Jiri Popelka inspires coaches to help children develop passion for the game

Jiri Popelka delivered on Thursday afternoon the first of three webinars scheduled for the fifth series of online clinics run by the CEV Technical and Development Department in conjunction with the CEV School Project.

With 58 participants following the webinar, the former Czech international showed several videos including that of what a school tournament in Czech Republic looks like, as well as of Mini Volleyball events.

Popelka emphasised that kids must be kept involved at school and the clubs by providing them with plenty of fun games and a positive social learning environment.

Such an environment would make sure that children WANT to come play at practice on their own (this is what you call internal motivation) without parents or anyone else affecting their decision.

Popelka stressed that by creating an emotional connection to the sport, kids will naturally want to return and such emotional connections will somehow naturally result in real passion for the game.

Jiri ended the webinar with several important pieces of advice, stressing that organisers should design practices for the kids, not for the coaches, since tactics come later, and the introduction of break routines with kids to keep them engaged at all times.

The next webinar of this series hosted by Kerish Maharaj, the Community Outreach Manager and Grassroots Manager for the Ontario Volleyball Association, Canada, is due to follow on May 12, 2021.