TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, May 7, 2025.– In a productive virtual session, the Executive Committee of the Central American Volleyball Association (AFECAVOL) approved key measures to boost volleyball development in the region. Highlights include the official recognition of Final Four tournaments as ranking events for the FIVB World Ranking, the implementation of new competition formats, and confirms El Salvador as host country for the Central American U19 Women’s Championship.
AFECAVOL President Félix Sabio emphasized the need to reach the highest competitive standards in the region. “It is imperative for our zone to pursue the highest standards. If our events don’t grant world ranking points, we limit opportunities for our countries.” In line with FIVB regulations, Sabio stressed the importance of aligning the calendar and competition criteria to avoid disadvantaging any member federation. “We must put aside national interests and think collectively.”
Sabio also stressed that all AFECAVOL member countries must make the effort to participate in the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour stages to be held in Central America. The aim is to promote this discipline throughout the region and secure valuable ranking points for qualification to continental, Pan American, and world events.
Additionally, Sabio shared that during the recent FIVB Board of Administration meeting, it was decided that multi-sport events in the Olympic cycle would not award world ranking points. Consequently, it was confirmed during the discussions that, this year, the Final Four tournaments will be the ranking events for the region, with the Senior Volleyball Cups to be included starting next year to meet FIVB point requirements. The calendar for these ranking events will take place annually between May and October.
New Competition Formats
With the goal of enhancing the sporting spectacle and creating new revenue streams, AFECAVOL agreed to replace the traditional round-robin format with a competition system that includes a preliminary group stage, qualification rounds, semifinals, and medal matches. Each tournament’s regulations will detail the competition format based on the number of participating teams.
El Salvador to Host U19 Women’s Championship
El Salvador has been confirmed as the host of the 15th Central American U19 Women’s Volleyball Championship, scheduled for November 7–15, 2025.
Visibility, Equality, and Development
AFECAVOL will promote and strengthen female representation within the coaching staff of each national team in all women’s competitions in the zone, in compliance with the requirements approved by FIVB and NORCECA. Additionally, members were informed that Carlos Enrique Santis was appointed as the international technical delegate for the 2025 Central American Games in Guatemala, where indoor volleyball will take place from October 15 to 23 at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium, and beach volleyball from October 23 to 31 in Jalapa.
Technical Training and Digital Tools
It was also announced that member countries are required to train at least three referees per country in the use of the electronic scoresheet via the FIVB e-learning platform. This tool, key to the professionalization of volleyball in the region, will be mandatory for referees and scorers in official tournaments. Additionally, during the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup in Guatemala from July 27 to August 4, AFECAVOL VIS staff will receive training as part of the Zonal Development Plan approved during the AFECAVOL General Assembly. This training responds to NORCECA’s push for the standardization and strengthening of zonal associations. The goal is for each national federation, or each zonal association, to have VIS supervisors to reinforce the statistical structure and ensure continuous growth.
In his closing remarks, President Sabio highlighted AFECAVOL’s commitment to seriousness and professionalism. “We must ensure that the majority of countries participate in all competitions and that our authorities recognize that, as a Zonal Association, we are working responsibly, promoting mass participation and raising the competitive level. AFECAVOL will continue to implement technological tools and stay at the forefront of international trends. Our zone is moving forward.”
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