The programme of this year’s CEV General Assembly included for the first 
time also a series of panel discussions – which turned out as an ideal opportunity for National Federations to share their experience and ideas about a number of strategic items in the daily management and governance of Volleyball in their respective countries.
With the help of experts/lecturers, the attendees could familiarise with subjects as diverse as social media, the CEV “Volleyball at School project”, the competition formats designed for future championships, as well as good governance and access to EU funding.
It was the intention of the CEV’s leadership to provide National Federations with a platform where to exchange views about such strategic areas in order to stimulate a further growth of the game at all levels and across the whole of Europe.
The panel discussions were an opportunity to review where Volleyball currently stands in each of these areas and to provide useful information to all National Federations in attendance, thus supporting their efforts to develop Volleyball, with a focus on the grassroots level and the involvement of the younger generations, including school pupils.
Earlier this year the CEV launched their “Volleyball at School” project in the two countries – Azerbaijan and Georgia – hosting the 2017 women’s EuroVolley and now all National Federations are encouraged to draft their plans to bring Volleyball closer to as many kids as possible via its inclusion in the programme of PE classes or as an after-school activity.
On the other hand, National Federations can also apply for EU funding to grow the game in their countries, thus expanding their potential sources of income and the resources available for running their development programmes.
Social networks are obviously a key tool in bringing to the youngsters the excitement that goes with Volleyball as well as its core values – and this discussion panel was a platform to share with the attendees insights into the latest trends in social and digital communication.