Richard Osborne's reaction to the Movement for Good grant to support Sitting Volleyball.

Richard was asked what his reaction to the Foundation looking for and successfully securing funding to support community clubs that want to develop sitting volleyball.

The Volleyball England Foundation has worked hard to generate much needed funding to promote sitting volleyball and having spoken with lots of coaches up and down the country, I am convinced there is both an appetite and opportunity to grow this fast-paced, fun, yet challenging format of the game.  

Sitting volleyball is an adapted version of the indoor game and while it is aimed at disabled people, anyone can play whether young, old, male, female, disabled or not, making it truly inclusive.  As junior volleyball provides an essential feeder system into adult volleyball (NVL, local league etc), so sitting volleyball provides a pathway for those contemplating retirement due to injury.  It’s now possible to extend your volleyball career through sitting volleyball!  Of course, the game isn't limited to just those carrying injuries, and I have found standing teams have benefited from playing sitting volleyball because the game is faster and requires speed of thought and movement, it strengthens communication skills, ball flight judgement, anticipation and is just really good fun and great for the core!!  

If we can bring 2-3 more clubs online each year then in no time we will have a vibrant sitting volleyball community with an exciting future.  Furthermore, if clubs develop new players who have a classifiable disability, for example, an amputee who have potential to play at the elite level via the men’s and women’s national teams, then there is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen those squads

Richard Osborne

Head Coach South Hants Sitting Volleyball Club