WHAT IS PLAY VOLLEY?

Traditionally, many children discover volleyball later than other sports.

PlayVolley helps change that by creating an enjoyable starting point where children can:

• Have fun
• Be active
• Make friends
• Build confidence
• Learn volleyball through play

 PlayVolley is designed for:

• Children aged 5–12
• First-time participants
• Children new to volleyball
• Children looking to try a new sport
• Children of all abilities and experience levels
• Children who want to be active, make friends and have fun

No volleyball experience is required.

Everyone is welcome.

 Every PlayVolley session is built around movement, fun and participation.

Sessions typically include:

• Fun warm-up games
• Ball handling activities
• Movement and coordination challenges
• Team-based activities
• Modified volleyball games
• Skill-building through play
• Group challenges and celebrations

Children spend less time standing in lines and more time actively participating.
Our goal is to maximise:

• Fun

 Through PlayVolley, children will begin developing:

• Throwing and catching skills
• Hand-eye coordination
• Movement and agility
• Communication and teamwork
• Confidence and resilience
• Fundamental volleyball skills
• Social skills and friendships

More importantly, they will learn that being active can be enjoyable, rewarding and fun.

The behaviour displayed by parents has a significant impact on their child’s enjoyment, continued participation, and potential dropout from sport.

Research conducted by the University of South Australia and Flinders University shows that:

• 69% of players report experiencing negative behaviour from their own parents.
• 18% of children report that their parents have said negative things about their performance after games.
• 17% of children report that their parents yell at referees, while 70% of referees report experiencing verbal abuse from parents.
• Only 50% of coaches return after their first year, with parent-coach conflict and pressure being major contributing factors.
• The post-game car ride home is often reported as the most stressful part of a child’s sporting experience.
• Between 50% and 75% of children drop out of sport because it is no longer fun.
• Between 30% and 45% of children drop out due to excessive pressure from parents.
• Between 20% and 35% of children drop out because of negative parent behaviour.

We know that 70% to 85% of children participate in sport because they want to have fun.
For most children, winning ranks 10th or lower on the list of reasons they play sport.
Children who report high levels of enjoyment are three times more likely to continue participating in sport.
We encourage parents to support and reinforce the reasons children choose to play sport.

Be your child’s biggest supporter and help nurture their love of the game. Tell them:

“I’m proud of you.”
“I love watching you play.”

Focus on:

• Encouraging effort
• Respecting coaches
• Supporting volunteers
• Modelling calm behaviour and good sportsmanship
• Celebrating learning, improvement, and personal growth

Please just be Mum and Dad. Support them, love them, and protect their passion for the game.

We ask that all parents respect and value the role of coaches. A simple “thank you” can go a long way.
PlayVolley welcomes and encourages parent involvement and volunteering. If you have the opportunity, ask your coach if they need any assistance or support.
When children see positive relationships between parents and coaches, everyone benefits. Coaches feel supported, children have a better sporting experience, and as an added bonus, kids love having their parents involved in their sport.

Please respect and appreciate your coaches.

• Do not undermine them.
• Do not abuse them.
• Offer assistance where possible.
• Acknowledge the time and effort they give to your child’s development.

At PlayVolley, we believe parents play a vital role in creating a positive sporting experience for every child.

Children are more likely to enjoy sport, develop confidence, build resilience, and continue participating when they feel supported rather than pressured. We ask all parents to contribute to a positive sporting environment by:

• Encouraging effort, learning, and enjoyment over results.
• Being positive and supportive before, during, and after sessions.
• Respecting coaches, referees, volunteers, players, and other families.
• Allowing coaches to coach and avoiding instruction from the sidelines.
• Celebrating improvement, participation, and personal growth.
• Demonstrating good sportsmanship and calm behaviour at all times.
• Supporting your child’s love of the game, regardless of the outcome.

We ask parents not to:

• Yell from the sidelines.
• Coach their child during sessions (unless you are a parent helper).
• Criticise players, coaches, referees, or volunteers.
• Place unnecessary pressure on children to perform or win.
• Compare their child to other players.
• Engage in aggressive, abusive, or disrespectful behaviour.

Remember, your child is far more likely to remember how you made them feel than the session or result of a match.

The most important role of a sporting parent is not to be another coach, but to be a source of support, encouragement, and unconditional love. A simple “I’m proud of you” or “I loved watching you play” can have a greater impact than any technical feedback.

Together, we can create an environment where children have fun, feel safe, and develop a lifelong love of volleyball.

I will support, encourage, and respect my child, their teammates, coaches, referees, and volunteers.
I will focus on effort, enjoyment, and learning rather than results.
I will help create a positive environment where every child can thrive and enjoy their volleyball journey. 

We Care is a Volleyball Australia initiative focused on creating positive, safe, and enjoyable sporting environments for all participants.

To learn more about the program, please click here.