NORCECA Strengthens Development Tools for its National Federations

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, October 1, 2026.- The NORCECA Development Commission held its annual meeting virtually, presenting programs, projects and tools available to National Federations to continue promoting the development of volleyball and beach volleyball in their respective countries.

The meeting was led by NORCECA President Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz and Development Commission President Mushtaque Mohammed, who delivered the opening remarks.

During the session, the impact of Cristóbal Marte’s 25 years of leadership as NORCECA President was highlighted, a period during which the Confederation has made resources and opportunities available to its National Federations to support the growth of volleyball and beach volleyball.

It was also emphasized that each National Federation has the responsibility to make the most of the resources available, adapting them to its needs and using them to strengthen its structures, coaches, athletes and development programs.

Mushtaque Mohammed presented a report on the Commission’s plans and projects, including the opportunities offered through the E-Learning platform as a tool for education and training.

As part of his presentation, Mohammed reflected on NORCECA’s progress over the past 25 years under Marte’s leadership, comparing where the Confederation stood 25 years ago with the progress achieved today.

Mohammed highlighted the significant expansion in the number of countries hosting international competitions. In the past, hosting volleyball events was not possible among AFECAVOL, ECVA and CAZOVA members, but today, hosting opportunities have expanded considerably throughout the Confederation, highlighting the increased development capacity of NORCECA’s Category I and II National Federations.

He also pointed to the tremendous growth of beach volleyball, where hosting events across all three Zonal Associations has become a reality. The increased involvement of smaller National Federations, not only as participants but also as hosts of NORCECA events, was highlighted as a significant achievement and another example of the progress made in developing volleyball and beach volleyball throughout the region.

Glenn Quinlan, President of the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA), presented the Empowerment Plan and Coaching Continuity, focusing on initiatives aimed at strengthening coach education and providing continuity for coaches within the National Federations.

Another key topic was the NORCECA-FIVB International Sports Centre of Excellence, whose report was presented by its Director, Nelson José Ramírez. Among the opportunities available are training camps for national teams in both volleyball and beach volleyball, providing National Federations with an additional resource for the preparation and development of their teams.

NORCECA has two International Centres of Excellence, including another center located in Toronto, Canada, specifically dedicated to beach volleyball, further expanding the resources and development opportunities available to National Federations.

The agenda also included special proposals and training courses presented by Ramírez and Mohammed, reinforcing the Commission’s commitment to continue creating education and development opportunities for NORCECA members.

The session concluded with remarks from Marte and Mohammed, reiterating the importance of National Federations actively utilizing the tools and programs made available by NORCECA to continue raising the level of volleyball and beach volleyball throughout the Confederation.