World ParaVolley is thrilled to unveil the first session in its much-anticipated Five Weeks, Five Experts webinar series this July — a month-long educational journey designed specifically for coaches of sitting volleyball, but open to anyone passionate about driving the game to the next level.
Kicking Off the Series: “Growing the Game with VolleySLIDE”
Date: Thursday, July 3
Time: 20:00 UTC
Speakers:
John Kessel – Former WPV Development Director, FIVB Coach Tutor and USA Volleyball
Matt Rogers – Founder of VolleySLIDE and Coaches Commission Team Leader
Hosting Platform: e-ParaVolley
Opening the series for 2025 is a webinar that gets to the heart of the sport’s global mission: accessibility and growth. Join us for an inspiring and practically focused session led by the sports grassroots double act, John Kessel and Matt Rogers. Both have just returned from Tanzania where they were working with Let’s Keep The Ball Flying to record more educational footage for their “Gear Up, Rise Up” platform.
John will share his 50+ years of experience helping people start volleyball and why he always includes some Sitting Volleyball in any session that he does. He is a prominent figure in the sport known for his work as a coach, educator, and advocate for inclusion. He spent over 30 years with USA Volleyball (USAV), where he served as the Director of Sport Development. In this role, he focused on coaching education, grassroots development, and helping grow the game nationally and internationally.
John is widely respected for his innovative approach to teaching volleyball fundamentals, especially his emphasis on motor learning, game-based training, and player-centered coaching. He has spoken at numerous coaching clinics and conferences around the world, and his texts and presentations have influenced how many coaches think about skill development and practice design today.
Matt Rogers is the current World ParaVolley Coaching Team Leader who has led on the creation and implementation of the new Coach Education Pathway (Level 1 – Level 2 – Mentoring Programme). Prior to that he founded the worldwide sitting volleyball education initiative, VolleySLIDE, which has helped coaches and educators introduce the sport in new and underserved communities since its launch in 2013.
A school teacher who worked previously in sport development and major events, Matt created VolleySLIDE in response to a gap in accessible resources available when getting started or introducing sitting volleyball. What began as a grassroots effort has since grown into a recognised and powerful development tool, now integrated within World ParaVolley’s global education strategy.
This session will highlight:
- The must haves when starting the sport
- Tips and advice on how to prioritise when starting out
- How breaking down barriers is key to participation
- The origins and evolution of VolleySLIDE
- Real-world examples of successful programme launches in new regions
- Practical tools and strategies you can use right away
- How to access and leverage free resources to build sustainable development programs
Whether you’re working with national teams, coaching at the grassroots level, or simply passionate about the game, this session will provide valuable insights and actionable ideas for growing sitting volleyball in any environment.
About the Series
The Five Weeks, Five Experts webinar series is a new WPV Coaches Commission initiative, bringing 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.
How to Join
All participants must register via the e-ParaVolley platform. WPV Level 1 & 2 qualified coaches, as well as those who’ve completed a 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. Register today at e-ParaVolley and be part of the movement.
Photos by Milene van Arendonk