Beach Volleyball Development In Gibraltar Accelerates With FIVB Coaching Support

Gibraltar national beach volleyball teams aiming to compete in more international competitions

The Gibraltar Volleyball Association (GVA) has been utilising FIVB coaching support to improve its national beach volleyball teams while also increasing participation in the sport at the grassroots level.

The GVA benefitted from three months of coaching support in 2019 and 12 months of support in 2021, with 12 months also approved for 2022. As part of the ongoing project, the GVA last year appointed highly-experienced beach volleyball player and coach Nenad Tatic to help bring its women’s and men’s national teams to the next level.

The support is already having a positive impact with the men’s national beach volleyball team last year competing in its first international competition, the Commonwealth Games qualification tournament.

FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça Fᵒ said:

“I am delighted by the commitment of the GVA to growing the sport of beach volleyball by developing its national teams. The National Federation has put in place a professional and structured programme for development which is already seeing results, and it is the FIVB’s pleasure to make this possible through our development programme.

“I am looking forward to these teams being competitive at international events, and have no doubt this will inspire even more junior players to play the sport in Gibraltar as they will have strong role models.”

Through continued support, the GVA aims to further grow the level of beach volleyball and start to medal at international events. By raising the level of its national teams, the GVA has already seen a significant number of juniors take up the sport of beach volleyball.

GVA President Emma Labrador said:

“FIVB coaching support has been a complete gamechanger for our beach volleyball national teams. The training received as a result of this support is extremely professional and has enabled the players to develop at a rate and to a level that would not have been possible without FIVB support.”

Head Coach Nenad Tatic said:

“We are thankful for the FIVB’s support which has helped us to improve the technique of Gibraltar’s national teams and compete at an international level. We will continue this work in 2022, and are aiming for our national team players to compete in Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures events and improve even further.”