Players of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join thriving Newbury Volleyball Club

NEWBURY Volleyball Club hosted a sitting volleyball session – but don’t be fooled by the name – sitting volleyball is far from stationary!

It’s fast-paced and, despite the court being smaller, the net lower and the players closer together, it requires agility of thought as well as movement.

While the game is similar to other versions of volleyball, there are some differences, including being able to block the serve and the requirement to have one buttock or an extension of the torso in contact with the floor when touching the ball.

As it is an adapted version of the indoor game, it means disabled players can also participate, which makes it a sport that is truly inclusive.

At the Paralympics, the highest competitive outlet for international sitting volleyball, the sport is played between same-sex teams of athletes with qualifying disabilities.

However, at club level in England, sitting volleyball is played between mixed-sex teams of disabled and non-disabled players – making it an incredibly inclusive sport.

The club, which is based at Trinity School in Newbury, was honoured to welcome Richard Osborne MBE (for services to disability sports).

Osborne has given his time over a period of 15 years to raising awareness of sitting volleyball while also coaching for the The Invictus Games Foundation Team UK, Volleyball England and South Hants Sitting Volleyball Club .

The Invictus Games lends itself to one of Osborne’s proudest moments when he led the Georgian Armed Forces to sitting volleyball gold in 2017 in Toronto.

He is always looking to grow the sport and is hoping that “reading this article might inspire people to get involved in the sport and elevate it to the next level”.

Newbury Volleyball Club also had Jodi Hill helping out coaching the younger players.

Hill is part of the women’s GB Paralympic team who captained GB for the European Championships.

And Pete Saunders, an army veteran Team UK player who narrowly missed out on a sitting volleyball bronze medal at the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany, was also on hand to offer advice.

Newbury Volleyball Club have lots planned for the new season.

The juniors have just taken part in an outdoor grass tournament in Woodley – for many this was their first experience playing in a match.

September 29 sees the recently promoted men’s team take part in the National Shield tournament at home tot Milton Keynes.

The youth tour kicks off on September 22 for all junior players.

There is something for complete beginners to elite players and the club welcomes new players of any age or ability.

Visit their Facebook page or visit www.newburyvolleyball.co.uk