Over the past weeks we have been announcing the topics and speakers for the ‘Five Weeks, Five Experts’ webinar series. This is a new WPV Coaches Commission initiative that brings together world-class speakers to share cutting-edge knowledge aligned with WPV’s educational principles. Hosted by commentator Dave Rogers, each session features a compact, high-value format: a 25–30 minute presentation followed by a dynamic Q&A.
Each session is at 20:00 UTC time every Thursday throughout July. All participants must register for each webinar individually via the e-ParaVolley platform. WPV Level 1 & 2 qualified coaches, as well as those on Part A of one of the new WPV coaching courses, get free access to all live sessions. Others can join for a small fee and participate fully in the Q&A. Optional certificates are also available after completing a short knowledge check as well.
Below outlines the simple steps to sign-up and be part of the movement.
As a reminder of the topics that are part of this years series:
Growing the Game with VolleySLIDE
Join us for an engaging webinar exploring good practices for grassroots Volleyball with John Kessel, USA Volleyball and former WPV Development Director, and Matt Rogers, Founder of VolleySLIDE – the global education initiative dedicated to growing sitting volleyball around the world. Founded in 2013, VolleySLIDE was born out of a need for accessible resources to support the sport’s development. Recognising the lack of materials and support available to those looking to introduce the sport in new regions, VolleySLIDE was created as a centralised platform offering free, adaptable resources. Now integrated into World ParaVolley, the initiative continues to empower coaches, educators, and enthusiasts globally to spark interest and build sustainable programs, making sitting volleyball accessible to all. This session will highlight practical strategies and inspiring success stories on how to introduce and expand the sport in new and underserved regions. Whether you’re a coach, player, or development officer, learn how to spark interest, build sustainable programs, and grow the game where you are.
Coaching to Different Disabilities
Join us for a focused webinar exploring best practices for coaching athletes with disabilities in the fast-paced world of sitting volleyball. Designed for coaches at all levels, this session delves into how different types of impairments can affect training, performance, and team dynamics—and how coaches can adapt to create inclusive yet high-performing environments. Through expert insights and real-world examples, the webinar will provide practical tools to support athletes with a wide range of needs, while fostering a team culture that empowers every player to thrive. Participants will also gain access to a network of like-minded coaches committed to inclusive coaching and athlete development. Whether you’re just starting out in sitting volleyball or looking to refine your inclusive coaching approach, this session will equip you with the knowledge, confidence, and community to help every athlete reach their full potential.
Bench Management to Impact the Game
Join us for a webinar on the topic of “Bench Management to Impact the Game”. Canada’s Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team’s Head Coach, Nicole Ban will discuss some of the insights and strategies that her and her staff have implemented over her 10 years coaching sitting volleyball. From humble beginnings of using a pen and paper on the bench in 2015 to using video delay, live statistics, and attack angles at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Since a lot of the planning and work for a coach happens prior to a match; game planning and the process of presenting the plan to your team will be discussed. The major focus will be developing a clear plan amongst all staff to utilize strengths, creating relationships and communication strategies to perform under pressure, as well as quick thinking and in match decision making. The benefit of having a clear plan while being flexible within it will be a key theme; whether you are on the bench as a coach, an athlete that wants to increase their understanding of sitting volleyball or a staff member behind the scenes, this webinar will be beneficial to you.
Sport Psych for Maximum Performance
Join us for an insightful webinar exploring how sport psychology can be harnessed to maximize performance in athletes of all levels. Grounded in the understanding that mental wellness is the foundation of peak performance, this session will delve into practical strategies for maintaining psychological resilience in high-pressure environments. Drawing from evidence-based approaches in sport psychology, we’ll share tools that coaches can implement to enhance focus, confidence, and motivation within their teams. Whether you’re working with elite competitors or grassroots athletes, this webinar offers actionable techniques to support mental well-being and drive sustained performance gains. Learn how fostering a healthy mindset isn’t just a benefit—but a competitive advantage.
Coach Performance Modelling
Join us for a webinar exploring “Coach Development: taking an ecological systems approach”. The session will explore a transformative framework for enhancing coaching practices by emphasizing the interconnectedness of various factors influencing athlete development. This approach transcends traditional technical and tactical training, advocating for a holistic understanding of the coaching environment. A coach performance model and underpinning framework will be presented, integrating insights from a holistic perspective encouraging coaches to consider the broader ecological context in which athletes and coaches operate Practical examples of how to implement the content in coach education and performance environments while addressing how coaches can support holistic athlete development (wellbeing & performance) will be discussed.
