Our Website FAQs

Dormitory housing. Three camps currently offer a one- or two-week residential option in dormitories: Rising Elite, Emerging Elite and Elite. This is at the Royal Holloway University of London campus in Egham, Surrey, located about 20 minutes from Heathrow Airport, 15 minutes from Windsor and 1km from the training venue at ACS Egham International School.

The one-week residential package includes bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner; all off-court morning and evening activities; all transport including airport/rail transfers, 24/7 chaperoning, full campus security and volleyball tuition fees.

The residential two-week London Experience option includes the above plus weekend excursions and the two-week English Language option offers language tuition plus weekend immersive studies excursions. Tuition takes place on the university campus in evenings as well as on the excursions.

Non-dormitory residency. Hostels or housing with a host family can usually be arranged with advance registration of at least three months. VbDC can advise on recommended locations for independently arranged hotels, BandBs, campgrounds, transport and meals but cannot make those arrangements for the athletes and/or their families.

Yes, camps are open to athletes from all nationalities and countries of residence. English is the lingua franca of the camps.

Be honest. Objective consideration and honesty are required to make this decision. It is important to attend a camp with a curriculum and skill requirements that will challenge but not overwhelm the athlete. We encourage athletes and their parents to discuss the athlete’s level of ability with us when in doubt.

Age. While age is important to choosing a training level, it is not the principle means VbDC uses to determine which course will be of the most benefit to an athlete. Volleyball experience and athletic ability are the main determinants. Some players are more experienced and skilful than their age would suggest, while others are latecomers to the game and their skills may not be as developed as others of their age or younger.

Experience. An athlete will have been playing at the level defined in the camp curriculum for at least 2 years in order to get the greatest benefit from the curriculum. Athletes who attend Skills level camps are beginners and early intermediate players focussed on mastering basic individual ball-handling techniques. These must be consistent in order for the athlete to progress into a mainly team-based training regime. Athletes who attend Performance level camps are advanced intermediate to expert players who will have been training and competing year-round for a minimum of 24 to 36 months without break (i.e. not seasonally) and will have competed in multiple tournaments in the previous 2 years.

Ability: consult the athlete’s coach. It is a big help for the athlete’s coach (who should have volleyball coaching qualifications) to provide us with an assessment of the player and his/her potential. We have a simple, multi-language coach questionnaire that can help you do this. Video recordings of the player in training or competition may be required for the Rising Elite Camp, are expected for the Emerging Elite Camp, and are mandatory for the Elite Camp. If you do not have videos of the athlete you can read our guidelines on taking them here. Attending a camp in top physical condition is necessary in order to get the most out of the event. We have prepared an easy-to-follow training programme to help you prepare for our camps.

Think ski runs. To “grade” athletes we use the system which will be familiar to skiers and snowboarders. Beginner programmes are rated green, early intermediates are rated blue, advanced Intermediates are rated red and experts are rated black. We have produced a progression chart in our brochure showing how our main camps are linked together.

We want an athlete to get as much as possible out of the camp. As they progress beyond the beginner and early intermediate stages the difficult task is to place athletes at an event where they will be challenged to improve, but not so much that they will be overwhelmed by the expected level of ability.

The importance of supplying a good video. The best way to evaluate an athlete’s ability and which camp will be suitable for them is to see them play. Of course it is not always possible to do this in person so a video of the athlete in action can help. The videos should not be a highlight reel of individual skills, but long shots of the athlete in a team setting, allowing us to see the standard of play on the athlete’s team and how the athlete interacts with his/her teammates and the opposition.

If no videos are available, and a coach report cannot be provided, a self-assessment of the athlete’s ability may be the way to determine the most appropriate camp. There is a self-assessment form in the VbDC brochure. Honesty and objectivity are required when doing a self-assessment. We encourage applicants and their parents to discuss the athlete’s skill level with us when in doubt.

Safeguarding restrictions may apply to some forms of communication. Residential students are encouraged to bring a device to maintain contact with their families. These may not be used by an athlete during the training sessions.

Some halls of residence used do not permit under-18s to have internet access through the facilities in their rooms, although the internet is often accessible in coffee shops on or near the campus. VbDC maintains its own on-site mobile telephone and e-mail link which parents may use for urgent messages.

Yes… but. In the recent past COVID restrictions meant that only athletes, coaches and other VbDC personnel were allowed into the sports centres. However, under normal circumstances… yes, parents may observe sessions, but only for a limited period at the start and conclusion of the event.

Extended parental spectating is discouraged to prevent athletes from becoming distracted and because some events are conducted at secure campuses where unregistered visitors are prohibited. In the case of the VbDC GCSE Sports Studies practical exam camp, an athlete may have one person present for the entire time for the express purpose of videoing the athlete in the training as a supplement to the videos provided by VbDC. Arrangements must be agreed in advance.

Residential athletes. VbDC will provide transfer collection from and delivery to designated ports of entry for athletes who have purchased the full residential package and booked their long-distance air or rail transport for collection and delivery within specified time windows at either Heathrow or Gatwick airports, or St. Pancras rail station. If that is not possible, the athlete has responsibility for making their way to the venue. Transport between the training venue and dormitories is provided in the package. Non-dormitory residential athletes must provide their own transport to the venue.

Day athletes. VbDC is not a licensed carriage-for-hire provider and cannot supply this service on demand. For participants traveling commuting distances, VbDC can sometimes provide transport from and to rail stations close to the venue once it has fulfilled its obligation to residential athletes. The capacity to provide this service is limited and often dependent on events at the training session.

First Aid qualifications. VbDC takes steps to ensure the well-being and care of the participants, and most members of the coaching staff and facility administrators are certified in basic First Aid. A statement of any medical conditions that could affect the athlete’s training must be completed as part of the registration process and it is the responsibility of the athlete to ensure that VbDC is made aware of all medical conditions affecting the athlete. VbDC will take no responsibility for treatment of such conditions if notification has not been provided.

Expert medical care. Should professional medical treatment be required VbDC will make every effort to ensure the appropriate care is immediately provided to an athlete under its supervision. VbDC accepts no liability for the care provided in good faith by a qualified medical individual or organisation to which the athlete’s treatment is transferred.

Athlete responsibility. All sports training involves a risk of injury, and the extent of coverage will be determined by the type of activity in which they athlete is participating. Travel likewise has its own risks, but coverage will vary considerably depending on the athlete’s place of residence. We recommend that athletes who take part in VbDC events have insurance coverage for all travel to and from the event, and medical coverage during the period in which the camp takes place. VbDC does not provide a general policy as part of its package, although it can recommend an insurer that can take the individual’s needs into consideration.

VbDC responsibility. VbDC and its staff are fully insured as a company and as individual professionals performing their coaching duties at the event, but VbDC insurance policies do not include coverage of the medical needs, emergency or otherwise, of the athletes.

Refunds can be issued if certain criteria are met in accordance with the VbDC terms and conditions of trade. Refunds cannot be given to athletes who drop out of an event or change their attendance just prior to or during the course of an event. Refunds will not be given to athletes who are asked to leave an event because of their disruption of proceedings or failure to follow the instructions of supervisors and chaperones. In many cases it is possible to apply a payment to another VbDC event if the athlete has to withdraw from an activity.

Card or bank transfer. Secure on-line payment by credit card via the VbDC website is the recommended method. In some instances, for example where credit card payment from certain countries cannot be processed on-line, VbDC will accept payment by bank transfer. Prices are listed in British pounds sterling. Service charges and currency exchange fees are paid by the purchaser. For some camps there is an option to pay in instalments.

Places at camps less than six nights duration must be paid in full to confirm a place; for longer camps places are reserved on receipt of the deposit and are confirmed when the fee is paid in full. Terms and conditions for on-line payments are on the VbDC website.

Be physically ready. Coming to the camp in top physical condition is necessary in order to get the most out of the event. Mental commitment and the self-discipline required to take part in a sustained, high-energy training regime are just as important. We have prepared an easy-to-follow training programme to help you prepare for our camps.

A least two adults chaperone under-18 resident athletes 24/7 to ensuring their safety and adherence to programme rules. While we want the athletes to have fun both on and off the court, they are made aware of the rules and supervised to ensure they are safe and well cared for during their stay.

Day athletes. Day campers under 18 years are under the supervision of VbDC coaches and staff from the time they arrive in the gym until departure from the building. They can be dropped off and collected only by immediate family (who may be part of a carpool) or by someone for whom written authorisation has been provided; these people may need to make themselves known to VbDC staff and provide photo IDs.

Residential athletes. At residential camps, there is 24/7 chaperoning by VbDC staff who have undergone a DBS (child security) check who live in the dormitories with the athletes and who accompany athletes on travel between the dorm and training venue, and on excursions. Athletes under age 18 may not leave the campus or training venue without the written authority of their parents or guardian. The only time an athlete under age 18 may not be in the immediate company of an authorised chaperone is during brief periods at morning and evening mealtimes when they may ask for permission to walk in small unescorted groups around the university grounds or socialise with students in other programmes. The university is in a closed campus with security patrols.

Athlete attendance. Roll call is taken at the start of each session and athletes must sign out at the end of the session. During the course of training, from the time of arrival at the gym to their departure, athletes may not leave the court floor without the permission of a coach. Examples of when the athlete can be excused from the court floor include toilet breaks, re-filling their water bottle or medical treatment.

Come prepared and properly attired. If the athlete is attending a performance or advanced skills camp, they should already have all the volleyball gear they need: proper shoes, kneepads, braces, and clothing, and will know how to dress for intense training.

Those just starting the sport need to wear an acceptable PE kit: loose T-shirt and shorts (no sweatshirts or pants, no designer wear and absolutely no jewellery) If they decide to stick with the sport, they may want to purchase volleyball-specific footwear and accessories, some of which VbDC can supply.

Females may wear leggings and headcovering to meet cultural or religious requirements for participation in mixed-gender activities.

What do I bring? For those attending as day athletes, it is sufficient to bring only what they would pack for an ordinary training session, although for full-day events a sack lunch and snacks are also needed. A water bottle is a necessity. Arrive dressed for training. For those attending as residential athletes, the needs are different, and packing must take off-court activities into consideration. We have a recommended packing list for residential athletes.

Remember. Bring any medical materials, such as diabetes medicines and equipment, inhalers or an EpiPen type device.

VbDC camps are disciplined events. The enjoyment of volleyball and improvement of the athlete’s ability is the common thread to all our camps, but it is delivered to different levels of ability and different ages in different ways. The underpinning of all our camps is that we are strict in our supervision of the athlete and trust the athlete to respond accordingly. For longer events a code of conduct is given to athletes which must be signed and returned.

Performance athletes are expected to have a complete focus on why they are attending a camp and to exhibit the self-discipline needed to become a better volleyball player. Once they pass through the door to the gym their entire attention should be on the challenging physical work and mental conditioning of the curriculum.

Athletes training at the introductory levels are given the behavioural tolerance needed to coach younger athletes, and the training will incorporate a substantial portion of exercises and drills that are designed to be fun while teaching the sport’s fundamental skills. Young athletes have lower attention spans and less stamina than older ones but even so they are still expected to act respectfully to their coaches and fellow athletes and to be aware of the purpose of their attendance.

Follow the rules. There are standards of behaviour on the court which all athletes must observe, and we reserve the right to restrict the participation of any athlete who repeatedly disrupts or interferes with the coaching or misbehaves toward fellow athletes. These standards will vary between camps.

Mobile (cellular) phones must be turned off on arrival and may be used only during the lunch break. Jewellery must be removed or taped over. Injuries from the previous session must be reported. Instructions from coaches and VbDC staff must be followed.

Qualified, recognised, international standing. The head coach and his/her assistants will vary from camp to camp. Some coaches are qualified to train elite or advanced athletes while others specialise in training beginners or intermediate level athletes, and others may have an expertise in teaching specific skillsets. VbDC assigns highly qualified, professional coaches from around the world to each event.

The head coaches for performance camps devise their own theme and curriculum in partnership with VbDC staff to ensure continuity with VbDC policy and standards. VbDC believes that giving this freedom to coaches ensures the most current and relevant training methodology is offered, and the athletes benefit by experiencing a wide range of coaching styles and philosophies.

A small range of personal equipment and supplies is available at the camps, such as kneepads, braces, and clothing, but VbDC is not a retailer and keeps this stock in hand so an athlete can replace lost or worn items. It is worth letting us know in advance of any equipment needs the athlete may have, such as shoes, and we will be happy to advise.