The Unified Volleyball Spikes Project, which launched in 2021 and continues until December 2023, focused on creating… Training guide With the aim of developing a unified sport of volleyball throughout Europe and Eurasia. A unified sports team is a team that includes players with and without intellectual disabilities. The guide – which was launched to the public this week – focuses on three main areas: how to create a unified volleyball team, how to lead unified volleyball training sessions and how to implement mixed gender. Partition in sport.
The dedicated project team, led by the SO Europe Eurasia Foundation, included representatives from a variety of Special Olympics teams – known as national programs – including Austria, Italy, Holland, Poland, Serbia And SlovakiaAs well as the Slovak Volleyball Federation (SVK). Nearly 500 Special Olympics coaches and athletes Consolidated Partners Volunteers from these countries contributed to the project with their experience and knowledge of volleyball and their experience in playing and training. Unified Sports.
The project was not without challenges as it dealt with the disruption imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. “Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 during the first two years of the project, the team succeeded in meeting (virtually and in person) for key events including the joint unified meeting,” said Valia Friko, project manager. A volleyball training workshop, on-site training seminars, and five transnational meetings. This in itself is a great achievement!”
The project results speak for themselves. The results more than live up to expectations. A total of 80 trainers have already been trained using it New guide 30 unified volleyball teams were created during the project. Overall, there has been an amazing growth of over 439% in unified partners and athletes participating in unified volleyball in the countries participating in the project. The sport of volleyball united throughout the region will continue to benefit not only from the guide itself but also from the new skills acquired by the coaches during the project and the new coaches appointed. Most importantly, these highly skilled coaches can provide better quality training for both Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners in the future.
The final product is important but the process of developing the guide was just as important, as Valia explains, “During the development of the guides, athletes and uniform partners were also given the opportunity to contribute to the multiplier events and training camp in Serbia. This enabled the athletes to feel ownership of the project. Important because this is the first time Special Olympics athletes and Unified Partners have been directly involved in developing a training manual for Special Olympics and it highlights that the project was truly comprehensive.
Additionally, Special Olympics teams participating in the project have achieved long-term gains that will help Unified Volleyball thrive in the future. “Sustainable networks have been created through the project,” Valia concludes. “For example, the Dutch Special Olympics has developed a partnership with NeVoBo (Dutch Volleyball Association) and the Slovak Special Olympics will continue to develop its partnership with SVK. These fruitful relationships can only benefit volleyball.” unified in the future.
Read the new Unified Volleyball Training Guide developed by the Unified Volleyball Spikes Project
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for it.
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