Scottish Volleyball is excited to announce the launch of its revamped community volleyball provision with the introduction of Local Leagues. This rebranding of the former Scottish Volleyball District Leagues aims to make volleyball more accessible and enjoyable for players across Scotland.
The Local Leagues initiative is set to revolutionise the way community volleyball is organised and played in Scotland. By lowering costs and reducing demands on District Associations, Scottish Volleyball is making it easier for local volunteers, clubs, teams, and businesses to run leagues. Each Local League will be run by a Local Organiser with the support of the Scottish Volleyball Office team. The goal is ambitious but clear: to ensure that every member of Scottish Volleyball has access to a league within 45 minutes of their location.
Dave Munro, Lead Local Organiser, Perth and Kinross Local League, shared his delight in the growth of talent the leagues could offer: “It is good to see Scottish Volleyball investing in the development of Local Leagues as I feel they offer the ideal opportunity to recruit players of all ages to enjoy playing social volleyball at a level which suits their needs.
“It also provides youngsters with the opportunity of starting their development pathway towards Junior Scottish Volleyball Leagues and Scottish Volleyball Leagues.”
The Local Leagues will primarily feature 6v6 matches, though 4v4 and other formats are also welcome. Leagues can be mixed or single-gender and will typically run from September to December and January to April, or for a single season between October and April. To add excitement to the competition, Scottish Volleyball will host a Local League Championship in December and May for the top teams in each league.
Scottish Head of Development, Blair Pettigrew said: “I am delighted to see the launch of the Scottish Volleyball Local Leagues, the increase in participation in recreational volleyball is a key part of our “We Are Volleyball” strategic plan.
“I feel we have struck the right balance between administration support and local organiser flexibility to maximise the impact of this exciting new project.
“I’d like to thank those early adopters who have taken on responsibility for organising a league in their locality and urge other groups and individuals to come forward and join this exciting movement to allow more people to play volleyball more often right across our country”
To participate, players must become SV Local League members at a cost of £10. This fee is split between a Tier 2 membership and funds dedicated to Local League investment. Each League may set additional entry or participation fees to cover the costs of hall lets. Each league will be hosted on PlayPass and embedded on the Scottish Volleyball website so all fixtures, results, and league tables can be easily viewed.
Development Officer – Community and the staff member leading on Local Leagues, Adam Paton, commented, “I’m incredibly excited to be launching our new Local Leagues brand today. Community Volleyball has been and will remain vital to the work of Scottish Volleyball and I’m really looking forward to supporting it to continue to grow in the East and North of Scotland and to bring new Local Leagues to areas such as Glasgow, Ayrshire, and Renfrewshire.”
Scottish Volleyball is committed to supporting the Local Leagues with a comprehensive package of resources. Each league will receive medals, trophies, and coverage for matches. Fixtures, results, and league tables will be managed through the League Management platform, which will also facilitate automatic updates and ensure that results are shared on the Scottish Volleyball website and social media.
In addition, Local League members will enjoy a 10% discount on Coaching and Officiating courses. Districts will also have the opportunity to host a Coaching and Officiating course annually, provided minimum sign-ups are met.
Scottish Volleyball is excited about this new chapter and the opportunity it presents to grow the sport across Scotland. With the Local Leagues, we aim to foster a vibrant community of volleyball enthusiasts and provide a platform for competitive and recreational play.
The creation of additional Local Leagues is something that is strongly welcomed! Simply contact the Development team on where the team will support a local group to start their own league! For more information about the Local Leagues and how to get involved, please visit the Local Leagues section on the Scottish Volleyball website or contact your local District Association.