HAVANA, Cuba, February 25, 2024. – The International Level I Volleyball Coaches Course was assessed successful, with Cuban Iván Ruiz Bacallao emerging as the top performer.
After five days of intense sessions of theoretical and practical classes and tests, the 29 candidates happily passed their exams, with 13 of them coming from Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Sri Lanka.
Nelson Ramírez, director of the NORCECA-FIVB Regional Volleyball Development Center in Santo Domingo, stated, “It has been a great experience and satisfaction due to the level of organization of the Cuban Federation presided over by Ariel Sainz”.
“Everything went as planned, with perfect coordination, excellent personnel from the Cuban Federation, active participation from the students, all of whom passed due to the quality of their work, and the assistance of the national and youth teams, who acted as demonstrators during classes”.
“We are very pleased, and NORCECA, led by president Cristóbal Marte, is always ready to support the Cuban Federation in these training initiatives, and there is the possibility of Cuba hosting a Level III course”, he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Antonio Rizola, an FIVB Instructor who for the second year has been conducting an International Level I Course in this city, expressed his joy and excitement at returning to a country that means a lot to the world of volleyball.
“I am privileged. I am sure that these students from this course, who, like last year’s, have shown themselves to be very willing, polite, and technically skilled, will represent volleyball well in the world. I thank Ariel Sainz and Nelson Ramírez for their confidence in sending me back to Cuba”.
Young Iván Ruiz, on the other hand, thanked the Cuban Federation and INDER for the opportunity to improve and grow as a coach to pass on knowledge to his students.
“I also appreciate the dedication of the instructors and support staff for the success of the course, and it is a gift to my students from the Cerro Pelado Sports Initiation School in the province of Camagüey, who represent the purpose of my life in this wonderful sport” he stated.
Ariel Sainz, head of the FCV, expressed his joy at the satisfaction of the students, Rizola, and Ramírez for the course results, attention to detail, organization, and content.
“This further commits us, and we are already thinking about growing in terms of participants and instructors in the future. Last year, 35 Cubans graduated, and now 16, which creates a pool of professionals who will continue to serve the Federation to maintain a successful path for volleyball in our country” he said.
During the closing ceremony, Cuban instructors Justo Morales and Argelio Hernández were recognized for their support in the class program content.
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