We Lead Volleyball Together

Despite volleyball's popularity among girls in Europe, a noticeable gap exists in leadership roles, with women less represented as trainers, coaches, board members and referees. To address these goals, we started the We Lead Volleyball Together (WLVT) project, which is made possible with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. The project started in January 2024 and lasted until June 2026.

Background

After research, four critical gaps were pinpointed that were addressed in order to develop more future female leaders in volleyball:

1. Glass ceiling: Females face significant barriers in advancing to leadership positions within the volleyball community.
2. Gender and age imbalance: there's an imbalance among sports volunteers, not only among male and female volunteers, but also among individuals under 25 and their older counterparts.
3. Education and knowledge gap: there is a lack of good education programs for youth to develop skills through sport.
4. Sports offerings mismatch: a discrepancy exists between the preferences of youth and the offerings provided by clubs/federations, leading to a lack of engagement and participation.

Objectives

The project set four objectives to tackle, each designed to make meaningful changes in the world of volleyball, filling the gaps described above. These goals were:

• To stimulate female leadership and increase the autonomy and leadership skills of youth between the age of 16-20 years (especially girls);
• To implement, test and adjust the volleyball young leaders' program in four EU countries and at the same time organize volleyball activities that match the needs of teenagers;
• To create more awareness and interest within volleyball clubs and federations about the relevance of gender-balanced youth participation in decision-making;
• To stimulate and create more knowledge transfer about youth involvement and giving youth responsibilities in volleyball.

From vision to practice

To prepare young people for leadership roles within their clubs, the partners developed a comprehensive Young Leaders Programme. This included a structured curriculum, handbooks for Young Leaders, club mentors and national facilitators, a workbook containing leadership exercises, as well as implementation and evaluation guidelines. The programme was subsequently piloted in practice, continuously evaluated and refined based on feedback from participants, mentors and clubs.

Results that go beyond the numbers

To fill in the gaps and achieve the established objectives, several activities were conducted during the project. The figures demonstrate the broad impact of the project. During the project period, 137 Young Leaders, 33 club mentors and 8 national facilitators in 4 countries were trained. The programme was implemented in 23 volleyball clubs, reaching more than 1,150 young people through a wide variety of activities.

However, the numbers tell only part of the story. The real impact lies in the personal growth experienced by the participants. By taking responsibility for organising club activities, they discovered that leadership is best learned by doing. They developed skills in teamwork, planning, communication, networking, problem-solving and self-reflection. At the same time, they gained a much deeper understanding of everything required to keep a sports club running, leading to greater appreciation for the volunteers who make that possible every day.

Young people making a difference

Throughout the project, the Young Leaders organised a diverse range of activities within their clubs. These included youth training camps, family volleyball events, Glow in the Dark volleyball tournaments, Olympic-inspired club festivals and trips to international volleyball matches. Each activity offered participants the opportunity to take initiative, work together and turn their own ideas into reality.

This practical experience proved to be one of the programme's greatest strengths. Young people were trusted with real responsibilities and discovered that they could genuinely influence the future of their clubs. As a result, they not only developed as individuals, but also became more engaged members of their volleyball communities.

Lessons learned

After two and a half years, four key lessons have emerged. 

• First, leadership develops primarily through practical experience. Young people grow when they are given meaningful responsibilities while receiving guidance from committed club mentors. This support is essential in helping young leaders realise their full potential.
• Second, youth participation requires a conscious commitment from clubs. Young people do not automatically step into leadership positions; they need to be actively invited, trusted and encouraged to contribute. 
• The project also demonstrated that practical, easy-to-use materials are far more effective within volunteer-based organisations than extensive theoretical manuals. 
• Finally, the international partnership proved to be invaluable. By combining expertise, practical experience and academic research, the partners created a programme that can be successfully implemented across different national contexts.

An investment that continues to deliver

The We Lead Volleyball Together project has achieved far more than the development of educational materials or the organisation of successful activities. It has enabled young people to discover their strengths, embrace responsibility and become more closely connected to their clubs. In doing so, clubs are investing not only in the personal development of individual young people, but also in their own long-term future.

Ultimately, strong clubs are built not only by talented players on the court, but by committed people who are willing to take responsibility off the court as well. We Lead Volleyball Together has shown that this new generation is already here. By giving young people trust, guidance and opportunities to lead, they can become the leaders that volleyball will continue to need for many years to come.

Partners

• Norwegian Volleyball Federation (NVBF) supports 313 clubs and over 22,000 members, from grassroots to elite volleyball. Its focus on social development and leadership, particularly among young women, strongly aligns with the project’s goal of increasing diversity in decision-making roles.
• Danish Volleyball Federation (VODE) represents 247 clubs and over 16,000 members. Its experience in developing volunteers and young leaders, combined with its strong club network, supports the testing and implementation of new youth leadership concepts.
• Icelandic Volleyball Federation (BLI) supports 29 clubs and over 3,500 participants. Its focus on developing players, coaches and officials, including renewed education programs, aligns well with promoting leadership among young people aged 16–19.
• The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) offers International Sport Management and promotes sustainability, diversity and inclusion through sport. Its expertise in leadership education and increasing female participation in sports management contributes directly to the project’s objectives.

Contact

Do you want to know more about the project? Please feel free to contact Dorien Tenhaeff via dorien.tenhaeff@nevobo.nl or 030-3077733.

We Lead Volleyball Together is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.