Club profile - South Hants SVC

Former player and Head Coach Richard Osborne shares insights about the club's origins, their most memorable achievements, and his advice for anyone interested in starting out in sitting volleyball.

How did your sitting volleyball club start?

In 2009, a group of amputees from Portsmouth attended what was then known as the Amputee Games (now the LimbPower Games) at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

After trying a variety of adapted sports, the group found sitting volleyball particularly enjoyable. Inspired by their experience, they returned home and created the Portsmouth Sitting Volleyball Club.

Among the first club members were Steve Bailey, Mike Stoneman, Charlotte Hughes, Dave Williamson and Charlie Duff.

Its first training session was held on 15th October 2009 - and the club has been active ever since, making it one of the longest-established sitting volleyball clubs in the country. In 2016, the club rebranded as South Hants SVC.

What is your most memorable achievement as a club?

While the club has enjoyed success on court, notably two-times finalists in the Grand Prix series, its greatest achievement has been its continued existence over 15 years.

Indoor volleyball is already a niche sport, and sitting volleyball even more so. Awareness is low, and encouraging participation remains a challenge.

However, we've overcome tough times when only three or four people attended training, and now we have a stable group with good regular turnout.

To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we held a competition in Portsmouth that saw strong attendance and I think stands out as one of our more memorable moments.

What is your ambition for the club?

Our ambitions for the club align with those of the sport as a whole. Our primary goal is to continue growing and remain accessible to all, particularly those with disabilities who may otherwise face exclusion.

We also aim to reduce the barriers to playing sitting volleyball, ensuring that individuals struggling financially can still participate. Through our hardship fund we can alleviate the financial burden by covering costs such as kit, training, competition entry fees, and registration.

Why should people try sitting volleyball?

Because it's fun yet challenging, sociable yet competitive, sitting volleyball offers a level playing field where both disabled and non-disabled people can participate equally. Additionally, it is one of the few team sports played without the aid of a chair, which can be truly liberating.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to start sitting volleyball?

Contact Volleyball England to find out where your nearest club is and get to a training session as soon as possible!

Find out more details about a club near you by clicking here and scrolling down to sitting team profiles.