Site hosted by
   ESSEX VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION

[ Up ] [ Dev Plan 05-10 ]

The actions associated with these plans are in draft and under discussion by the Executive.  Once agreed they will be added

This plan covers the period 2007-13 and deliberately runs past the 2012 Games. It takes as its start point the English Volleyball Association’s Whole Sport Plan (2005-09). It is a major revisal undertaken in mid 2007 of the first Development Plan (2005-10). The plan seeks to be a simple document that recognises the current position of volleyball across Essex and how it might be developed. It sets out a series of practical actions to achieve this.

Background

Volleyball is a world, Olympic and Paralympic Sport invented just over 100 years ago in USA and has become one of the most popular participant and spectator sports worldwide. In addition to the indoor game, there are outdoor variations including beach volleyball as well as sitting volleyball where able and disabled players can compete on equal terms. At least one version can be played by almost all ages, many abilities and by both sexes. It is strong in all continents apart from Africa and strongest in Europe. The Home nations have traditionally been weak internationally, although this may change following the award of the 2012 Games to London.

All forms of volleyball in England have as their governing body Volleyball England (also known as the English Volleyball Association or EVA) with a professional team based in Loughborough. East Volleyball Federation (EVF) covers 6 counties including Essex and is the EVA’s regional arm. The Essex Volleyball Association (EssexVA) formed in 1972 is traditionally a strong county within the region, providing many EVF officers. Volleyball at regional and county level is delivered overwhelmingly by volunteers, although Tendring benefits from a full time paid Community Sports Coach.

Essex is a successful volleyball county. At junior level, Tendring School has a long tradition of success including national titles and has recently been joined by Boswells (Chelmsford). Tendring and St Edwards (Romford) have represented England in International competitions. Essex players have always heavily populated EVF junior regional squads and the county provided the lion’s share of regional coaches for many years. The county also hosts JUVO, founded in 1987 and the largest outdoor junior tournament in the country, with some 80 teams. Essex currently hosts two clubs with National Volleyball League teams in Brentwood (2 men’s, one women’s) plus Tendring (men). Essex have both organised and won county and area titles. The Veterans (over 40) team have consistently performed well in a regional veterans tournament. A major role of EssexVA is organising league and cup competition. However between 2000-2006 the number of teams playing in such competitions has reduced and consolidated on a few larger clubs based in Brentwood, Chelmsford and Tendring. Parts of the county which have previously been strong e.g. Harlow, Southend, Thurrock, Colchester and Braintree have seen previously strong clubs disappear. Volunteer numbers (referee and admin) are also under pressure at both club and county levels.

Essex as a county includes the Unitaries of Southend and Thurrock and has a population of 1.6m, which has risen from 750,000 in 1951. The biggest centres are Basildon (166,000), Southend (160,000), Chelmsford (157,000) and Colchester (156,000). It is set to grow significantly under proposals for East England by 2021 and in Thames Gateway (Thurrock/ Castle Point/Southend) and M11 (Harlow) includes two of the three national planned spatial development areas. Its southern part continues to be heavily influenced by the proximity to London for employment and social activity whilst its more remote northern areas such as Tendring and Maldon are more rural. It is broadly affluent, but with pockets of deprivation, some significant. It has generally good radial communications through road and rail and a booming international airport at Stansted. It remains broadly successful economically.

Vision

To make volleyball in Essex an accessible, enjoyable sporting choice

Strategic Aim
To nurture a thriving network of clubs or others providing equitable access to and enjoyment of volleyball.
Our objectives are therefore to:
- encourage and support the recruitment, retention and development of volunteers in club and other environments
- widen access to versions of volleyball to more potential players, referees, coaches and administrators
- organise/offer an integrated competition program
- take advantage of the opportunities the successful London bid for the Games will bring
- operate in an efficient and effective manner.

Key indicators

We will measure our performance against the following:
- number of active clubs/teams and their links to education
- number of active participants (players, administrators, referees and coaches)
- geographic coverage
- successful alliances with partners
We lay out more specific metrics under action plans.

Working with partners

EssexVA will seek to work with selected partners in an open, collaborative and constructive manner to achieve mutually shared objectives. We particularly recognise the importance of sportessex, the County Sports Partnership, and signed a Service Level Agreement with them in 2007. The other key partner is Education e.g. through PDM’s/School Sports Partnerships plus Higher and Further Education. Locally clubs will be encouraged to work with these partners and Community Sports Networks as these are established. EssexVA will continue to support EVF and VE in their activities.

Focus of resources

EssexVA controlled resources consist mainly of volunteer time and the availability of this will usually dictate the speed of travel. The national Whole Sport Plan has helped through support for the appointment of one Community Sports Coach controlled by the local School Sport Partnership and our long term aspiration is to have others covering key constituencies across the county.

In order to achieve our aim actions are grouped by into key areas of activity. Alongside this we need to continue to operate effectively and efficiently our existing activities and this is considered in the Good Operations strand noted below. The focus for deployment of resources will evolve over time but over the plan period will include four focus development groups – Youth (age 7-18), Sitting Volleyball, Higher Education and Veterans (40+).

The following depicts these key activity areas

This picture seeks to show that activity is founded on the development of volunteers. These volunteers will lead the development of clubs and focus groups both within clubs and often in most other settings such as education. The exception is where volleyball is undertaken by paid staff, usually within an educational setting either by PE staff or by Community Coaches. Some clubs will have juniors integrated into their structures whilst others will be more predominantly adult. There will be a competition structure offering development opportunities for clubs and a pathway through which players can progress.

The role of EssexVA is not to run individual clubs but to provide support for their formation, a framework within which they can thrive and competition structures in which they can compete. It also acts as their representative and advocate in wider forums within volleyball, sport, the voluntary sector and beyond. For focus groups, EssexVA may at times take a more leading role in delivery.

How we see the future

Our picture of the future is of sustainable, open, accredited clubs based as now in Tendring, Chelmsford and Brentwood complemented by new clubs in the North (Harlow/Epping) and South (Southend/Thurrock) areas of the county forming a core network. Each club will have close links into local education where volleyball is offered ideally within the curriculum and compete in Essex competitions. We aspire to each centre of this network having access to a Community Sports Coach. Other clubs in population centres such as Colchester and Basildon will be supported if and when they emerge.

These will be complimented by other clubs or teams from groups with a common bond e.g. through employment, hobbies or other interests; and by any clubs based in surrounding areas who wish to engage with our competitions and plans such as currently Romford club and Havering College.

EssexVA organises a range of competitions both league and cup which provide for the aspirations of clubs and other groups in the county, including veterans events.

School Sport Partnerships that wish to continue with or introduce volleyball into its curriculum or out of hours activities are supported and linked into local clubs. There is a countywide, schools based, junior competition consistent with the National Framework including JUVO as a major outdoor festival for participation.

There are regular sitting volleyball sessions in the county supported by players of all abilities and particularly the disabled community. This is linked into a broader pathway for development of such players.

This activity is populated by motivated, well qualified and recognised administrators, coaches and referees.

As social events are such an important part of sport will look to this into our activities where possible.

Because of its good organisation and delivery Essex is recognised as an example of success within the volleyball world.

Other agendas

We recognise that volleyball in common with other sports has much to offer a number of other agendas such as health, social cohesion, personal development and self esteem. However people who do not enjoy a sport will soon stop participating as a player, coach, referee or administrator and so miss out on any of the benefits either direct or indirect. EssexVA is a voluntary body whose delivery is mainly dependant on volunteers, and we see our agenda of volleyball as an accessible and enjoyable sport as the prime driver for our activities.