Confédération Européenne de Volleyball
Encyclopedia
Confédération Européenne de Volleyball (CEV) is the continental governing body
for the sport of volleyball
in Europe
. Its headquarters
are located in Luxembourg
, Luxembourg
.
Volleyball was invented in the USA, but became for the first time an extremely popular sport in eastern Europe
, after being introduced by American soldiers during World War I
. By the middle of the century, it had already spread through the rest of the continent as well. Many techniques and tactics that are commonplace in modern volleyball have been allegedly introduced by European teams. Amongst others, it would be worthy of note here: blocking (Czechoslovakia, 1938); penetration of the setter, which eventually led to the development of the so called 5-1 system (USSR, 1949); forearm pass (Czechoslovakia, 1958); and backrow attack (Poland, 1974).
The long and significant tradition of the sport in the continent may at least partially account for the administrative structure employed by the CEV, that rivals with the FIVB's in size and comprehensiveness. It is the biggest of all volleyball confederations, and the one that organizes the largest number of annual competitions and tournaments. As of 2005, its headquarters are located in Luxembourg
, Luxembourg
.
As the presiding entity over European volleyball federations, the CEV organizes continental competitions such as the prestigious European Championship (first edition, 1948), the CEV Cup and the European League. It participates in the organization of qualification tournaments for major events such as the Olympic Games or the World Championship
, and of international competitions hosted by one of its affiliated federations.
is considered the strongest continent in the field of volleyball. The CEV has usually more spots reserved in international competitions than any other confederation.
Russia, which inherited most of the players and coaches from former USSR and CIS
, has arguably the most stable volleyball programme, supporting top level women's and men's teams. The same may be said of Italy, although only in later years women's volleyball was fully developed in this country.
Serbia, Poland, Italy, Bulgaria and The Netherlands must also be counted as continental forces in men's volleyball. At a lower level of play, one may consider a few other teams with some tradition in this realm, such as France; and at an even lower level, but still capable of occasionally upseting stronger teams, Germany, Spain,Greece and possibly Portugal.
Competition is less tough in the domain of women's volleyball. Russia, Serbia and Italy are rarely threatened by any other team in major competitions. Apart from these three, Germany, which has drawn players both from West
and East Germany, may be viewed as the next most traditional European team. With more inconsistent results and often depending on the excellence of individual players, one may also take into consideration: The Netherlands, Romania and more recently Poland and Turkey.
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
for the sport of volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Its headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
are located in Luxembourg
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
.
Profile
Although the CEV was only formed on October 21, 1963, volleyball became popular in Europe many years before. The majority of the teams that attended the Congress which eventually lead to the foundation of the FIVB in 1947 were from this continent. In fact, the foundation itself is supposed to have been a move on the part of European national federations.Volleyball was invented in the USA, but became for the first time an extremely popular sport in eastern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, after being introduced by American soldiers during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. By the middle of the century, it had already spread through the rest of the continent as well. Many techniques and tactics that are commonplace in modern volleyball have been allegedly introduced by European teams. Amongst others, it would be worthy of note here: blocking (Czechoslovakia, 1938); penetration of the setter, which eventually led to the development of the so called 5-1 system (USSR, 1949); forearm pass (Czechoslovakia, 1958); and backrow attack (Poland, 1974).
The long and significant tradition of the sport in the continent may at least partially account for the administrative structure employed by the CEV, that rivals with the FIVB's in size and comprehensiveness. It is the biggest of all volleyball confederations, and the one that organizes the largest number of annual competitions and tournaments. As of 2005, its headquarters are located in Luxembourg
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
.
As the presiding entity over European volleyball federations, the CEV organizes continental competitions such as the prestigious European Championship (first edition, 1948), the CEV Cup and the European League. It participates in the organization of qualification tournaments for major events such as the Olympic Games or the World Championship
Volleyball World Championship
The FIVB World Championship is an international men's and women's indoor volleyball competition. It is the oldest and most important of all the international events organized by the FIVB and must not be confused with the FIVB World Cup or the FIVB World League/FIVB World Grand Prix.-Origins:The...
, and of international competitions hosted by one of its affiliated federations.
Teams
EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
is considered the strongest continent in the field of volleyball. The CEV has usually more spots reserved in international competitions than any other confederation.
Russia, which inherited most of the players and coaches from former USSR and CIS
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
, has arguably the most stable volleyball programme, supporting top level women's and men's teams. The same may be said of Italy, although only in later years women's volleyball was fully developed in this country.
Serbia, Poland, Italy, Bulgaria and The Netherlands must also be counted as continental forces in men's volleyball. At a lower level of play, one may consider a few other teams with some tradition in this realm, such as France; and at an even lower level, but still capable of occasionally upseting stronger teams, Germany, Spain,Greece and possibly Portugal.
Competition is less tough in the domain of women's volleyball. Russia, Serbia and Italy are rarely threatened by any other team in major competitions. Apart from these three, Germany, which has drawn players both from West
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and East Germany, may be viewed as the next most traditional European team. With more inconsistent results and often depending on the excellence of individual players, one may also take into consideration: The Netherlands, Romania and more recently Poland and Turkey.
Affiliated Federations
As of 2007, the following national federations were affiliated to the CEV:| Code | Country | Federation |
|---|---|---|
| ALB | Albanian Federation of Volleyball Albanian Federation of Volleyball Albanian Federation of Volleyball is the governing body of volleyball in Albania.The "Superleague" teams are:Minatori is the 2011 champion, of the women's league.Teuta is the 2011 champion, of the men's league.... |
|
| AND | Federació Andorrana de Voleibol | |
| ARM | Fédération de Volleyball de la Republique d'Armenie | |
| AUT | Österreichischer Volleyball Verband | |
| AZE | Azərbaycan Voleybol Federasiyası | |
| BLR | Bielorusskaia Federatsija Volejbola | |
| BEL | Fédération Royale Belge de Volleyball | |
| BIH | Odbojkaški savez Bosne i Hercegovine | |
| BUL | Bulgarska Federatsiya Volejbol Bulgarska Federatsiya Volejbol Bulgarska Federatsiya Volejbol is the governing body of volleyball in Bulgaria.The "SuperLeague" teams are:*VC CSKA Sofia*VC Lukoil Neftochimik*VC Levski Sikinko*VC Prin Balkanstroy*VC Marek Union Ivkoni*VC Cherno More BASK*VC Arda*VC Montana... |
|
| CRO | Hrvatski odbojkaški savez Croatian Volleyball Federation The Croatian Volleyball Federation is the governing body of volleyball in Croatia. It is based in Zagreb.It organizes the following volleyball leagues:* 1A Men's Volleyball League... |
|
| CYP | Kypriaki Omospondia Petosfairisis Cyprus Volleyball Federation Cyprus Volleyball Federation is the governing body of volleyball in Cyprus... |
|
| CZE | Český Volejbalový Svaz | |
| DEN | Dansk Volleyball Forbund | |
| ENG | Volleyball England Volleyball England Volleyball England, is the trading name for the English Volleyball Association Limited or EVA, and is the controlling body for volleyball in England. It picks the national team, runs the National Volleyball League, National Knock-Out Cup and Student Cup and organises the training and assessment of... |
|
| ESP | Real Federación Española de Voleibol | |
| EST | Eesti Võrkpalli Liit | |
| FER | Flogbóltssamband Føroya | |
| FIN | Suomen Lentopalloliitto F. Y. | |
| FRA | Fédération Française de Volleyball | |
| GEO | Georgian Volleyball Federation | |
| GER | Deutscher Volleyball Verband | |
| GIB | Gibraltar Volleyball Association | |
| GRE | Elliniki Omospondia Petosferiseos | |
| GRL | Kalaallit Nunaanni Volleyballertartut Kattuffiat | |
| HUN | Magyar Röplabda Szövetség | |
| IRL | Volleyball Association of Ireland | |
| ISL | Blaksamband Íslands | |
| ISR | Igud HaKadur'af BeIsrael | |
| ITA | Federazione Italiana Pallavolo | |
| LAT | Latvijas Volejbola Federâcija | |
| LIE | Liechtensteiner Volleyball Verband | |
| LTU | Lithuanian Volleyball Federation | |
| LUX | Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Volleyball | |
| MKD | Odbojkarska Federacija na Makedonija | |
| MLD | Fédération de Volleyball de la Republique de Moldavie | |
| MLT | Malta Volleyball Association | |
| MON | Fédération Monégasque de Volleyball | |
| MNE | Odbojkaški savez Crne Gore Volleyball Federation of Montenegro The Volleyball Federation of Montenegro is the governing body of volleyball in Montenegro... |
|
| NED | Nederlandse Volleybal Bond | |
| NIR | Northern Ireland Volleyball Association | |
| NOR | Norges Volleyballforbund | |
| POL | Polski Związek Piłki Siatkowej | |
| POR | Federação Portuguesa de Voleibol Portuguese Volleyball Federation The Portuguese Volleyball Federation is the governing body of volleyball in Portugal... |
|
| ROM | Federaţia Română de Volei | |
| RUS | Vserossijskaya Federatsiya Volejbola | |
| SRB | Odbojkaški savez Srbije | |
| SCO | Scottish Volleyball Association | |
| SLO | Odbojkarska Zveza Slovenije | |
| SMR | Federazione Sammarinese Pallavolo Federazione Sammarinese Pallavolo San Marino Volleyball Federation or FSPAV is the governing body of volleyball and beach volleyball in San Marino. It was formed in 1980.It organizes the internal league and runs the San Marino national volleyball team.... |
|
| SVK | Slovenská Volejbalová Federácia | |
| SUI | Swiss Volley | |
| SWE | Svenska Volleybollförbundet | |
| TUR | Türkiye Voleybol Federasyonu Turkish Volleyball Federation The Turkish Volleyball Federation is the governing body of volleyball and beach volleyball in Turkey. Formed in 1958, it is based in Ankara... |
|
| UKR | Ukrainian Volleyball Federation | |
| WAL | Welsh Volleyball Association |
National Teams Competitions
- European Volleyball ChampionshipEuropean Volleyball ChampionshipThe European Volleyball Championship is a sport competition for national teams, currently held biannually and organized by the CEV, the European volleyball federation. There are both men's and women's competitions....
- European Volleyball LeagueEuropean Volleyball LeagueThe European Volleyball League is an annual continental volleyball tournament, introduced in 2004. The event is the European equivalent of the FIVB World League. After a preliminary league round the tournament ends with a Final Four, hosted in one city. The women's tournament introduced in...