Level 1 Volleyball Coaches Course Opens In St. Thomas

ST. THOMAS — A Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Level 1 Coaches Course, under the Olympic Solidarity program, is currently running in St. Thomas as part of the school and national program. The same course was held on St. Croix in 2007 with seventeen physical education teachers and coaches participating.

FIVB is the international governing body for the sports of indoor, beach and grass volleyball. Its headquarters is located in Lausanne, Switzerland and its current president is Brazilian Ary Graça.

The organization was founded in France in April 1947, when some of the European national federations began to address the issue of creating an international governing body for the sport of volleyball. Initial discussions eventually led to the installation of the Constitutive Congress in 1947. Fourteen national federations representing five different continents attended the meetings where, between April 18-20, the entity was officially formed, with Frenchman Paul Libaud as the first president.

This year, seventeen coaches and physical education teachers hailing from St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John are taking part in the course, which began on Wednesday and will conclude on Sunday.

The course is under the direction of FIVB Instructor Tony Westman.

“I really believe in the good and solid formation as the ideal way to grow,” Mr. Westman said while addressing participants during the opening ceremony.

Alice Joseph, vice president of the Virgin Islands Volleyball Federation (VIVF), welcomed the participants; Lucille Hobson, president of VIVF, also attended.

During her talk, Ms. Hobson revealed that all participants in this year’s activity are involved in the national or school program in the territory. The course includes theoretical and practical sessions and all the participants will receive certificates after completing the course’s requirements.

The VI Volleyball National Federation praised Virgin Islands Olympic Committee President Angel Morales, and the Volleyball Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean President Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, for all the support and encouragement throughout the years. FIVB President Ary Graca was also praised for the organization’s assistance in making the course possible.

The Virgin Islands Volleyball Federation says it will continue to promote the practice of volleyball in the territory through schools as it is designed in their strategic plan.