School Project activities continue at full speed in Croatia

The Croatian Volleyball Association, in close cooperation with the Croatian School Sports Association, continues to inspire youngsters to play Volleyball with the help of the CEV School Project ‘Play Volleyball – Grow with it’.

Most recently, the Project Coordinator for Western Croatia, Mr Dragan Salapura, visited the Rivarela elementary school in the city of Novigrad, with the session organised for the local students including a demonstration of many Volleyball skills and elements, fun games, and coordination activities with balloons as well. Mr Salapura could run this masterclass with the help and support of PE teacher, former Volleyball player and now coach Marina Galić. The region of Istria has traditionally produced many talented players, including a share of those playing for the Croatian women’s national team.

The Croatian Volleyball Association is currently expanding their School Project activities across the whole country, including the southern section of Croatia. Recently, Regional Coordinator Antonio Surać visited two schools in the city of Zadar, starting with the elementary school named after Bartol Kašić where Professor Josip Knežević deserved a very warm welcome to the Volleyball delegation. The school with which the Zadar Volleyball Club has been cooperating for years did show their full commitment to the project, with boys and girls enjoying a practice that will greatly help them in their further development.

The second visit was to elementary school Zadarski otoci where 22 children showed their desire to learn more about the game in a truly great atmosphere. They all looked overjoyed after receiving new balls and a couple of boys immediately after the training expressed their desire to join the local men’s volleyball club Zadar.

The Croatian Volleyball Association will visit these two schools again next month to see the progress and help them with the further development of their pupils.

Later in October, Mr Surać visited another primary school in the southern section of the country, namely the school named after Šime Budinić. More than 20 children from the fifth grade enjoyed the exercises prepared by Mr Surać. The Croatian Volleyball Association had intentionally chosen this school since the men’s and women’s Volleyball club from the city of Zadar have had a long-term cooperation with this institution. Every year girls and boys from the school decide to continue playing Volleyball in the club. However, with the balls and nets provided via the CEV School Project, the local students have now even better equipment and chances to develop their skills during regular PE classes.

The last activity organised in October featured Mr Salapura, a renowned coach of youth teams currently working with the Poreč volleyball club, visiting Vladimir Nazor elementary school. Taking into consideration his coaching qualities, the organisers knew that it would be a top-notch visit. Professor Sanja Matukina, a longtime Volleyball enthusiast, was the main host at the school. She had made sure that the kids were already familiar with Volleyball, and this greatly helped with the delivery of the class. More than 50 kids from grade 5 to 8 joined in the session, and the school received balls and bands to make sure that such activities will continue and maybe – who knows? – some of the local students will one day play for the Croatian national teams or stay connected with Volleyball as statisticians, coaches, etc.