280 enthusiastic young participants from three countries enjoyed six days of volleyball and good fun at this year’s High Performance Summer Volleyball Camp in Ikast (DEN)
40 coaches, including the coaches of the Danish women and men’s national team, educated the youngsters over six intensive days.
The players were first divided into groups based on their skill levels. This ensured they trained with others at or near the same skill level and allowed improvements at the same pace. They not only learned about general volleyball skills and tactics but also specific skills and tactics related to the different positions and roles Volleyball requires when playing a match. In addition, the players learned more about the benefits linked to physical training based on the key elements of mobility and stability.
During the High Performance Summer Volleyball Camp, the Danish men’s national team played two CEV European League matches against Austria in Ikast. All the young players received a High Performance Summer Volleyball Camp t-shirt and were able to watch the second match against Austria. This was a fantastic way to start the camp, with the superb atmosphere in the Ikast-Brande Arena giving the “stars of tomorrow” a taste of perhaps what they can achieve if they work hard on the new skills they have acquired at the camp.
The Danish national team extended their stay in the city to take part in the camp and assisted with the coaching. For the youngsters to meet National team players was a great experience. The Danish wing-spiker Simon BITSCH said: “I started playing volleyball in Ikast and have benefited greatly from Volleyball education at the local school. This is the third time I have coached at the Volleyball Camp. This year I also spoke about my experiences with the national team in front of our talented under 19 national team players”. He adds, “I hope this will help them keep them motivated and inspired”.
The High Performance Summer Camp is also a key strategy in developing coaches and many took advantage of the opportunity to learn from some of the best Volleyball brains and take back to their clubs some new ideas to improve the level of play of their players.
CEV President Mr André MEYER stated:
“How great it is to see the network of CEV/FIVB Regional Volleyball Development Centres (RVDC) delivering courses and seminars aimed at improving and developing Europe’s future Volleyball stars. The Danish RVDC is unique in that it has a second centre here in Ikast and I am very pleased that they have now organised the first of their 2014 activities”.
“That for Volleyball & Beach Volleyball to continue to grow and evolve across Europe, all 55 National Federations must use the opportunities organised by the RVDC’s in Europe to improve not only technical skills but also the development of young Volleyball & Beach Volleyballers across Europe. Fundamental to this will be the close collaboration of the CEV Zonal Associations and Small Countries Division in organising clinics and seminars in the RVDC’s,” he added.
