The road to the Beach Pro Tour stop in Gstaad began in Toulouse for the Brazil’s Men’s Beach Volleyball National Team. From 21-28 June, the squad trained at CREPS Toulouse, home to the Centre National de Beach-Volley de la FFvolley – one of the newest additions to the FIVB’s growing network of International Centres of Excellence (ICoE). The camp was part of the team’s build-up to the Beach Pro Tour Gstaad Elite competition, and gave them a chance to train alongside several of France’s top beach volleyball teams in the lead-up to competition.
The week was built around daily joint sessions with the French squads: game-based offensive work, practice matches, strength and conditioning, video analysis, and regular technical meetings between the two coaching staffs. It wasn’t a one-way exchange though – the Brazilian delegation also ran a knowledge-sharing session for young French athletes and coaches, passing on what they have learned playing at the top level of the sport.
They had the full centre at their disposal throughout the week – beach courts, a strength and conditioning gym, recovery and medical support, sports science and physiotherapy services, and on-site accommodation, all in one location. That kind of access allowed the team a fantastic environment to run a complete preparation programme.
“The training camp at CREPS Toulouse exceeded our expectations,” said head coach Brazilian Caio Lopes. “Sharing the daily routine with the French National Team created a highly competitive atmosphere that challenged our athletes and promoted valuable technical and tactical exchanges. Experiences like this are essential for the continued development of our team.”
Players felt the same. “The excellent facilities and the opportunity to train with the French National Team created a high-level environment that helped us improve every day,” said André Stein. Teammate Renato Carvalho added: “The quality of the infrastructure, the organisation, and the daily training environment allowed us to maximise our preparation. It strengthened our confidence and elevated our level of performance.”
CREPS Toulouse’s recognition as an ICoE means it now joins a network of centres around the world. The idea is simple – pair strong facilities with the chance to train alongside a capable host team, and let the coaching exchange happen naturally along the way. The programme is now fully operational, and Brazil’s week in Toulouse is a good example of what it looks like in practice.
National Federations interested in training at an ICoE can find out more about the application process here: https://www.fivb.com/empowerment-development/centres-of-excellence/nf-access-to-icoe/
Photos courtesy of the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation.
