UCT’s first sitting volleyball tournament ‘a roaring success’

Volleyball enthusiasts spent their Heritage Day doing what they love: getting the ball over the net – in a different way.

Can you imagine playing volleyball sitting down? For volleyball buffs with a disability, it’s the norm. And the inaugural Sitting Volleyball Tournament proved that with a bit of training (like with everything else) just about anyone can do it, even a novice.

The maiden tournament was hosted by the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) ParaSports Club in partnership with UCT Volleyball and ParaVolley Western Cape – the provincial arm of ParaVolley South Africa, a non-profit organisation that promotes and develops all paravolley sports in the country. Sitting volleyball is a form of volleyball aimed at athletes with disabilities. During games players sit on the court as opposed to standing up and a smaller than usual playing area is demarcated for participants to get the ball over a lower-than-usual centre net.

The tournament was held in the Sports Centre on upper campus on Tuesday, 24 September. And loads of fun was had with Thuma Mina, a club from Khayelitsha, walking away as the ultimate champion.

The ParaSports Club’s Muya Koloko said sitting volleyball clubs signed up to participate through ParaVolley Western Cape, and the organisation’s sporting officials took charge of the games.

“By hosting this tournament, we are hoping to promote sitting volleyball, build cohesion between standing and sitting volleyball clubs so that everyone can benefit from the opportunities available. What’s extra special is that this event takes place in the same venue sitting volleyball was first launched in 2015,” Koloko said.

Demystifying the sport

Koloko said organisers hope to use the event as a platform to demystify any grey areas around the sport and expose sporting enthusiasts without disabilities to the nuts and bolts of sitting volleyball. And by doing so, he said, the process aims to foster a cohesive sporting fraternity, while facilitating and contributing to participants’ growing skills set.

He said their long-term “grand idea” is to ensure the tournament becomes an annual event hosted by different universities in the Western Cape.

“Getting the buy-in from other universities is essential to ensure its sustainability as an annual, long-term event. What we need now is for universities to be brave and to experience this magic first-hand,” he said.

Training day

And participants were well prepared for the big event. Koloko said ParaVolley hosted a special workshop on Monday, 16 September, to get players up to speed with rules specific to sitting volleyball. One important rule, he said, states that no one is allowed to lift their bum from the floor while playing the ball. Other need-to-knows included the dimensions of the court and how players should move around and use their arms.

“If there are smiles and people have enjoyed the day then we have won.”

Koloko said the event also allowed both sitting and standing volleyball buffs an opportunity to connect during a day of fun and learning. And for those who were keen to advance in the sport, as players or sporting officials, ParaVolley Western Cape was on hand to answer any questions. Five teams signed up to participate, including two from UCT Volleyball.

“If there are smiles and people have enjoyed the day, then we have won. Judging by the energy, I think we’ve reached our goal. Now we need people to ask when the next event will take place because that shows enthusiasm and that goes a long way when it comes to sustainability,” he said.

“These events are so important to develop a good sporting culture among our universities because it’s clear that the siloed approach is not working. We need all universities to work together to benefit staff, students and our respective communities.”