessionsandwillworkwithusonabidtopurchasetheequipmentandfittings/markingsrequiredtorunsittingvolleyballsessions.”

Inanexcitingfuturedevelopment,CBCandQPSChaveputforwardaproposaltoworkinpartnershipwiththeCobrastooffersummercampsduringtheschoolholidays.

“Theagreementwillmeanthatthecouncilwillprovidethesportshallandinreturnweprovidethecoachesandequipmentandthensplittheproceeds.”

“Thisreallyisapositivestepforusaswelooktocontinuetodevelopasolidjuniorsectionoftheclub–thatwaywecanstarttoproducesomehomegrowntalenttotaketheclubforwardandultimatelysecuretheCobrasfuture.”“this support is invaluable to the club and has

allowed us to begin delivering after school clubs at the local junior and secondary schools.”

AFTERTHEHIGHSOFTHISSUMMER’SOLYMPICANDPARALYMPICGAMES,THEFOCUSISNOWONHOWTOCAPITALISEONTHEENTHUSIASMANDINTERESTINVOLLEYBALL.IT’STIMETOTAKESTOCKOFHOWWECANDOMOREFOROURMEMBERSANDNEWPARTICIPANTSCOMINGINTOTHESPORT.

Thewaywe,VolleyballEngland,serveourmembersandthecurrentclubaffiliationsystemhasanumberofmajorshortcomings.Wehaveveryfewdetailsaboutmembersandcannottakeintoaccounttheirneedswhendevelopingandofferingbenefitsandservices.Principally,thesystemdoesnotallowustocommunicatewithourmembersinthewaywewant.

Overthelast12monthswehavebeenreviewingandconsultingacrossthesportandbelievethetimeisnowrighttochangehowweserveandadministermembership.Thisissuehasbeenongoingformanyyearsbutithasbecomemoreimportanttoaddressforthebenefitofeveryone.

AnEGMonthe10thNovemberwillputforwardchangesonhowweoperatemembership,inanefforttogreatlyimproveservicesandtohelpwiththedevelopmentofthesportinallitsforms.VolleyballEnglandisputtingforwardaspecialresolutiontoitsArticlesofAssociationtoenabletheorganisationtomovetoasystemofIndividualPlayerRegistrationfromthebeginningofthe2013/14season.

Inthenewproposal,playerswouldregisterindividuallywithVolleyballEnglandandwillreceiveawidepackageofmembershipbenefitswhichweaimtoincreaseandimproveuponinthefuture.Thenewarrangementswillbesimplertoadminister,offergreaterflexibilitytotheindividual,andensurethatVolleyballEnglandcanofferaconsistent,highclassmembershipbenefitspackageandservicetoallourmembers.Asmallfeewillberequiredwhenregistering.

Atthesametime,thenewproposalwouldhelptoensurethatmembersareawareofthevariousopportunitiesavailabletothem

includinginsurance,discounts,funding,eventinformation,tickets,bespoketrainingsessionsandaccesstoconferences/seminars.ItwouldalsoallowVolleyballEnglandtofullysupportthekindsofactivitiesthatwebelieveareimportantforthefuturesuccessofthesportpostLondon2012.

Wefeelthenewsystemwillbeofhugebenefittoallmembersandourhopeisthatmemberswillfeelnotonlythattheygetsomethingfrombeingavolleyballplayer,butalsothattheyareactivelysupportingthedevelopmentofvolleyballforthefuture.

Toinformthisdiscussionwehaveputtogethersomespecificquestions(seeoverleaf )whichinformsoncurrentthinking.

[email protected],pleaseinclude‘membership’inthesubjecttitle.

10


BeachvolleyballplayersJessGrimsonandLizzieSmithinaction,VEBT2012,GreatYarmouth

TeamNorthumbriacelebratewinningtheSuper8sattheNational

VolleyballCentre,Kettering2012

GBsittingvolleyballmentakeonBrazilatLondon2012Paralympic

11

“yOuR QuEstIONs ANsWEREd”

1.AtpresentIplayinaleagueorganisedbyanaffiliatedregionorareaassociation,howwouldthisnewschemeaffectme?Underthenewproposal,youwouldpayasmallregistrationfeetoVolleyballEnglandandreceiveauniquebenefitspackageincludingPersonalAccidentinsurance.Asthemembershipgrowsthenumberandvalueofbenefitswillincrease.

2.AtpresentIamaNVLplayer,howwouldthisnewschemeaffectme?Inessence,thenewschemewillaffectyouverylittle.YouwouldpayafeetoVolleyballEngland,similartoyourcurrentlevel,andreceiveanexclusivebenefitspackagewhichwillconstantlybereviewedandimprovedon.

3.AtpresentIamarefereehowwouldthisnewschemeaffectme?Inessence,thenewschemewillaffectyouverylittle.YouwouldpayafeetoVolleyballEngland,similartoyourcurrentlevel,andreceiveanexclusivebenefitspackagewhichwillconstantlybereviewedandimprovedon.

4.AtpresentIamacoachhowwouldthisnewschemeaffectme?Inessence,thenewschemewillaffectyouverylittle.YouwouldpayafeetoVolleyballEngland,similartoyourcurrentlevel,andreceiveanexclusivebenefitspackagewhichwillconstantlybereviewedandimprovedon.

5.WhydoesVolleyballEnglandwanttochangefromthecurrentsystemtoindividualregistrations?Toenhancetheserviceprovidedinavarietyofways:•Sothatwecanimprovethewaywecommunicatewithparticipantsandmembers.Thisisaservicethatmanyhaverequested.•Thecurrentsystemrelatestothecluborteamandnottoindividualparticipantsinvolvedinthesport.•VolleyballEnglandhasfewdetailsaboutthoseparticipatinginvolleyballandcannottaketheirneedsintoconsiderationwhendevelopingthesport.VolleyballEnglandfeesareoftencombinedwithclubfeesandtheelementthatgoestovolleyballisoftennotknownbytheindividualplayer.•ThecurrentsystemdoesnotprovideaccuratenumbersordetailsofthosethatareaffiliatedtoVolleyballEnglandwhichisneededtoreportonparticipationinvolleyball.Thismayaffectfundingdecisionsinthefuture.

6.HowwouldIndividualfeesimprovematters?A new system will: •Relatedirectlytotheindividualandnottheclub.•Enabledirecttwo-waycommunicationbetweenVolleyballEnglandanditsparticipants.•Provideasenseof‘belonging’tothevolleyballcommunityasawhole.•Providemoreaccurateinformationonthoseplaying,whichwouldallowtailoringofandimprovementofservicestosuitthemembers.•Increasetheinvestmenttograssrootsprogrammes.

•Improvecommercialandmediaopportunitieswithinthesport.

7.Whataretheprinciplesoftheproposednewsystem?•Aclubfee.•Participantregistrationfee.Inaddition,participantswouldpaya“topup”feedependingontheirlevelandtypeofinvolvementinthegame.Thesewillinclude:•NVLLicence;CoachLicence;RefereeLicence.Therewillbeconcessionaryfeesfor:•OAPs;Studentsinfulltimeeducation;Thoseagedunder18years;Thoseagedunder12years.

8.Whatisthecurrentthinkingonactualpricesindividualswillneedtopay?The current fees being looked at are as follows:

*Clubs would have to pay a minimum fee. (This will be based on 1 x club fee and 8 x adult registrations = £90 (This is equivalent to the current club fee)

9.WhatifIplayinmorethanoneleague?YouwouldpayonemembershipfeetoVolleyballEngland.YourVolleyballEnglandfeewouldallowyoutoplayinanyaffiliatedregionalleagueorlower.Youwouldcontinuetopayleaguefeesontopofthis.

10.WhyshouldIregister,IseefewbenefitstojoiningVolleyballEnglandplayingasalocalleagueplayer,playingonceaweek?VolleyballEnglandprovidesthestructureforthesportinEngland,andcampaignsonbehalfofallvolleyballplayers.Byregistering,yourviewsandideasareheardandyoucanmakeadifferenceandsupporteffortstoimprovethegame.Ourinfluencewithpartnersincludingcommercialandmedia,willcomefromthestrengthofourmembersandallthosethatplaythegamewelove.

11.HowwillIbeabletoregister?ThroughVolleyballEngland’sonlinemembershipsystem.•Playerswillbeabletoregisterdirectlybyloggingontothesystemandregisteringtheirdetails.Alternatively,clubsecretariescanmanagetheprocessinasimilarway.•VolleyballEnglandwillshareyourpersonaldatawithregionsandforthepurposeofyourparticipationinvolleyball,subjecttosuitableDataProtectionprocedures.

12.WhatbenefitswillIreceive?All individual participants will receive a fantastic range of benefits and discounts. These will include: •PersonalAccidentInsurance.•Exclusivememberssectiononwebsite.•Exclusivefreemembers’magazine-3TouchVolleyballMagazine.

•Accesstomonthlye-newsletterwiththelatestvolleyballnews&views.•DiscountonitemsfromVolleyballEngland’sshopincludingcoachingresourcesandmerchandise.•Accesstocoaching,playingandrefereeingseminarsandwebinars.•Priorityaccessanddiscountsoneventtickets.•AccesstoexclusiveMembersCompetitionsandPrizes.•FantasticPartnerDiscountsincludingreducedpricesonhotels,firstaidequipment,coachingbooks,physiotherapyandlotsmore!

13.Whatbenefitsdoesmyclubreceive?Clubs will receive: •£5millionPublicLiabilityInsurance.•RighttoenterofficialVolleyballEnglandcompetitionsandtournaments.•SupportfromVolleyballEnglandstafftodevelopyourclub,accessfunding,improveyourcoachingandrefereeingskills.•Freemarketingworkshopsandmaterialsincludingpostersandflyers.•FreeVolleyballEnglandCRBChecks.•DiscountedrateattheNationalVolleyballCentre.

14.Howwouldtheinsuranceworkandhowwoulditbenefitme?CurrentlyclubsreceivePublicLiabilityInsuranceaspartoftheclubmembershipandthiswouldremain.PersonalAccidentinsurance,whichmostLeaguesandclubsdonotprovide,wouldbeprovidedtoallregisteredparticipants.

15.Howwouldthenewsystemaffectvotingrights?Votingrightswouldnotchangeaspartofthecurrentproposalsandwouldremainwiththeclubs.

16.Howandwhenwouldthenewsystembeintroduced?ProposalswillbeputforwardtotheEGMon10thNovember2012,ifacceptedthenewsystemwouldcomeintoeffectforthe2013/14season.

17.HowcanmyviewsbeheardanddoIhaveavote?Youcanmakeyourviewsknowntoyourclubrepresentative,whocanvoteforyourclubattheEGMinNovember2012.

18.WhatwouldstopVolleyballEnglandputtingupchargesoncethissystemisinplace?TheleveloffeeswouldonlybechangedatanAGM.FeeswouldbecontrolledinthesamewayascurrentaffiliationfeesatanAGMbythoseclubspresentwithavote.

19.WhatwouldhappentomeifIdonotwanttojoinbutstillwanttoplay?Youwouldstillbeabletoplaybutnotinaleagueoperatedbyanaffiliatedregionorareaassociation,aVolleyballEnglandorganisedeventorinmatchesagainstanaffiliatedclub,althoughwewouldofcoursehopethatyouwouldjointoenjoythebenefitsofmembership.TheprincipleofthenewsystemisthatallindividualsneedtoberegisteredwithVolleyballEnglandtoplayatalllevelsofthegame.


Clubfee Adult Student U18 U12 OAP

Clubfee £10 IndividualFee £10 £5 £5 £2Participants would pay additional “top up” fees depending on their level and type of involvement in the gameNVLLicense +£20 +£25 +£15 NACoachLicense +£25 +£30 +£30 N/ARefereeLicense +£25 +£13.50 +£13.50 N/A

DAVEGOODCHILD

121212

the driving force behind team Northumbria’s super 8 success, dave Goodchild talks team GB and the way forward…

It’sbeenquiteayearforcoachDaveGoodchild.InAprilcameTeamNorthumbriawomen’sSuper8leaguewinagainstalltheodds–ateamhehasbeencoachingforthepasttwoyears.

AndtheninAugust,despitereceivingnofunding,theGBWomen’steamtook9thpositionatLondon2012afterbeating15thrankedAlgeria.AssistantCoachGoodchildisaproudman.“Workingwiththeseplayersforthepastthreeyears,andeverydayforthepastfivemonths,youcanseehowgoodtheyare.Thesearespecialathletesthathaveworkedsohardtoachievetheirgoals.”

And what of Goodchild’s own Olympic experience?“Thefoodhallintheplayers’villagewasamazing,”hequips,“butifIwastotakeonememoryawaywithmeitwouldbeofwatchingthewomenenterthecourttoastandingovationandbeatingAlgeria.Atrulybreathtakingmomentandamemorythatwilllastforever.”

GoodchildisquicktopraisetheGBteam,describingtheplayersandstaffassomeofthebestpeoplehehasevermet.Specialmentiondoes,ofcourse,gotoAudreyCooper,HeadCoachoftheGBwomenandhisAssistantCoachatTeamNorthumbria.

“WhilstourroleswerereversedfromNorthumbriatotheGBteam,AudreyandIgetonverywellonandoffcourtandthinkalike.Wehadworkedtogetherfor18monthsbeforetheOlympicsandweknoweachotherandourwaysofworkingverywell.Wecanspendhourschattingabouttheoppositionandwhatweneedtodotobeatthem.AtGB,myrolewastosupplyinformationregardingtheoppositionblockanddefenceandtoidentifywhereeasypointscanbescored.AudreyperformsthisroleforTeamNorthumbria.It’sagreatpartnership”

It’sclearthatGoodchildholdsCooperinincrediblyhighregard,citingherashis

By kirsty Meynell

DaveGoodchildoffersinstructionfromthesidelineduringoneoftheGBwomen’smatchesatEarlsCourt,London2012


photograph©BMTotterdell

DAVEGOODCHILD

131313

coachinginspirationandrolemodelduetoherattentiontodetailandknowledge.Theseareattributesthathealsoholdsinhighregardamongsthisplayers.Whenaskedwhatadvicehewouldgivetoaspiringinternationalplayershesays,“anyplayerwantingtoplayforGBmustbehighlydedicatedandhavethegritanddeterminationtosucceed.Thisrequiresattentiontodetailandconsistencyinallaspectsofthegame,frommentalandphysicaltoughnesstotacticalandtechnicalskill.”

so what does the future hold for team GB Women? Thetruthisthatwewon’tknowuntilDecemberofthisyear.AllbidsforfundingweresubmittedinSeptemberanddecisionswillbetakenastothewayforwardbeforetheendof2012.

ButGoodchildremainspositive:“It’snotanidealsituation–itwouldbegreattobeabletocapitaliseonthemomentumgainedfromtheGamesbutwearewhereweareandoverall,developmentofthesportisheadingintherightdirection.”

And what is that right direction? “Inanidealworld,theGBsquadwouldbeaprofessionalteaminitsownright,competingagainstthebestteamsintheworldonaregularbasis–notunlikeavolleyballversionofcycling’sTeamSky.Butshortofthat,weneedtoincreaseandmaintainaninternationalstandardofplaysothatour

BritishplayersareabletoplayprofessionallyintheUKattherightleveltocompetewiththeworld’stopteams.”

GoodchildhasalsorecentlylaunchedaSatelliteAcademytosupportthedevelopmentofjuniorplayersandiskeentoseemoresimilardevelopmentinthe16-18yearoldagegroup.“NorthumbriaUniversityoffersagreatsportsscholarshipprogrammeand,withatopawardof£10,000,iscurrentlythebestplacetolearnordevelopvolleyballtalent.Butthistypeofprogrammeisdefinitelysomethingthat,withtheright

staffingcould,andshould,beleveragedatotheruniversities–full-time,university-level,programmesaregoingtobeessentialincontinuingtheworkthattheCollegeAcademiesaredoingandimprovingthelevelofplayintheUK.”

AndtheproofofthesuccessofthedevelopmentprogrammeatTeamNorthumbriacanbeseenintheresultswiththewomen’steamwinninglastseasons’Super8stitleandthemen’steammakingthesemi-finals.

WhilstGoodchildislookingtowinthequadruple,theleagueandcupdoubleforthemen’sandwomen’steams,healsorecognisesthatwithgoodrecruitmentofInternationalandOlympicathletesbyMaloryEaglesandLondonPolonia,TeamNorthumbria’sstrongestchallengers,thisislikelytobetheteams’toughesteverseason.

DaveGoodChild(picturedsecondfromright)withtheGBWomen’steamatEarlsCourt,London2012

“Working with these players for the past 3 years, and every day for the past 5 months, you can see how good they are. these are special athletes that have worked so hard to achieve their goals.”

he’s played football at WembleyIn1997GoodchildmadehisWembleyappearanceforWhitbyTownintheFAVaseFinalwhereTheSeasiderssecureda3-0

victoryagainstNorthFerriblyUnited.Anewspaperreportafterthegameread‘Goodchild,21,producedacomposedperformanceattheheartofthedefence.’

Good things About Goodchild:


he looks forward to the big gamesTeamNorthumbria’smenandwomenhavegotsometoughcompetitionthisseason–butGoodchildhopeshisplayerscancomeupwiththegoodswhenitmatters.“TN’sonestowatchthisseasonwouldbeEmmyBlouinandWhitneyPhillips,andinthemen’steamAndySinclairandOlympianPeteBakareareingoodform.”

he puts the team through their pacesGoodchildworkstheteamshardintrainingandbelievesthathardworkreallypays-off.

WithTN’strackrecordwhowouldargue?!Goodchild’sfavouritetrainingdrillisto“getthesettercreatingfreenetsfortheoffencetoscore(somany).”

he’s got a good taste in musicGoodchildalwaysliketolistentomusicbeforeagametogethimselffocusedandpsychedupfortheaction.“ThankstoMattBiancomypre-matchfavouritehastobe–SwedishHouseMafia.”

he admires sporting greatsWhenaskedwhichcelebritypersonality

Davewouldliketoinvitefordinner,hesaid,“DavidBeckham.AsafootballerIreallyadmirewhatBeckhamhasachievedandwhathecontinuestodobothonandoffthefield.”

he would be okay on a desert islandGoodchildwouldmakesurehehashisfamilyandfriendsaroundhimwhilestayingintouchwiththemodernworld.Whenaskedwhathe’dtaketoadesertislandheresponded,“definitelymyfamilyandfriends,satelliteTVandmymobilephone!”Let’sjusthopeyouhavegoodsignalDave!

BOBCLARKEWASTHEVOLLEYBALLMANAGERFORLONDON2012.HEWASTASKEDWITHHEADINGUPALLTHREEDISCIPLINESOFVOLLEYBALLATTHEOLYMPICANDPARALYMPICGAMES.

PriortoworkingforLOCOG,BobhadbeenthecompetitionmanagerforbeachvolleyballattheAtlantaGamesandthenwentontoworkfortheGoodwillGamesandFIVB.

3TouchcaughtupwithBobshortlyaftertheParalympicshaddrawntoaconclusiontofindouthowithadallgone.

When you first started working for LOCOG in 2009 what did you think would be your biggest challenge? MybiggestchallengewithinLOCOGwasconvincingeveryonejusthowbigaglobalOlympicsportvolleyballisandtryingtogeteveryonetounderstandthescaleofthetaskwewereundertaking.TheflipsidewasconvincingtheFIVBthattherewassubstantialvolleyballactivitybeingundertakenintheUKandthatitwouldbeembracedbytheBritish.Becausethereweren’tmanyinternationallevelteamscomingoutoftheUK,theyweren’tsureifvolleyballwasevenplayedoverheresoIhadtoconvincethemthatwewouldbewelcomedandboywerewe!

how did you find your previous involvement in the Olympics in Atlanta?Atlantawasfunbecauseitwasthefirsttimebeachvolleyballhadbeenpartofthegamesthereforetherewasnopatterntofollowandnoonetellingmewhatshouldandshouldn’tbedone.WedideverythingatprettyshortnoticecomingquitelateintotheOlympicprogrammebutwereoneofthefirsteventstosellout.

for you, what made the London Games unique? TheSpectatorsacrossthepiecewerefirstclass.LondonasacityitselfreallymadetheGamesforme.LondonissuchauniquecityitissecondonlytoNewYorkinthelevelof

diversityandmixofitspopulation.Beingsoldoutfromsessions1-42wasagreatachievement.

how would you assess the contribution team GB made to the Games?TeamGBdidbrilliantly,especiallyconsideringhowtheyweresuchyoungteamsintermsofhowlongtheyhadbeenperformingontheinternationalstage.Alltheparticipantsreallysteppeduptotheplateandwerefantastic.Theformatplayedintotheirhandstosomeextentwhichthenalsohelpedtoenthusethecrowd.

how did you find working with the volunteers and workforce from London?Ican’tsayenoughgoodthingsabouta

brilliantteamwhoweregreattoworkwith.VolleyballEnglandneedstotakealotofthecreditforthis.ThroughRichardCallicotttandtheNTOprogrammeinparticularwemanagedtosetupadatabaseofvolunteersreadytointegratewiththeGamesMakerprogrammewhenitfiredup.Whenitcametoittheyallperformedtoagoldmedalstandard,whichgavemegreatpleasure.

What was your highlight of the Games themselves - do you have a particular day or moment that was your favourite?Gettingthefirstserveoveronthefirstdayontimeandallgoingwellwasafavouritemoment,butmainlyoutofasenseofrelief!Onthebeachhavinganewnationonthetopofthepodium(theGermanmen’spair)wasparticularlypleasing.ButseeingMisty

VOLLEYBALL GAMES,

An interview with London 2012 Volleyball Manager, Bob Clarke by tim Griffiths

14

www.volleyballengland.orgwww.volleyballengland.org

BobClarkeposingwithLondon2012mascots

THE

VOLLEYBALL GAMES

1515

MayTreanorandKerriWalshtaketheirthirdconsecutiveOlympictitlewasaprettyspecialmoment,bothasanAmericanandfromavolleyballperspectiveasit’sanachievementwhichmayneverberepeated.BrazilversusRussiaintheindoorfinalwillcertainlybeupthereintermsofthebestOlympicfinalsever.IntheParalympicsseeingtheRwandanteamwinningtheirlastmatchwasliketheirgoldmedal,youwouldn’toftengetsoexcitedabout9th/10thplacebutthatwasalsoaprettyspecialmoment.

What advice would you give to whoever is in charge of delivering Volleyball in Rio? Workforce,Workforce,Workforce!Getthatrightandtherestwillflowfromthere.MakesureyougettheengagementofthelocalfederationandbeproactivewithinthewiderGamesorganisingcommittee–sortoutgettingwhatyouneedfromtheorganisation.Ifeelweraisedthebarfromthesportingperspectiveacrossallthreevolleyballdisciplinessotheyhaveahardacttofollow.

Looking back, what would you say the greatest legacy of volleyball from the Atlanta Games was?Webuiltontheprotourspresentationofthesportandsetthestandardforthenext

Olympiccompetitions.Thereisalsoagreatpeoplelegacy,manyofthepeoplewhoIworkedwithinAtlantawereinvolvedinLondoninonewayoranotherwhichwasgreattoseeandIhopethiscarriesonintothefuture.

the country will see many new participants come to the sport, to those already involved in volleyball, what advice would you give them to help make the most of the buzz generated by the Games?Gettingpeopleinvolvediskey;theGoSpikecampaignisagreatinitiativetodothis.Buildonthesimplicityofbeachvolleyball,thenewfacilitieswilldefinitelyhelpthis.Beachvolleyballpresentsagreatopportunityforsmallerandlessdevelopednationalgoverningbodiesastheyonlyneedtwoelitelevelplayersandthereforethecostsarealotlowerandtheycangainexperienceonthevarioustoursoutthereeasily.AfteralltheBritishteamqualifiedforAtlantasothereisnoreasonwhytheycouldn’tqualifyagain.

And what would you say to those inspired to take up the sport for the first time?Theteamethicandlifelessonsthatcanbe

learnedfromvolleyballareinvaluableandcanbeusedinallwalksoflife.It’salsogreatthatyoucanplayatanylevelandcompeteandenjoyyourself.

In your opinion what is next for Volleyball in England and what are the biggest challenges Volleyball England will face?Ridethewaveandtakeadvantage,buildandgrowthegameateverylevel.

TheUKhashadajumpstartwithclosetoonemillionspectatorsexperiencingaformofvolleyballlive,probablyforthefirsttime.Allwillhavehadapositiveexperiencesogetintheirfacesandusemoreopportunitiestogetvolleyballoutthere.

On a personal level, what is next for Bob Clarke? Ihopetostayinthesportinsomeform,Ihavemywholeadultlife,andcan’tseethatchanging.

And finally, if you could sum up your experience of London 2012 in a sentence…TheBestEverOlympicandParalympicGames,period.

BobClarkebeinginterviewedattheBeachVolleyballTestEventin2011,HorseGuardsParade



16

PERfORMING At LONdON 2012thE OLyMPIC ANd PARALyMPIC GAMEs WERE A thRILLING RIdE Of ACtION ANd EMOtION. But WhAt WAs It LIkE tO ACtuALLy BE AN AthLEtE RIGht At thE hEARt Of It? 3TOUCHCAUGHTUPWITHTHREEOFTHESTARSOFGBVOLLEYBALL;OLYMPIANSZARADAMPNEY(ZD)ANDDANHUNTER(DH)ANDPARALYMPIANEMMAWIGGS(EW)TOGIVEUSTHEIRPERSPECTIVEONWHATLIFEWASLIKEAT‘THEGREATESTSHOWONEARTH’.

3T: how did you find the preparation period leading up to the Games? Were you nervous?EW: Thelast2yearshavebeenarollercoasterofnerves,excitementandgoosebumps!IleftmyjobinMarchtotrainfulltimesoitthenallbegantofeelveryreal.

DH: Iwasnervousandexcited.ThewholeteamandIhadbeenworkingveryhardovermanyyearsfortheLondonOlympics.

3T: how would you describe your time on court? ZD:Itwasamazingandloadsoffun,Iknewwehadworkedreallyhardtogettheresowewantedtorelaxandenjoytheexperience.

EW: ThefeelingwhenIwheeledoutintothatincrediblearenawilllivewithmeforever.ItshowedmethatdreamsreallycancometrueandIwasreallypleasedthatwecompetedwiththebestteamsintheworld.

DH:Ithinkasateamweshowedalevelofvolleyballthatwehaven’thadinthiscountrybeforeandIthinkweplayedourbestgamesagainstItalyandPoland,twoteamsthathavebeenplayingatthehighestlevelformanyyearsandhavesuchstronghomenationalleagues.

3T: What was it like being in the venue under the bright lights? how did you find the London crowds? EW: TheExCelwasjustthemostamazingvenue.Beingamulti-sportarenameantitbroughtthousandsofspectatorstooursportandtheywereallhomefans!IlovedthelightsandIjustlovedperformingandthrivingonthehomecrowdssupport.I’veneverseenso

DanHunterencourageshisteamm

atesatEarlsCourt

ZaraDampneyinactionatHorseGuardsParade

By tim Griffiths


EmmaWiggscelebratesapointagainsttheNetherlandsattheExCelCentre


17

PERfORMING At LONdON 2012

VolleyballpinfortheirKoalabears!

3T: What was your overall highlight of the Games? What made it so special?DH:PlayingGreatBritainvs.Poland.ThemixofhomecrowdsupportersandPolishfansmadeanincredibleatmosphere.

EW: Wheelingoutforthefirstmatch.Thenoise,thesmellofthearenaandknowingthatall8,000peopleinthecrowdwerecheeringforuswasabsolutelyincredible.Iknewthatallthosetoughchoicesoverthelasttwoyearswereworthit.

ZD: Playingoncentrecourtwithallourfriendsandfamilytheretosupportusandofcoursetheelectricatmosphere.

3T: In your opinion what should be done to build on the momentum generated by London 2012? Are you doing anything in particular to contribute towards the legacy?ZD: Ithinkitwillhelpgrowvolleyballinthiscountryandcanbeaspringboardiftherightthingsareputinplace,atleastpeopleknowbeachvolleyballisanexcitingsportnow.

DH: Weneedtoincreasethequalityandtheamountoftrainingourjuniorplayersaregivensothatitmatchesothertoplevelvolleyballcountries.Thiswillnotonlyhelpdevelopourownnationalleagues,butitwillhelptodevelopspecialplayersthatcouldhelptheGBteamtoqualifyforanotherOlympicsinfutureyears.

EW: IreallybelievethatthehonourofwearingaGBtracksuitgivesusaresponsibilitytopromotedisabilitysportateverylevel.Ihavealreadydonetalksandpracticalsessionstoover6,000childrenthisyearandIwillcontinuetospreadtheword!

3T: And finally, what’s next for you?EW: I’msatintheairportdoingthisinterviewonmywaytoBorneoforapostParalympicholiday!

ZD:IamtakingabreakintheformofaholidaywithmyfiancéandwillthendecidewhatIwanttodointhefuture.

DH:BenPipesandIhavejoinedmyformerclubWessex.ThereisgreatambitionanddirectionattheclubandourmaingoalistoearnpromotionintotheSuper8s.

many“GoWiggsy”bannersinallmylife!!

DH:EarlsCourtwasincredible.A15,000seaterstadium,packedtotheraftersforvolleyballintheUKissomethingIwillrememberfortherestofmylife.Thenoisefromthehomecrowdwasincredible,despitethePolishfanstryingtoraisetheroof!It’ssuchashamewewon’tbeabletoplaythereagain!

ZD: Weareveryluckytohavebeengiventhatvenue(HorseGuardsParade)anditwasgreatforthesport.

3T: how did you find the support you received from the staff and volunteers? ZD:Reallyhelpfulallofthetime,wheneverwearrivedatthevenueorweretrainingtheymadeusfeelreallyspecial!!

DH:ThevolunteersattheOlympicswereamazing;theymadetheGamesrunsmoothly!

DanHunterencourageshisteamm

atesatEarlsCourt

EW: AlloftheGamesMakerswereincredible.Iknowhowlongtheirdayswereandhowhardtheyworkedeveryhoursoit’struetosaythattheydidinfact‘makethegames’!ImetaGamesMakerinthevillagewhostoodout;hewassothrilledtobethereandwouldn’tstopthankingmeforinspiringhim.Itwasveryhumblingandwewerebothquiteemotionalsittingonthatbenchinthepark!

3T: how did you find spending so much time at such close quarters with each other?ZD:ShaunaandIareusedtoit.Forthelast5yearswehavebeenineachotherspocketssowehavestrategiestodealwithit,forexamplewesettimeapartfromeachotheranddon’ttalkatcertaintimesoftheday!!Wedon’tgetoffended!

EW: Myroommatemadeitbearable,sothankstoAndreaGreen!!Wehadn’troomedtogetherbeforebutshewasbrilliantandwebothfedoffeachotherandknewwhentheotherneededabadjokeoracoffeetopickthemupbutitwasgreattobeabletosharetheexperiencewithher.SamBowenisalwaysguaranteedtomakeyoulaughwithaninappropriateinnocentcommentorherinfectiousgiggle!

3T: Being an Athlete at the Games you must have bumped into some famous faces over the course of the Games, did you share a lift with anyone famous?DH:DuringmyfirstweekintheGamesIwascalledforaDopingControlTest,whereImetAndyMurraywhowasjustleavingtheDopingControlCentre!

ZD:IwasalwaysintheliftwithChrisHoy!Iactuallydon’tknowhowitalwayshappened,butwehadajokeaboutit!

EW: IthinkJulieRogerswasstarstrucktothepointoftearswhenwemetTomDaleyontheGBParade!ItisverysurrealbeinginthediningroomnexttogreatslikeEllieSimmonds,TomAggarandOscarPistorius!

3T: What was the best item of kit you were given during the games?EW: TheIpodfromBMWprovedpopular,AndreaandIswappedcolourswithHannahCockcroftandherroommate…sowetakefullcreditforhergoldmedals!

ZD:WegotaTeamGBdressinggownwhichIloveasit’ssocosyandhasamazingembroidery!

DH:ThekittingoutexperienceatLoughboroughwasanamazingdayallathleteswillremember.SomethingthatstandsoutformeiswhenweplayedAustralia,insteadofswappingthecountriespinbeforethegame-weswappedourBritish


ZaraDampneyinactionatHorseGuardsParade


18


SabahudinDelalicofBosniaandHerzegovinasetstheballinthemen’sfinal

Brazil’sRogriguesinactionagainstUSAinthewomen’sfinal

USA’sKerriWalshcelebratesherthirdOlympicgoldmedal

China’sZhanginactionagainstUSAinthewomen’sgoldmedalmatch

RussiafacetheBrazilianblock

USA’sMillerdivesfortheball

RussiacollecttheirgoldmedalafteranepicwinoverBrazil

PhotographersjostleforpositionatParalympicsittingvolleyball


19


IconicOlympicbeachvolleyballvenue,HorseGuardsParade

Moroccansittingvolleyballsupporter

NoisysupportforBrazil

PhotographersjostleforpositionatParalympicsittingvolleyball

PhotographerslinethecourtatOlympicbeachvolleyball

VotedaswinneroftheVolleyballEnglandphotocompetitiononFacebook–takenbyHarryKenney-Herbert

Yeon-KoungKimofKoreainaction


20


Olympicvolleyballstatisticsteamhardatworkinthebackground

SupportforGBVolleyballatEarlsCourt

ParalympicLineMarkfocusingonthetask

Iraniansittingvolleyballsupporters

CourtsideAssistantatEarlsCourt

OlympicbeachvolleyballGamesMakersinaction

“ThankYouLondon”fromtheBraziliansupporters

Packedoutbeachvolleyballvenue


21


GB’sMichelandSandellinactionagainstAlgeria

GBcaptainBenPipesinaction

GB’sMarkMcgivernattackstheBulgarianblock

GB’sMunroeblocksagainstIran

GBsittingvolleyballmencelebrateastraightsetsvictoryoverMorocco

GB’sLucyWicksjoustagainstRussia

GB’sShaunaMullins

DampneyandMullinscelebratetheirfirstOlympicvictory

GB’sNetraRanadefends

GB’sGarcia-Thompsoninaction

GBwomenwalkonfortheirOlympicdebutagainstRussia


GB’sNicoleHillinaction

BY GERARD VAN ZWIETEN

2222

GAMES MAKER DIARY“Congratulations! following your interview to be a London 2012 Games Maker, we are delighted to inform you that we would like to offer you a role in the Volleyball team at the Olympic Games!” 29th july 2011

FollowingalengthyvettingprocessandfinalinterviewinLondonduringMarch2011fortheGamesMakerrole,theseweretheexhilaratingwordsthatconfirmedIwasacceptedasoneofthe70,000GamesMakersforLondon2012.

AsamemberoftheFieldofPlayTeamforIndoorVolleyballatEarlsCourt,IhadtheuniqueopportunitytobepartoftheOlympicsandOlympicfamilyandalsotobeclosetotheathletes.

UndertheinspiringleadershipofStewartDunne,MattRogers,GemmaNunnerleyandSteveEvans,oneofourfirstOlympicduties,inthebuilduptotheGameswastorollouthundredsofmetresofTaraflexflooringforthewarm-upcourtsandcentrecourt,assistingthespecialisedcompanythathadwonthecontractforLondon2012.

Wepractisednumeroustimes(andgotitdowntoafineart!)therapidreplacementofnetsandpostsinreadinessforthiseventualityduringtheGames.Wefolded,unfoldedandassembledalltheboardingsurroundingthecourts,memorisedhealthandsafetyroutinesuntilwecouldrecitetheminoursleepandpractisedthevictoryceremony-sneakilykeepingtheGBflagontopofcourse!

HundredsoftaskswereallocatedandcompletedandwithMattalwayscalmandcollectedweknewwewerereadytogiveourallon27July.Ithadbeentremendouslyhardworkbutthewholeteamfeltproudoftheachievementsofourlabour.

DuringtheGamestheFOPteam,aswewerecalledonouraccreditationID’s,wereresponsibleforeverythingrelatedtothematchesandFieldofPlayareas.Wehadresponsibilityforavarietyoftasksincluding;thesmoothrunningofwarm-upcourts,centrecourtandtheholdingtunnelwhereplayerswereassembledpriortomatches.Wealsolookedafterthematchtable,thenet,theposts,amongstmanyotherresponsibilities.

MykeyroleatEarlsCourtwasTeam/ShiftLeaderFieldofPlayMarshall.Oneofmymajortaskswasenforcingstrictadherenceto“Rule50”-ensuringthatadvertising,logos,clothingoranyothersportingequipmentcompliedwithdesignatedOlympicguidelines.

WiththiscamemymostamusingOlympicmoments.Themajorityofprofessionalwomenvolleyballplayersnowadayswearlongsportssocksandoftenthebrandlogoisvisibleonboththeinsideaswellastheoutsideofthesocks.Rule50clearlystatesthatthelogocanonlybevisibleonce.And

ononeoccasionIhadthetaskofconveyingthistotheChineseteam.Now,myChineseiscertainlynobetterthantheirEnglishandIfearedtryingtoexplaintheruletotheteam!Thesolutionwastotakeabigrollofwhitetape,kneeldownattheirfeetandtapeoveronelogooneachsock!MycolleaguesobviouslyfoundthishilariousbutIampleasedtoconfirmaftertheexercisethattheChinesewomenathletes’legsarewelltrainedandsuperfit!

TogetherwiththeAthletesServicesTeam,wemadesureathletesarrivedpunctuallyatthewarm-upcourtsandlinedupontimeintheholdingtunnelinreadinesstoentercentrecourt,wheretheyweregreeteddailybyanamazinglysportyandenthusiasticcrowd.

We’reallfamiliarwiththenoiseasupportivecrowdcangeneratebuttheEarlsCourtspectatorswereincredible.Assoonastheathletescameoutofthetunnel,theirfirstglancesweretowardstheeruptingstandsofthearena;allsopatrioticwiththeircolourfuldress,flagsandbanners.TheBrazilianSambaoutfits,wereasighttobeholdand,inmyview,themostcolourfulandoutstandingofall.

Mymostmemorableexperiences,however,werethematchesthemselves.Thegamehasbecomesofastandathletic,withmen’s

Gerard(farleft)togetherwithsomeoftheFieldofPlayGamesMakersbehindthetableoftheEarlsCourtpressroom.

servesnoweasilyreaching80-100kmperhourandwomen’steamsliketheUSAandBrazilbeingabletoinstantlychangetheirattacklineduringthegamefromoppositetooutsidetomiddle,oftenwithoutmakingasubstituteforadifferentplayer.

Specificreceivingliberosanddefendingliberos,setterswithhandssowellhiddenandwithsuchamazingaccuracythatdefenceattheoppositeblockisoftentoolate.Theathletesoverallhaveincrediblephysicalstrengthandbodycondition.I’mnottheshortestofpeoplemyself,at6’6”,butIoftenfeltshort,lookingupatathletesat6’9”oreven7’2”!Don’tletthisdisappointyouifyouaresmaller,however,asindefenceit’smoreaboutagility,balanceandcoordinationthanheight.

2323

GAMES MAKER DIARYThemen’sgoldmedalmatchbetweenBrazilandfinalwinnerRussiawas,inmyview,agameI’dliketokeeponmyharddiskforever!ThethirdsetsawRussia5pointsdownatsomestage,buttheycameback,savingsetpointaftersetpointandfinallytookthesetat29-27…VolleyballIwillneverforget!

Personally,Ican’tforgetthatmatchanywayasbythattimeinthetournamentI’dhad

thepleasureofgettingtoknowBernardoRezende,theBraziliancoach.Whilehisteamwerewarmingupforthesemis,hepromisedtogivemehissignedshirtifBrazilqualifiedforthefinal.HewassodelightedwiththeservicehehadreceivedfromtheGamesMakersandwantedtomarkhisappreciation.Aftertheysadlylost,Ithoughthemayhaveforgottenandseeinghowdisillusionedhewas,Ididn’twanttoremindhim.Tomyamazement,hecamethroughthetunnelshortlyafterthematchwithhisshirtinhishand,dulysignedandstillwetfromthegruellingcontest!Inspiteofhisentiredisappointment,hedidn’tforgethispromise!

AtrueprofessionalandsomeoneIcanalwaysregardasan“Olympicfriend”.

SomeoneaskedmeaftertheGameswhetherLondon2012hadimpactedonmeasacoach.InmyroleasCDC(CommunityDevelopmentCoach)forVolleyballEnglandandLeicestershire/Rutland,Iwoulddefinitelysayyes.

InlateSeptemberweheldaUniversityFresher’sFairinDerbyshirewhere92newstudentsshowedinterestinvolleyballandthefollowingweek54peopleturnedupforacoachingtastersession.WealsoranaParalympictastersessionforkidswithadisabilityand,togetherwithothersportslikewheelchairbasketball,weendedupwith80players.ItshowedhowthemediaaroundtheLondonGameshasbeenourbestambassadorforgeneratingnewinterestinoursport.

Inmyopinion,weshouldconstantlyspreadthewordtoouryoungpeopleoverandoveragainthatvolleyballisthesporttobein!Weoffergreatcoaches,competitionsinallformats,clubsthatarewillingtotakeonjuniorsand,aboveall,hundredsofvolunteersfromourvolunteerprograms.Thesevolunteerstirelesslydeliversessionsweekin,weekout.Sessionsthatfreelyofferindoor,outdoor,beachandsittingvolleyballwithgreatenthusiasmandskill.

WhenLordSebCoepromisedthatLondon

2012wouldinspirethewholenation,Icouldn’thaveagreedmore.ThereisabuzzinourofficeatVolleyballEnglandaswecontinuetobeinspiredbythedailyincreaseininterestsurroundingthesport.Bothyoungandoldaskingwheretheycanplayvolley-ball,clubsaskinghowtoentertheNationalLeagueandrecreationalclubsseeingtheirweeklynumbersgrowingandproudlyrelay-ingthesenumberstous.

Itiscertainlyachallengeforustokeepthismomentumgoingandtoofferallthesepeopleareturnontheirhighexpectations.IthinkallmycolleaguesandIinthenationalCDCnetwork,andelsewherewithinVolleyballEnglandcanmakethispromise-thatwewillrisetothischallenge!

WeareoftenaskedwhatwillbethelegacyoftheLondon2012Gamesandmyresponseisthatthelegacyisinthefuture,whereweseeTeamGBimprovingandsucceedinginvolleyballaswebegintocompeteinEuropeandworldwideatahighlevel.YoumayfindmyviewssubjectivebutifIwasajunioragain-whichisunfortunatelytoolongago-IwoulddefinitelyconsideravolleyballcareernowandfulfilthedreamtobecomepartofTeamGB’swonderfulsportingfuture–that’sagreatlegacy!

“the third set saw Russia five points down but they came back, saving set point after set point and finally took the set 29-27 - volleyball I will never forget!”

Duringthebuild-upatEarlsCourt

GerardposeswithaballduringthebuildupatEarlsCourtpriortotheGames


24

Searleleadsthecointossasfirstrefereeforthewom

en’sTrea nor/Walshvs.Cicolari/M

enegattiquarterfinalmatch

DAMIEN

SEARLENerves of steel and a heart of gold – damien searle talks about his Olympic experience and his hopes for the future.

“I’MNOTTHEKINDWHOGETSNERVOUS.FORSOMEREASONIHAVETHEABILITYTOSWITCHOFFFROMEVERYTHINGTHATGOESONAROUNDTHECOURTANDFOCUSONWHAT’SHAPPENINGWITHINTHEFOURLINES.”AUSEFULATTRIBUTEINAMANAPPOINTED1STREFEREEFORTHEFIRSTBEACHVOLLEYBALLMATCHOFLONDON2012.

Forplayersandofficialsalike,theOlympicsisunlikeanyothertournament.Matchesarefewerandmorelessfrequent,andconsiderablymorepressurised.Eachmatch

istheequivalentofaWorldTourfinalbutDamienSearle,2ndRefereefortheMen’sGoldMedalmatch,describesthatfirstmatchashisfavouritememoryoftheGames.TheculminationofallthehardworkandsacrificebySearleandhisfellowofficialsleadinguptoLondon2012,thismatchwasimportant.“Theofficials’performanceinthismatch,andmyperformanceinparticular,wouldsetthetonefortherestoftheGames.Fortunately,Ihadareallygoodmatch,”heexplains.

BorninAustraliatoBritishparents,Searle’sfirstinternationalofficiatingdutycameinhishomecountryofAustraliaintheSydneyGamesin2000asalinesman.Hethenqualifiedasaninternationalrefereein2003andhasrepresentedGreatBritainontheinternationalbeachvolleyballstageeversince.

“Sydney2000wasamazing-inthecountryIwasbornin,ontheworldfamousBondiBeach,eachsessionwasa10,000sell-outandtheAussiewomenwonGold!Beijingwashot,35degreeswith80-90%humidityandtherewerebigculturaldifferences,

bothgoodandbad.Thecrowdsweremostdisappointing-alotofemptyseats,despitethefantasticstadium.Londonwasjustspecial–afantasticvenueandalotofhardwork.FromthemomentLondonwontheOlympics,themajorityofmyannualleavewasusedonattendingtournamentsandevenourfamilyplanningwasbasedaroundtheOlympics.”

TheexperienceofsuchdifferentGamesprovedinvaluableforSearleandGregThompsonashomereferees–takingituponthemselvestoprovidetheinformationtheyfelthadbeenmissingpreviously–theysentaseriesofemailstoalltherefereestellingthemwhattoexpectandhelpingthemand

theirfamiliestoenjoytheGames.“WeevenarrangedapicnicforalltherefereesandNTOs(scorersandlinejudges)sothattheycouldallgettoknoweachother.ThehomerefereesinRiohavealottoliveupto.

Butitis,astheysay,theselittlethingsthatmakethedifferenceandthisisaphilosophythatSearleextendstohispreparationleadinguptorefereeinganevent.“It’sachallengingandpressurisedjobwhereeveryonehasanopinionandit’svitaltoputyourselfinthebestpositiontomaketherightcall–andthatcanbeassimpleasmakingsureyougetenoughrest,andeatanddrinktherightthings.”

Thechallengeofrefereeingis,however,somethingthatSearletakesinhisstride.“Asofficialsweneedtoacceptthatnoteverydecisionwemakeisright,despiteourbestefforts.Whenyouknowyou’vemadeawrongcallit’sbettertocorrectitandreplaythepointwherenecessarythantosticktothatincorrectcall.It’saquestionofconfidenceandtrustinyourself–it’simportanttorememberthatyouonlyhaveoneangleor

viewonsomethingandothersmayhavebetteranglesthanyours.”

Hisexperienceasaplayeriscertainlysomethingthatheconsiderscentraltohisskillasareferee.“Thereare‘Rulers’andthereare‘Gamers’”heexplains.“Rulerslearntherulesbyheartandimplementthem.Gamersrelyonafeelingforthegamefromtheiryearsasplayersandreactaccordingly.I’maGamer.”

SowhatadvicewouldSearlegivetoaspiringbeachvolleyballofficials?“There’salotofsacrifice–expenses,timeoffwork,timeawayfromfamily–butthoseofuswhodoitdosobecausewelovethegameandwewanttobeinvolved.Learningthegame,playingitandunderstandingthetacticsandtechniquesthatplayersuse,bothlegalandillegal,willputyouinthebestpositiontoenjoyitanddothebestpossiblejob.Watchotherofficialsandaskalotofquestions.Whoknows–infouryears’time,itcouldbeyou.”

Butinfouryears’timewhatmighthavechanged?Itwasonly10yearsagothatplaymovedfromsideouttorallyscoringandwhilstmorespectatorfriendly,thishasbeenamovethathasplacedmorepressureonthereferees.Everypointmattersandonedecisionisequivalenttotwopoints–takingfromoneteamandgivingtotheother.Thisisespeciallypressuredwhenstatisticsshowthataround70%ofallsetsaredecidedbyjust2points.LinejudgingtechnologyisunlikelytofinditswayfromvolleyballtothebeachbutastheFIVBcontinuewiththeirprocessofmorecloselyaligningtherulesoftheindoorandbeachgameswecouldstillseechangesinthebeachvolleyballrulebook.SomethingthatSearleisapproachingwithacertainamountoftrepidation.“Ijusthopethatthecharacterofbeachvolleyballdoesn’tgetlostinthechanges.Itwasthischaracterandlackofformalitywhichattractedmetothesportinthefirstplace.”

“Rulers learn the rules by heart and implement them. Gamers rely on a feeling for the game from their years as players and react accordingly. I’m a Gamer.”

By kirsty Meynell


25

Searleleadsthecointossasfirstrefereeforthewom

en’sTrea nor/Walshvs.Cicolari/M

enegattiquarterfinalmatch

damien searle’s top Olympic picks:Best hotel: London–nosharedroomsandapleasant20minutewalkthroughGreenPark,pastBuckinghamPalaceandthroughStJamesParktothevenue–classicLondon.

Best back-of-house:Beijing

Best Location: TiebetweenSydneyandLondon

Best stadium:London–HorseGuard’sparadedeservesspecialmentionasyoucan’tgetpastthatbackdrop.15,000seatsrightnexttoNo.10DowningStreetwithviewsovertotheLondonEyeandBigBen.

Best stadium entertainment: Sydney-thestadiumannouncers,colourcommentatorsandtheDJreallyhadthecrowdeatingoutofthepalmoftheirhand.

Searletakesthereferee’sstandasUSA’sMistyMayTreanorandKerriWalshJenningstakeonItaly’sGretaCicolariandMartaMenegattiintheirquarterfinalmatch


26


ASASPECIALISTVOLLEYBALLPHOTOGRAPHER,BARBARATOTTERDELL’SLONDON2012JOURNEYSTARTEDINSEPTEMBER2011AFTERRECEIVINGACCREDITATIONFORTHEOLYMPICANDPARALYMPICGAMES.HEREBARBARAGIVESHERACCOUNTOFWHATITWASLIKETOBEAPHOTOGRAPHERATTHEGAMES…In2010PhotographicChief,BobMartin,andasmallstaffwereappointedbyLOCOG.TheycombinedtheirexperiencetolocateandnegotiatepositionsforphotographersatalltheOlympicandParalympicSports’venuesandeventsbalancingthephotographers’needswithticketing,safety,broadcastrequirementsetc.Photographersweretobefoundinhides,indugouts,inboatsandinlorries.Detailedhandbookswereavailableforallthemediagivinginformationonallthevenuesaswellasdetailsontravelbetween.

Inthethreevolleyballvenues,EarlsCourt(indoorvolleyball),HorseGuards(beachvolleyball)andExcel(sittingvolleyball)photographershadaccesstothreesidesofthecourtonbenchesaroundthefieldofplay.Lineofsightforthepublicandofficialswasaproblematthesittingvolleyballanditwasherethataccesstotheactionforphotographerswasslightlymoredifficult.AcommonphenomenonatallthreevenueswasthebackgroundforphotographersfromthesidewastowardstheoftenemptyreservedseatsfortheOlympicandParalympicfamily,theirguestsandthepresstribune.Volleyballorganiserstotheircreditespeciallyatthebeachvenuesolvedthisovertheweekbyallowingmembersofthepublic,volunteersandthearmyintothoseseats.

Allthevenueshadpositionsabovethecourt.InHorseGuardstherewasaviewovertherooftopsofWestminster,notasiconicasattheLondonPreparesSerieswithitssmallerstandsandviewstoalloftheoldbuildingssurroundingHorseGuardsbutgaveagoodfeelforthe15,000crowd.EarlsCourtisanoldVictorianbuildingwithmanypillarsobstructingfullviewsonthesidebutasinallthesportvenues,wewereallowedtouseunusedseatinguntiltheticketholdersarrived.Severalphotographersandstaffcountedthe126stepsup8flightsofconcretestairstothephotographers’highspotatthetopofEarl’sCourt-itwaslovelycoming

downandfitnesslevelsofphotographersdoubtlessimproved.AnotherfitnessaidwastravellingontheoldDistrictandCircleLineswithheavyequipmentandstairsinstationsbetweenEarlsCourtandHorseGuards.

Thehigherpositionsgavestrong,genericimagesbutwithoutthecrowdandatmosphere-thesegenericimagesarelikelytobevolleyball’sdietinthenewspapersforthenext4years!Iworkedtogetimagesagainstcrowdstoshowcasetheevents.Thecrowdswerewonderfulbe-itthefunlovingBrazilians,organisedJapaneseandIraniansgettingbehindtheirteamsortheveryvocal,partisanPolishsupporterscounteredbytheverystrongGBcrowd.Peoplehadcometoenjoythesportandthemselvesanditshowed.ThemediausuallyhadtheirownmediaentrancesintovenuesthroughPersonalScreeningAreasmoothlyrunbytheArmyatHorseGuardsandEarlsCourtandbyhelpfulsecuritystaffatExcel.

Eachvenuehadtheday’sprogrammeandresultsinformation,internetaccessboughtinvariouspackagesandwerewherethePhotoManagerswiththeirdeputies,allwithphotographicbackgrounds,andthePhotoStaffwerebased.Theyworkedtohelpthemediatogetthebestphotographsandguidedphotographerstopositionsbetweentheaction.Photobriefingswere

heldforallphotographersattheMainMediaCentrebeforethestartoftheOlympicsandParalympicsandalsoatthevenuesbythePhotoManagers,informingofaccesstopositions,ofanychangesandthedetailofaccesstothemedalceremonies.

JournalistsandphotographerscamefromallcornersoftheglobewithstrongcontingentsfromItaly,JapanandBrazil.ThereareafewspecialistvolleyballphotographersandsomeIhavemetatinternationaleventsinEuropeovertheyears.DanielleTarantini,anItalianphotographerIfirstmetin1998whereshetoldmeverysuccinctlyinItalianwhatshethoughtofthelightlevelsthatyear;I,anonItalianspeaker,knewexactlywhatshewassaying.WiththestronginterestinvolleyballintheItalianpress,London2012

A close up of London 2012 from the photographers angle...

“An awful lot of lovin’ going on here.”

wasDanielle’s5thOlympics,withthepaucityofinterestinthemediahereformanyoftheOlympicsports,Londonwasmyfirst.

Itwasinterestingtoobserveandlistentothemoregeneralphotographerswithlessknowledgeofthesportbutthebeachcourtwasperhapsthemostinteresting.Longlenseshavetheirplacebutthosearrivingcourtsideatthewomen’sbeachfinalmademecurious.AsthematchbeganandeachlenspointeduptotheVIPseatingtheirintentionbecameclearandwasconfirmedbyamutteringof‘he’shere’.‘He’wasPrinceHarrybutthepapersthefollowingdayshowedthatthelensesfoundlittletoshowofHarrybuttwounfortunateGBcyclistshadtheiraffair‘outed’.

AfterthebeachbronzematchtheBrazilians,

BEhINd thE LENsOlympicbeachvolleyballphotographerslinethecourtinpreparationforthefinal


By BARBARA tOttERdELL

27


Larissa-Juliana,andaftertheirgoldmedalwin,USA’sMayTreanor-Walshdidwhatbeachvolleyballplayersoftendoandclimbedintothestandstohugfamily,friendsandcoaches.Astheyracedroundthecourt,

theywerechasedatequalspeedbyacrowdofmalephotographers.Atthebeachmedalceremony,athleteswhoknoweachotherverywellhavingcompetedagainsteachotherontheFIVBBeachWorldTourformanyyears,congratulatedeachotherwithhugs.Thiswentonforalittlewhileandavoicefromthe‘pack’mumbled,“Anawfullotoflovin’going

onhere.”

MeanwhileatEarlsCourttheOlympicGoldmedallists,BrazilWomen’sTeamandstaffshowedanaturalabilitytocelebrateand

anequalabilitytoprovidetheposesforthepresscameras.Thesittingvolleyballwasmarkedbythefriendlinessbetweencoaches,playersandofficialsthathasbeenahallmarkofinternationalsittingvolleyball.Themedallistsmingledaftertheceremoniestocongratulateeachotherand

talk.Thecrowdtoowerefriendly,oneloneMoroccangentlemanwithalargeflaggottiredofcheeringonhisownandappealedtothecrowdinhisarea‘togivemeahandhere’andtheydid.Theseareperhaps

themomentssetagainstabackgroundofsomesuperbactionthatmadetheeventssoenjoyable…andofcoursethosewinningmomentsbigandsmallfortheGBteamsagainstabackgroundofsolid,enthusiastic,flagwavingsupportersenjoyingthevolleyballandtheevent.

BEhINd thE LENs“the crowds were wonderful be-it the fun loving Brazilians, organised japanese and Iranians getting behind their teams or the very vocal, partisan Polish supporters countered by the very strong GB crowd.”

RicardoSantosdivesfortheballagainstGermanpairingJonasReckermannandJuliusBrinkinthemen’squarterfinals


From one sports specialist to anotherAs a leading insurance broker to the sporting world, Towergate tlc is delighted to be the approved insurance broker to Volleyball England providing insurance cover for individuals and organisations.

Towergate tlc is a trading name of Towergate Underwriting Group LimitedRegistered Address: Towergate House, Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3ENRegistered in England No. 4043759 Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Call 01926 439439or email [email protected] visit www.towergatetlc.co.uk

Providing insurance for:

• Event Cancellation Cover • Club Insurance • Travel Insurance • Equipment Cover

D7914_TG Sports Insurance Ad A5_AW.indd 1 24/8/10 16:48:19

3touch november

Documents

games effect

volleyball gamesan interview