13th School Project webinar series offers holistic perspective on youth development

The 13th series of webinars run by the CEV Development Department in conjunction with the CEV School Project ‘Play Volleyball – Grow with it’ delivered two complementary sessions specifically addressed to grassroots Volleyball coaches and PE teachers, thereby offering a holistic perspective on youth development that combined the human, psychological and educational dimensions of coaching with the physical and technical foundations of athletic preparation.

Paulina Maj-Erwardt, a former member of the Polish national team turned sports development strategist, focused on the broader role of sport in the development of young people. Her session explored how coaching behaviour, communication, and expectations directly influence learning, motivation, and long-term engagement. A key message that resonated strongly with participants was that “pressure limits learning”, and that young athletes develop best in environments where mistakes are part of the process rather than a source of fear. The former libero player also underlined the importance of prioritising direction before power, encouraging coaches to guide young players with clarity, patience, and purpose rather than an early focus on results. Her approach positioned Volleyball as a powerful educational tool that builds confidence, belonging and resilience – not only performance.
 
Rosana Krajnc, a renowned Slovenian strength and conditioning coach, delivered a highly practical session on youth athletic development, movement literacy, and age-appropriate strength and conditioning. Drawing on her extensive experience with both youth and senior national teams, she emphasised long-term athlete development, technique before load, and injury prevention. One of her core messages was that “a young athlete must train voluntarily, without pressure from parents”, highlighting the importance of intrinsic motivation and enjoyment in sustaining participation. 

During the Q&A, when asked about the balance between exercise and rest, Krajnc noted that she is often less concerned about overtraining than about inactivity, observing that in today’s world, the two hours of practice can sometimes be the only meaningful movement children get. This remark was met with clear agreement from the audience and sparked further discussion among coaches and PE teachers.
 
Both webinars generated active engagement, with participants asking questions, sharing reflections, and expressing appreciation for the practical, relevant, and thought-provoking content provided by both speakers. The positive feedback confirmed the value of combining different perspectives on youth development within the same webinar series. 

The recordings of both sessions will be available here, thereby allowing coaches and educators who could not attend live to access the content as well.