Jamaica coaches serve off training in Brazil

Kingston, Jamaica, September 15, 2012 – The head coaches of the Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) male and female national teams, Steve Davis and Gatasheu Bonner, will be embarking on a coach development program in Brazil that begins today and runs through to October 2.

This focus on coach development is a continuation of JaVA's mission to transform volleyball and beach volleyball into a major sport in Jamaica.

The development opportunity for the coaches was initiated when JaVA president, Major Warrenton Dixon, attended the FIVB World Congress in Italy in 2010.

"At the Congress I had discussions with Dr Ary Graca, president of Brazil Volleyball Federation, regarding the provision of developmental assistance to Jamaica and he was very amenable to the request," Dixon stated in a media release yesterday.

"After necessary follow-up planning and preparation we are now at the point of execution," the JaVA boss continued.

Davis pointed out that Brazil is the world's most successful volleyball and beach volleyball nation and he was of the opinion that the South American nation's record puts them in a position to be the authority on coaching both genre of the sport.

"I intend to soak up as much as I can, not only from a coaching perspective but also administratively," Davis was quoted as saying in the release.

Bonner was equally enthusiastic about the opportunity, stating that he expected the knowledge garnered from the exposure to significantly enhance and improve his skills and position him to continue contributing to the positive direction in which volleyball and beach volleyball is headed in Jamaica.

The tickets for the trip were sponsored by the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation. The Brazil Volleyball Federation will cover the cost of accommodation, meals and ground transportation.

Major Dixon revealed that further opportunities exist for other coaches and administrators to receive this kind of exposure in training, but funding for airfare remains a limitation.