NORCECA Development Structure Paves the Way for FIVB Development Program

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 4, 2025.- The NORCECA Development Commission held its virtual meeting on Friday, highlighting the Confederation’s remarkable development structure, which has set the foundation for the FIVB Development Program. As a leading Confederation in sustainable support, NORCECA continues to enhance development programs for its regional members.

NORCECA President Cristobal Marte Hoffiz delivered enthusiastic opening remarks, emphasizing the significance of this initiative, “We are privileged to have our NORCECA Vice President Mushtaque Mohammed as President of the FIVB Development Commission. Mushtaque convinced me that development takes time. In addition, NORCECA Vice President Glenn Quinlan is President of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment Program”.

Marte Hoffiz  further acknowledged the importance of the commission as an essential channel for all NORCECA National Federations, stating that since 2008, the Confederation has worked to meet the needs of its members, not only by providing equipment annually but also by offering financial support. He underscored that sports require financial backing, and NORCECA has implemented transparent financial support mechanisms to assist National Federations, particularly those in categories 1 and 2. This support has enabled many Federations to build their local organizations and successfully host both regional and continental events.

“NORCECA proudly leads among Continental Confederations by organizing this year twenty beach volleyball tournaments and sixteen indoor tournaments, demonstrating its commitment to growing the sport at all levels” Marte added.

Mushtaque Mohammed, President of the Development Commission, reiterated the commission’s critical role in making informed proposals to the NORCECA Board of Administration and Executive Committee on highly technical matters. Expressing his appreciation for NORCECA President Cristobal Marte’s unwavering support, “I am more enthusiastic than ever, as our journey began in 2001. Thanks to Cristobal Marte’s leadership, we have had the tools to make significant progress in NORCECA and in the FIVB”.

The members were presented with a two-part commission report which highlighted the FIVB and NORCECA structures for development.

As for the FIVB, its program is modeled after NORCECA’s development structure, which has evolved to address the region’s needs and now serves as a blueprint for FIVB. Members of the Development Commission are long-time volleyball advocates who bring invaluable experience to the program.

The FIVB Development Commission now includes the Empowerment Program, which provides targeted support for National Federations, including coaching assistance, volleyball equipment, and knowledge transfer initiatives.

A vital tool introduced during the meeting is the FIVB E-Learning Platform, which offers essential resources such as coach and referee education, mandatory courses for athletes, and tutorials on various aspects of the sport, such as VIS registrations. This platform will soon be available on the NORCECA website, reinforcing education as a key development component.

The Development Commission aligns with three strategic goals of the FIVB Strategic Vision: Development, Volleyball Empowerment, and the Volleyball Foundation. However, challenges remain in ensuring that National Federations not only apply for support but successfully execute their programs. The Commission stressed the need to provide additional guidance and resources to help Federations implement their development plans effectively.

Education and e-learning are integral to this initiative, particularly for young athletes. Programs such as Play Clean and the Sport Manipulation Program must be emphasized to ensure ethical participation. Additionally, compliance with the FIVB’s new regulations on female coaching staff in women’s competitions will be implemented in NORCECA starting in 2025, with at least one female coach mandatory per team.

NORCECA’s Development Plan represented a significant financial investment, underscoring the importance of sustainable management at the National Federation level. The commission proposed a Sports Management Program for the National Federations aimed at educating local administrators in effective management practices, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Glenn Quinlan, responsible for the Empowerment Program, highlighted his commitment to assisting small National Federations in developing a system that fosters professional growth for athletes, coaches, and referees. He emphasized the importance of creating viable career pathways in volleyball, especially in countries with limited resources. “My role is to bring the experience I have gathered over the years working with small National Federations, helping them not only establish but also sustain their development”.

Additionally, Quinlan announced that the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) is in the planning stages of implementing a Sports Management Program, which could serve as a model for NORCECA’s Development Program in this area.

Professor Nelson Ramírez presented a detailed report on the NORCECA/FIVB Regional Volleyball Development Center in Santo Domingo, which he directs, with details available on the NORCECA website. NORCECA is stepping forward to implement training programs for female coaches and referees in 2025, vie the Development Center, to meet FIVB’s 2026 requirements.

The meeting concluded with Mushtaque Mohammed’s closing remarks, reaffirming “NORCECA’s  dedication to pushing boundaries and advancing volleyball development from success to significance is remarkable and with everybody stepping on board we will not only accomplish our goals but go beyond”.

The final round of commission virtual meetings will take place tomorrow with the Legal Commission.