FIVB International Centres of Excellence (ICoE) are becoming one of the most powerful training tools in world volleyball. By opening more doors to elite training environments, these ICoE’s are giving more National Federations opportunities to develop their athletes and expand their chances of successfully competing on the international stage.
Built to complement the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme and help drive the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032, the growing network puts top-tier facilities, expert coaching and sports science within reach of all National Federations across the Global Volleyball Movement.
The proof is already on the court. Two recent camps – at the ICoE in Bhubaneswar, India, and Bangkok, Thailand – sent the Indian and Iranian women’s national teams into the 2026 CAVA Women’s Volleyball Championship more prepared than ever.
India turns a visit to an FIVB ICoE into a bronze medal
Following national trials, India’s squad gathered at the FIVB ICoE in Bhubaneswar with a clear mission – rapidly build team identity, define player roles and establish professional standards ahead of the 2026 CAVA Women’s Volleyball Championship.
The camp formed part of the coordinated efforts led by the FIVB, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Steering Committee established to ensure the continuation of volleyball activities in India, enabling the women’s national team to compete despite not originally being included in the country’s 2026 international participation programme.
Despite the limited preparation period, the coaching staff successfully developed a cohesive squad that translated its progress into one of India’s strongest international performances in recent years. The team progressed through the pool stage unbeaten, reached the semifinals in Kathmandu and ultimately secured the bronze medal.
The Bhubaneswar Centre provided accommodation, training facilities and logistical support throughout the training camp, while dedicated local staff ensured the team could maximise every practice session. The experience also identified opportunities to further strengthen the Centre’s high-performance offering, including enhanced sports nutrition services, climate-controlled training conditions, upgraded playing surfaces and additional training equipment.
National Federation Chairman Rohit Rajpal said:
“The training camp at the Bhubaneswar FIVB Centre of Excellence marked an important step in the continued development of the Indian national women’s volleyball team. Despite the limited preparation time, the players and coaching staff demonstrated remarkable commitment and professionalism. The progress shown during the camp and the bronze medal performance at the CAVA Championship are encouraging indicators of the potential of Indian women’s volleyball. We remain committed to providing greater support and opportunities for our athletes to compete at the highest level.”
Head coach Jana Kulan added:
“This camp was not only about preparing for a competition but about establishing a new culture and higher standards for the national team. In a very short period, the players embraced new expectations, improved their understanding of their roles and developed stronger communication and team cohesion. The CAVA Championship demonstrated that with continued investment, better preparation time and a high-performance environment, this team has significant potential for future success.”
Team captain Nandana Valappil reflected on the experience:
“The camp was a valuable learning experience for all of us. It challenged us to improve our discipline, communication and understanding of our responsibilities within the team. The experience of training together under a clear system and winning a bronze medal at the CAVA Championship has motivated us to work even harder for the future.”
Teammate Ayushi Bhandari added:
“The camp helped us grow not only as volleyball players but also as a team. The coaching staff introduced new ideas and higher standards that pushed us outside our comfort zones. The improvements we made in a short time give us confidence that we can achieve even greater results with more preparation and continued support.”
Iran benefits from international competition in Bangkok
At the FIVB ICoE in Bangkok, the Iran women’s national team completed an intensive training camp ahead of the same CAVA championship.
Daily training focused on refining serving, passing, attacking, blocking and defensive systems, alongside strength/conditioning and video analysis sessions.
The camp resulted in significant improvements in technical consistency, tactical execution, physical readiness and team cohesion while providing valuable training and match experience against strong opposition leading into the competition.
A strong Global Volleyball Movement
The FIVB ICoE’s are fast becoming a cornerstone of global volleyball development.
By handing National Federations the keys to elite training environments, modern facilities and international expertise, the Centres close the gap between domestic preparation and international competition. Just as importantly, they fuel knowledge sharing, coach education and long-term athlete development opportunities that ripple far beyond any single camp.
And the network is only getting bigger. As it expands, it’s playing an ever-larger role in delivering the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032 as the Global Volleyball Movement looks to expand and develop Together as One.
