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Hello
The VolleyPro Academy provides something that I wish had been in place when I was a young volleyball athlete - a clear and predictable pathway to professional and international level competition.
By committing to the Academy process, ambitious volleyball athletes can achieve growth as players and people, access life-changing opportunities and set themselves up for successful and rewarding careers.
Tim Middlehurst
VolleyPro Academy Director & Head Coach
What is VolleyPro?
The VolleyPro Academy provides development post secondary school and prior to professional placement, to a select few of New Zealand's most promising volleyball athletes.
The preparation offered by the Academy enables these athletes to reach the level required for success within a professional placement.
The academy will be based in Palmerston North, and in conjunction with Massey University, will:
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Provide extensive quality training and competition,
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Enable the initiation of tertiary study, and
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Give experience in the life of a professional athlete - prioritisation of volleyball activities while managing other obligations.
The academy will be residential, with all core costs funded (accommodation, training, competition, etc), such that athletes have the ability to focus on their volleyball development.
How did VolleyPro begin?
VolleyPro originated from a partnership that has been agreed between Manawatu Volleyball Club (MVC) and a professional European club.
The partnership will provide professional placement opportunities for a coach and several talented kiwi athletes within a competitive professional league - every year from the 2026/27 season onward.
Within the partnership, the role of MVC is to identify and prepare the athletes who are to be placed. The role of our partner club will be to contract them as professional athletes and provide them with support and opportunities to develop.
The operation of this partnership is contingent upon the ability of New Zealand athletes to consistently be among the top players in their league.
To aid in the sustainable provision of capable athletes, MVC will establish and operate a widely supported athlete identification and development programme - the VolleyPro Academy. To be successful, the Academy will require the input and support of coaches and volleyball organisations across the country.
What is the vision for VolleyPro?
The vision for the programme is that within 5 years we have proven that New Zealand athletes can consistently succeed at professional level, and in doing so have solidified an enduring pathway.
Success for this purpose is defined as:
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Players consistently placing among the top performers in their league i.e. top 5 in key skill categories, and
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Consistently able to obtain quality professional contracts in equivalent or better professional leagues, if desired, post completion of their initial tenure.
Achievement of this vision should have significant benefits to the broader New Zealand volleyball community, from contributing to elevation of the New Zealand national team to demonstrating pathways to professional volleyball for young athletes across the country.
While the programme is currently focussing on providing professional placement for 3-4 female athletes per year, in the future we intend to expand our platform to facilitate similar opportunities for a larger number of athletes.
How will we do this?
To ensure that we have sufficiently prepared and capable volleyball athletes each year, MVC has establish and will operate an entity focussed on athlete identification, recruitment and development.
This entity will be an incorporated company, trading as VolleyPro Academy.
This organisation will:
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Establish a nationwide talent ID programme from year 10 onwards,
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Provide dialogue, information and guidance to aspiring athletes,
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Operate training camps for senior high school athletes who are interested in playing professionally,
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Perform athlete selection for training academy,
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Operate a training academy in Palmerston North,
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Place athletes at LVC, and
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Provide on-going support to graduated, professional athletes both directly and via professional agency partners based in Europe.
Training & competition at the Academy
The core function of the Academy is to develop the resident Athletes, through the highest quality training, conditioning and competition possible.
As a funded programme, Academy athletes will be expected to prioritise physical and technical training. Athletes will receive technical training led by head coach Tim Middlehurst and assistant coaches, and participate as full members of the Manawatū Volleyball Club (MVC). Between Academy and club trainings, athletes will have 5-6 technical ("on-ball") training sessions per week.
In addition, athletes must adhere to a tailored strength and conditioning programme. A partnership with Massey University Academy of Sport is being developed in order to provide programming, sports science and nutrition assistance.
Indoor Volleyball
During the indoor season (Feb-Oct) Academy athletes will participate in a competitive indoor volleyball schedule designed to extend their abilities and prepare for professional level volleyball. As well as playing with MVC in Central Zone and Club Championships, athletes will compete in a range of bespoke competitive activities - ranging from leagues, to additional regional tournaments, to bespoke tours with leading clubs and regions.
Beach Volleyball
Outside of the indoor season, Academy athletes will participate in beach volleyball training and compete on the VNZ beach volleyball tour.
VolleyPro Academy proactively engages with Volleyball New Zealand in order to ensure alignment with key competitions and the requirements of any age group or senior national team programmes that athletes are part of.
Study & life while at the Academy
The VolleyPro Academy will operate in conjunction with Massey University, in order to support athletes to combine tertiary education with their athletic pursuits.
Massey University offers flexible online study across more than 1,400 courses, available to members of the Academy. Athletes will be able to manage the commitments of their sport while at the same time working toward a qualification that will provide them with valuable options post the completion of their professional volleyball career.
Life in Palmerston North is a perfect preparatory environment for life as a professional volleyball player. As a large city, conveniently located with easy commutes and public transport, centred around the university, Academy athletes will be able to successfully prioritise volleyball and study.
VolleyPro Academy provides housing for resident athletes, and covers all training, travel and competition costs. Athletes just provide only for their own expenses - food and entertainment. As such, Academy athletes are able to maintain a high level of focus on their volleyball and study.
Ensuring athlete protection & care
A core principle of the VolleyPro Academy is care for the athletes, beginning with the process of engagement, communication and selection, and carrying on through the completion of their time at the Academy to professional placement overseas.
Some key aspects of athlete care:
Athlete engagement
All volleyball players in New Zealand should see VolleyPro as a feasible option. Any athlete can register their interest, and all genuine interest will be assessed. All information regarding the Academy and the programme of selection will be made public.
All communications with athletes should incorporate a member of the athletes "advisory group" - a family member or trusted coach or mentor.
All athletes should have the same opportunity to be selected, with selection criteria published and the process of selection formalised and moderated.
Athlete residence at Academy
Many of the athletes that join the Academy will relocate to Palmerston North to do so, and so athlete care is paramount.
The Academy will seek to establish a number of key contacts within the region in addition to coaching staff, so that the athlete is well supported.
Further, the Academy recognises that while professional success is a primary objective, it should not come at the cost of athlete mental health.
Athlete support post Academy graduation
Athletes will continue to be supported post graduation from the Academy, in their professional placements or beyond.