This sites goal is to support youth executives from volleyball clubs and youth trainers, in the broadest sence of the word, in order to bring Dutch volleyball
to a higher level.
The missing link in volleyball – Circulation volleyball
 

Circulation volleyball is a new way of introducing volleyball to young children.

A few years ago Adrie Noij, professional volleyball coach from The Netherlands, noticed that fewer children, especially boys, started to join volleyballclubs. In the Netherlands young boys were more interested in playing soccer, because they could compete when they were only six years old. In our country children can play all kinds of sports in competition, even when they are only six years old, but it was not possible to play volleyball at a competitive level at that age.

We use to say that volleyball was a very difficult sport technically, so you must first train a few years to learn the techniques before you can compete.

 Children want to play, and to be competitive. In The Netherlands we are used to: 'first you have to learn to swim and than you can start another sport'. In Holland, children learn to swim when they are four or five years old.

After swimming lessons the sport choices are very varied. After children make their decision they tend not to change to other sports. Therefore, Adrie Noy thought to himself, we must search for a new method, to attract children from the age of six to play volleyball in competition.

 Holland has many programs to introduce volleyball to children at the age of 10 to 12 and in his opinion these children were already too old. His conclusion was: We are far behind in comparison to other sports. Other sports already had competitions for young children and perhaps it's the same in other countries.

 Children have an intrinsic motivation for games. Adrie Noy’s proposal makes it possible to play volleyball in competition at a very young age. Circulation volleyball is a whole new youth volleyball development model. Adrie Noy thought: we must search for a way that fits to the way children see their own world:

Children want to enjoy sports; they need a lot of physical movement and continuous playful activity.  Children believe in success, individual as well as in a team. Children need to be challenged, and want to play there own game at their own level.

Volleyball in Holland was in the middle of a recession; Adrie Noy saw that the majority of Dutch volleyball players, ninety percent, were playing recreation volleyball. Also, in his opinion a lot of clubs did nothing about youth volleyball development in their own clubs, but relied on scouting for volleyball talent.

Adrie decided to take youth volleyball seriously. Children should start earlier and we must teach them in the right way. Results from a Dutch University survey concluded the same.

In answer to all those questions Adrie Noy developed a system called 'circulation-volleyball'. At first, he thought of circulation-volleyball as nice alternative for the traditional way we play volleyball with young children. He said: the only reason children do not like mini-volleyball is, the way that it is taught by the coaches. Often children had to play like adults. Children are not “miniature adults”; they are developing continuously in all areas (physically, mentally, etc.).  Mini-volleyball needs to be developed and adapted to the age and needs of the children.

Along the way to the top there are many factors that have an influence on the development of an individual talent. This is why Adrie developed the six levels of circulation volleyball. The important thing is to stimulate curiosity and the desire to learn more, to create obtainable goals related to the level of difficulty.

When we decide to start volleyball at an early age, we run the risk of burn outs so the system has to be setup and monitored correctly.

The youth plan must be part of a good youth policy within the club. 

We think 'circulation volleyball' is the missing link between starting volleyball and playing competition. This is not just an idea, we have proven that it works; the club where Adrie Noy is technical volleyball coordinator doesn't have a problem recruiting youth players.

Circulation volleyball:

• The program contents:

• Level 1: age 6-7 Circulation volleyball; throw, catch and move

• Level 2: age 7-8 Circulation volleyball; underhand serve,  

• Level 3: age 8-9 Circulation volleyball; underhand serve, forearm pass, volleyball specific: throwing, catching, and moving.

• Level 4: age 9-10 Mini-Volleyball; overhead pass second ball catch-throw-motion.

• Level 5: age 10-11 Mini-volleyball; overhead pass, backset, dive, play over greater distance.

• Level 6: age 11-12 Mini-volleyball; tennis serve, tip, spike.

RAW BASIC MOVEMENTS WILL BE REFINED LATER IN VOLLEYBALL TECHNIQUES. (SPORTSPECIFIC MOVEMENTS) - Level 3.

• Stretch throw -> becomes tip

• Swing throw -> becomes smash or overhand serve

• Rolling or throwing with one hand, underhand -> becomes underhand serve Pushing -> becomes overhead pass

• Underhand throw with extending arms -> becomes underhand pass
  At this age (6-9) children are not capable of training difficult technical plays. We have to see the exercises as a preparation for future techniques. The method shows us obtainable goals for this age group. Later on we refine the techniques, and because they have been taught the basic movements they will learn faster.

Research shows members who join our club:

• 75 % in the age between 6 – 9 years.

• 20 % in the age between 9 –12 years.

•   5 % older than    12 years

To summarize:

The psychological development perspective of sports children aged six through ten means:

1. General development, all around movement.

2. Aerobic effort

3. The stimulation of creativity and fantasy

4. The stimulation of the desire to learn more

5. The stimulation of general curiosity

6. Limited teamwork, insight is rather difficult

7. Obtainable instructions/goals (related to level of difficulty with helpful materials)

The educational perspective of sports training for children aged six through ten means:

1. training/learning for a specific sport

2. enjoyment/pleasure, continuous playful activity

3. a lot of physical movement- continuous activity

4. equal opportunity for fair play

5. taking turns with each other

6. simplified rules (smaller playing field)

7. easy scoring methods

8. safety

9. balance between:

   1. individual – teamwork     

   2. load - relaxation   

   3. keeping alert to what the youth want for all the team members and not only those most talented without pressure/demand of parents or youth leaders

 Why circulation volleyball?

• Most children take part in swimming education at the age of four or five, after that the sport types are divided. Our culture shows that children join clubs between the age of 6 and 10. Most clubs have nothing to offer.

• It’s the ideal way to introduce volleyball into primary schools. Children can discover volleyball at a very early age.

• Children can play competition and tournaments at an early age like they do by most other sports.

• With beginning at the age of 6 we can start a real bottom-up program.

• The chance that more talented players start volleyball is bigger when you offer them the sport at an early age.

• More boys join clubs.

• The idea is to make the step easier to mini- volleyball.

Results: In our region we have grown from 50 to 200 teams after starting the program in a period of five years. For the entire country the average rate of growth is 15% per year more mini-volleyball players in the first year they started.