As the number of young people participating in volleyball continues to grow exponentially, a new Regional Sports Organisation, WECA Volleyball Association, has been initiated to oversee and drive the sport across the west, central and east Auckland.

Volleyball has long been recognised as one of the most popular school sports. However, opportunities to play have been limited due to the lack of capacity at a regional level (in Auckland), leading to community club’s struggling to grow.

This structure will allow west, central and east Auckland to have a locally-focused response to this demand and offer programmes that meet our unique communities' needs. Sport Waitākere Te Kaiwhakahaere Hākinakina (Community Sport Manager), David George, continues.

“As WECA continues to evolve, a host of opportunities will become available to participate in volleyball at all levels. From social volleyball through to club volleyball, alongside the more aspirational goals such as representing the region at the national inter-provincial championships.”

Volleyball has shown itself to be extremely popular at a school sports level, second only to netball in female participation rates. Annually, volleyball experienced 26% growth in playing numbers and bucks the trend of many traditional team sports impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“VNZ, is looking forward to seeing the impact of WECA into the Auckland Volleyball Community, providing further opportunities for participation and development,” states National Partnership Manager Katie Horne. “We are delighted with the engagement and support from the local volleyball community and the Regional Sports Trusts.”

WECA recently took part in its first tournament, the Inter-Provincial Championships as a newly established Regional Sports Organisation.  Under the WECA banner, people participated across the mens, womens, junior mens and junior womens categories.

The WECA Volleyball Association was collaboratively designed and developed by a group of local Volleyball groups and clubs, facilitated by Sport Waitākere, Volleyball NZ and Sport Auckland. The Association’s founding members as follows:

• Waitākere Rebels Volleyball Club
• Sparta Volleyball Club
• Auckland Central Volleyball Club
• Heat Volleyball Club
• Auckland Grammar School
• Auckland Youth Development Volleyball Club
• East Volleyball Club

WECA Volleyball Association for the promotion of volleyball in Waitakere, East, and Central Auckland, New Zealand.

For more information and to learn more please visit here.

Article added: Friday 25 June 2021