At the first-ever ParaVolley Europe Convention “Activation Through Coaching” in Sarajevo, one of the key focuses was sharing practical knowledge that can help grow sitting volleyball across emerging and established nations alike.
Among the expert presenters was Robin de Haan (Netherlands), an experienced sitting volleyball player, coach, and mentor who works with the Dutch Volleyball Federation (Nevobo) as a project manager dedicated to developing the sport through clinics, workshops, and grassroots initiatives.
Robin also serves as a trainer and coach for a club team competing in the Dutch top tier and grew up immersed in the sport as the son of renowned international coach Jouke de Haan.
Sharing Knowledge to Grow the Game
During the convention, Robin delivered a presentation and practical coaching session focused on building sustainable environments for sitting volleyball development.
Reflecting on the event, he emphasised the importance of bringing together different parts of the community.
“The convention was a great way to bring together coaches, players, developers and policy makers in the field of sitting volleyball both from nations that have a long history in the sport and from nations that are just starting their development journey.”
He also highlighted the value of sharing experience and practical knowledge across borders.
“It was wonderful to be part of the convention and to share my experience with sitting volleyball while helping emerging nations with their development. I’m sure this was just the first step and we will see an increase of countries in Europe and hopefully worldwide starting with sitting volleyball.”
From Theory to Practice
Robin’s sessions combined theoretical insight with practical demonstrations designed to help coaches create effective training environments and introduce the sport to new athletes.
Below are two highlights from his sessions at the convention.
Presentation: Growing the Game – Building the Foundations for ParaVolley to Thrive
Practical Session: Grassroots Training Environment and Coaching Tips
Introducing the “How Do I?” Series
Robin’s sessions form part of a wider initiative being developed by World ParaVolley to capture and share knowledge from experienced coaches and practitioners across the global community.
The “How Do I?” video series will feature experts explaining practical approaches to coaching, development, and programme building, helping federations and clubs learn from each other and accelerate the growth of sitting volleyball worldwide.
By sharing real experiences, practical tools, and lessons learned, the series aims to support both emerging and established programmes in strengthening their pathways and expanding opportunities for athletes.
