17 Jun 2025

Forty-three volleyball  coaches, nine of whom are women, have converged in Gaborone for a five-day development course aimed at updating their knowledge of current trends in the sport.

The course incorporates innovative training methodologies, including areas such as sports psychology, new training techniques and fitness, among others.

Officiating at the event on Monday, Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) instructor, Shadrack Modiakgotla explained that the FIVB Level 2 coaching course was an advanced programme designed for coaches.

Modiakgotla stressed that such platforms fostered collaboration and the exchange of ideas among coaches from different countries. He said this opportunity would also allow participants from Namibia, eSwatini, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Lesotho, to evaluate existing challenges and develop solutions aimed at enhancing the quality of volleyball in the region.

Modiakgotla also said training aimed to equip coaches not only with skills to build strong national teams and access international opportunities but also to read athletes better during competitions. 

He stressed that volleyball contributed significantly to discipline, teamwork and resilience among players.

In her welcoming remarks, Botswana Volleyball Federation president Tsoseletso Magang urged coaches to focus not only on their personal development but also on the broader development of the sport and its athletes. 

She reminded them that as educators, their responsibilities extended beyond coaching to fostering overall athlete growth.

Magang emphasised the importance of vigilance in identifying and addressing issues related to athletes’ harassment, urging coaches to be well-equipped to handle such challenges effectively.

The course is tailored for coaches who already possess Level 1 certification, which serves as an introduction for grassroots coaching. 

Participants include active and former national team players, as well as individuals with Physical Education qualifications specialising in volleyball within the past seven years.  ENDS