Regional Coaches Enhance Skills at FIVB Beach Volleyball Course

Beach volleyball coaches from around the region were given the opportunity to upgrade their skillset during a recent FIVB Beach Volleyball Certification Course.

The five-day event culminated at the Wildey Gymnasium on Wednesday.

Chairperson of the Barbados Volleyball Commission, Anicia Wood, said the body had worked consistently over the years to strengthen the sport locally through structured programs, athlete development initiatives and participation in regional and international competitions.

Wood maintained that the development of coaches was a priority if the sport was to develop and move towards higher levels of performance.

“So we are definitely proud of the continued progress of our national program, including the recent qualification of our Under-18 boys’ team to the World Championships which will be happening in the Netherlands in July.

“These achievements obviously reflect the growing standard of beach volleyball here in Barbados and the wider Caribbean and the dedication of our athletes, our coaches and the support staff who have all contributed to this progress,” Wood added.

While the course attracted participants from Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, and the Cayman Islands, coaches from Haiti were unable to attend due to immigration issues.

President of the Barbados Volleyball Association, Kenmore Bynoe said he was extremely disappointed by their non-attendance.

“I must add a bit of disappointment here as well because we had three persons who had demonstrated great interest in coming to attend this course from Haiti.

“I cannot believe that with our leaders speaking a lot about regional integration, Caribbean unity and so forth, persons who are coming from Haiti to attend a course were denied or met so much red tape. I am hoping that a situation like that would not reoccur,” Bynoe said.

However, he admitted that the course was very beneficial to Barbados.

“Over the years we have been fighting a battle trying to keep beach players and have indoor players, but a course like this would help us to develop even more rapidly, genuine beach players.

“That has always been the fight; how do we get beach players as opposed to going and poaching the players from the indoor competitions. As you know, the coaches of the indoor competitions are very zealous in keeping their players,” he explained.

FIVB course instructor, Claudia Costa Oliviera Laciga revealed that it was her first time in the Caribbean.

“I was a professional player and I really like the practical court feeling and I really look forward to how you can profit from my knowledge and from my way of coaching.