Five representatives from NI Volleyball recently attended the CEV Coaches Convention 2026 in Portugal, joining coaches from across Europe for three days of learning, collaboration and professional development.
The Northern Ireland delegation included Alex McMullan (Aztecs VC Senior Men’s Coach), Andrea Sugar (Fireblades VC Junior Girls Coach), Robert Rapi (Fireblades VC Senior Women’s Coach), Sarah Scott (Harpur’s Hill Primary School) and Lynne Caskey (Killowen Primary School).
The Convention featured theoretical and practical sessions delivered by internationally recognised coaches Mark Lebedew and John Kessel, alongside strength and conditioning expert Rosana Krajnc. Topics included modern coaching methods, player development, creating effective learning environments, warm-ups, strength training and injury prevention.
The event concluded with interactive working groups, giving coaches the opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences and build connections with colleagues from across Europe.
Alex McMullan reflected on the experience:
“The CEV Coaches Convention helped challenge and rethink how we as a nation coach volleyball. There is an onus on us to take what we have learned and bring it back to Northern Ireland. That’s what it’s all about – making volleyball about community and fun.”
Andrea Sugar also spoke about the benefits of attending:
“It was inspiring to learn from coaches and educators from across Europe. The Convention provided practical ideas that I can bring back to my junior girls programme and helped reinforce the importance of creating positive learning environments for young athletes.”
Robert Rapi highlighted the value of sharing experiences with other coaches:
“The opportunity to exchange ideas with coaches from different countries was invaluable. It gave me fresh perspectives on player development and team culture that I look forward to applying with our senior women’s squad.”
Sarah Scott highlighted the value of learning from coaches across Europe:
“The experience challenged me to reflect on and develop my own coaching approaches while providing fresh ideas and inspiration for the future.”
For Lynne Caskey, the focus on engaging young players stood out:
“I learned lots of new warm-up games and skills to get children moving and falling in love with volleyball. It gave me plenty of ideas that I can use to make sessions more enjoyable and engaging for young players.”
The Convention provided valuable ideas and inspiration that will now be shared across clubs, schools and programmes throughout Northern Ireland. NI Volleyball would like to thank the CEV for delivering another excellent learning opportunity and supporting the continued development of coaches across Europe.
