Variety of backgrounds, skillsets across Medical Commission members to help serve European Volleyball

The members of the European Medical Commission (EMC) chaired by Dr Jacek Kruczynski came together this week at the home of European Volleyball in Luxembourg for their first plenary meeting of the 2024-2028 term. Since half of the EMC members are ‘newcomers’ to the Commission, this first in-person get-together was designed in such a way that as much information, know-how and experience as possible were shared among the attendees. 

EMC President Kruczynski emphasised the need to exchange views and experiences, and this was achieved through a series of workshops organised on Friday morning – which helped define common practices and standards to apply whenever the EMC members are due to fulfil the key role of Medical Delegate at future Volleyball and Beach Volleyball competitions. This way, even the newly appointed EMC members could have a better understanding of what is expected of them, whilst ensuring consistency in the application of the FIVB Anti-Doping and Medical Regulations. 

The EMC will continue to work on the management of the health of international referees. Such programme has been in place for some time already and the EMC will now identify any potential risk cases and work on measures to address these so that international referees are supported and monitored and can ultimately officiate to the best of their ability.

As soon as the relevant details are clarified, the EMC will be ready to join and support the FIVB with their Injury Surveillance Programme. Meanwhile, EMC members – who boast a very diverse background and thus extremely useful set of skills – have been asked to come up with proposals to work on scientific studies for the good of the sport and to further elevate European Volleyball, while keeping in mind that the health and well-being of athletes and all other stakeholders always remain paramount.