VOLLEYBALL 

NEWSLETTER

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The following Newsletter has been forwarded to you, from the Volleyball Newsletter  E-Mail list. The UK's leading on line Volleyball News service, providing up to date volleyball information, direct to newsletter members throughout the UK and Ireland. Articles are collected from a variety of sources and credited appropriately. The Volleyball Newsletter uses advertising sponsorship to support our free and non-profit making service to newsletter members. To advertise your volleyball events or products, direct to players, club and league secretaries throughout the UK & Ireland, then please see our web site for details or contact Dave at  Dave.Reece@volleyballnewsletter.com with the word "Volleyball" in your subject line.

Hi all, more news from the Volleyball Newsletter 

Cheers - Dave Reece Dave.Reece@volleyballnewsletter.com

Hi, Would it be possible for you to add a link to London Spikers Volleyball Club. We are the London's only volleyball club for Gay men. We welcome all levels of experience, playing Sundays 2PM - 4PM at Bethnal Green Sports Centre www.londonspikers.org

Thanks Victor LSVC@hotmail.com

Hi Dave,Can you add our web address to your database for Berkhamsted Volleyball Club, Berkhamsted, Herts. http://www.berkhamstedvolleyball.net

Regards Alan Wilkins postmaster@berkhamstedvolleyball.net

Hi Dave, I was just checking out your site and noticed that you don't have a link for Sheffield Hallam University volleyball club. The site can be found at:
http://www.hallamvolleyball.co.uk

Thanks, Tom Ward info@hallamvolleyball.co.uk

The 2004

Exeter Ladies Challenge

The 2004 Exeter Ladies Challenge will take place on the 24th April 2004 (10:00 - 18:00) at the Riverside Leisure Centre, Exeter. 

A double court, indoor tournament which caters for all playing standards, as well as being a Ladies Tournament, the Exeter Ladies Challenge is also a participation event and one of our aims is to help develop and encourage Ladies volleyball. We often receive requests from individual players who would like to join a team for this event, hence teams who are unable to field a full ladies side are still encourage to enter, please contact the organizers for more info. We are limited to 12 teams and the previous four events has been oversubscribed, so please book early. 

Sponsors:  
This years event is being sponsored by the following organisations.

• Exeter & District VA www.edva.org.uk
• The Volleyball Newsletter www.volleyballnewsletter.com
• Torexe VC www.torexevolleyball.com

The Exeter Riverside L.C. has all the usual facilities, including a swimming pool and parking. The centre is located close to the Exeter Quay area and with easy access to the city centre shops. The venue is 15 minutes from the Exeter M5 Junction 31. 

Exeter is a medium size City located in East Devon, so why not make a weekend of it. Their are plenty of B&B's and camp sites available in the South and East Devon area. Check out the tourist links at http://www.exeter.gov.uk/tourism/ for more info on the area and links to various facilities within the area.

Traveling Time: 
It will take approximately 4 hours to drive from London, 3 hours from Birmingham and 2 hours from Cardiff or Poole to Exeter. 

More info and entry forms from Dave.Reece@volleyballnewsletter.com or visit our web site at www.volleyballnewsletter.com/exeter2004.htm

Dear All, I am running a Level I at Exeter University in March. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this please could you pass on the contact information.

Level I Coaches Course, Exeter University, 13th and 14th March, Contact Name: Stuart Anderson, S.Anderson@exeter.ac.uk

Ros Sutherland ROSSUTH@aol.com

Hi Dave, Just a quick update. The Level 2 Volleyball Coaching course scheduled for Feb 2004 has been changed to a Level 1. The dates are Sundays 1 & 8 Feb 9.00 - 6.00pm cost £53. If you know of anyone, please pass my email on to them.

Thanks Veronica Parkinson V.Parkinson@mmu.ac.uk

PHOTOS OF INTEREST

I feel each council area should have such a floor in order to showcase sports appropriately as the opportunities arise. I believe it is green in order to be used for as many different sports as possible. Please do not hesitate to feedback to Glasgow City Council, or eventscotland or sportscotland.

Kenny Barton
CEO Scottish Volleyball
info@scottishvolleyball.org

Volleyball Brave Ellie plays on through the pain barrier to help claim memorable victory for Cleobury. An injury-hit Cleobury Ladies National League side battled to their tenth straight win in a row on Sunday when they beat fellow promotion hopefuls Salford 3-2 at home in a predictable five sets. The victory was made all the sweeter by the fact the away side were reduced to only five fit players - a huge disadvantage in a six-aside game! 

The fourth set saw Cleobury begin to tire, their lack of substitutes and Christmas over-indulgence was taking its toll. Salford took full advantage and forced the play at the net, which required last-gasp defending from Sophie Cooke and Becky Brookes. The Cleobury side looked short on ideas and at 20:13 down were contemplating another tiring fifth set. One bad landing later and Cleobury's predicament deepened as key defender Ellie Boddey went down injured, later to be confirmed with a fractured bone in her foot. Cleobury had two choices, forfeit the game as they could not field six players, or hope Ellie could hop on and off court during each point to satisfy the rules. 

Cleobury's predictable never-say-die attitude came into play and Ellie needed no encouragement to fight through the pain for her team-mates. Cleobury played on but lost the fourth set soon after 25:16. Another fifth set then. 

Only five fit players but still the same amount of court to cover forced Cleobury to switch to beach-style defending. Against the odds and displaying new passion, Cleobury took an early 5:2 lead. Sophie Cooke combined with setter Becky Brookes to find the floor repeatedly on the wing allowing Cleobury to turn around first at 8:5 up. Ellie Boddey, now in obvious pain, put on a brave face as concerns from the referee as to the state of her health were fuelled by a call from the opposition to claim the match. Cleobury were determined to make Salford finish as they sensed they were gaining the upper hand. Cleobury continued to dominate the net, Lyndsey Rankin sending home another middle attack. Back court, however, they were forced into ragged defending to ensure they stayed in the point. And finally at 15:11 they had their reward as they took a remarkable set against such close rivals. 

www.moreover.com

Iain is a past Captain of the Scottish National Team, was Captain of the Great Britain team throughout its hugely successful programme, was Captain of the Su Ragzzi team who dominated the Scottish game in the early nineties and set the new British record for consecutive domestic competition wins.  In all likelihood Iain would still be Captain of the teams he plays in, if it were not for the FIVB rules preventing the Libero filling this role. Iain is a natural leader, someone other players feel compelled to follow, because of his drive, his commitment, and his desire to excell.

A truly fierce competitor Iain carried the hopes and aspirations of the National Team Programme for many years. At the peak of his game he was possibly the smartest, and most consistent outside spiker the Scottish game has produced.

His National Team career has taken him to tournaments and events all over Great Britain and mainland Europe. He has appeared in numerous Spring Cups, in several European Championships, and played against a number of the World's top ten teams. Perhaps two of Iain's most favourite volleyball memories would be the matches for the GB team against Australia and Romania in the Kelvin Hall ISA in Glasgow where he led the team to victories, in front of packed houses.

It has been a privilage and a pleasure to work with Iain throughout his career. His 100 cap record is a remarkable achievement, from a remarkable man.

Thomas Dowens
Head Coach, Scottish National team
info@scottishvolleyball.org

[In the interest of copyright, please checkout the full article at www.fairplay.ie
or http://www.fairplay.eu.com/magazine/issue11/article3.htm ]

The FIVB Board of Administration, on the advice of the International Federation's Medical Commission, has decided to halt completely gender verification tests formerly carried out prior to all world Volleyball competitions, except for youth championships.

The FIVB - the only sports federation to continue such testing - has finally fallen into line with the International Olympic Committee which abolished this practice at the Olympic Games several years ago. The Board members also approved continued dialogue with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) with the aim of agreeing on the harmonization of regulations concerning the measures for controlling and fighting doping.

"We have survived and resisted the attack of the doping phenomenon with our regulations which have shown their worth", Dr. Rubén Acosta proudly stated. The FIVB President considers that agreement could easily be reached with the world agency on the minor points of the FIVB regulations that do not concur with the WADA rules.

These differences concern the exemption conditions for the use of products for therapeutic reasons and the number of players to be controlled at the end of a match. The FIVB organizes controls of the players who actually enter the playing court whereas the WADA intends to extend the possibility of controls to all players entered in the scoresheet. 

WADA requests that the hearings of players controlled positive be conducted by members independent of the FIVB, while the latter is against this requirement as the WADA may organize random controls outside competitions. 

Swatch

Mr. Bruno Grande, Swatch head of Olympic Sports, announced that the world’s leading watch-making company will intensify its partnership with the FIVB for the promotion of the 2004 Swatch-FIVB World Tour. 

“We recognize that the World Tour is a tremendous success,” he said during his speech before the FIVB Board of Administration meeting this week in Acapulco. He was delighted that the company he represents contributed to building the identity of the World Tour and finding a place in the public eye, what he called “the visual identity” of the World Tour.

Mr. Grande admitted that the watch specially produced for Swatch’s first year with Beach Volleyball was sold out. It has now become an object eagerly sought by Swatch collectors around the world, a number which increases every year. 

The men’s and women’s 2004 Swatch-FIVB World Tour will together include 27 tournaments (an increase of 20%) over a seven-month period and reaching five continents. The Prize Money will amount to approximately US$6million (an increase of 15%). 

New Uniform Concept

Furthermore, the Board of Administration approved the search for a sportswear manufacturer that would suggest a new uniform concept for men and women players. "We want our players to look like athletes. We need uniforms that accentuate their physical attributes. Our sport must be considered for what it really is, that is a truly professional and athletic sport," stressed the FIVB President.

www.fivb.ch

Although the day is not meant to be taken too seriously, the assembled athletes will certainly have their fitness tested. The disciplines are target golf, a gym test, a two-kilometre cycle, football, tennis, basketball, 50-metre swim and a 500-metre row. The eight entrants will be able to opt out of one event, which they consider their weakest, while organisers will also pull each competitor out of one other.

http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/

GREEN - Out Door Tournaments / BLUE - VB Events / ORANGE - Beach Tournaments / RED - In Door Tournaments

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