Coaches excited about innovations at Club Worlds in Manila

Manila, Philippines, October 17, 2016 - Coaches of the clubs participating in the 2016 edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship said they were excited by the technological innovations to be tested beginning Tuesday in Manila.

The coaches were responding to a question from the floor at the official Press Conference of the competition, when they were asked to comment on the innovations of this event.

Italian Massimo Barbolini, who will be coaching Eczacibasi VitrA, VakifBank's crosstown rivals in Istanbul and Club World Championship defending champions, focused on the video challenge system: "I like the [challenge] system because it can help the referees and the players. It is very useful. We used this in the World Grand Prix and every year they improve on something. For sure, they are trying to find one perfect system, so it's good that we do some tests to improve the level of the system and provide teams with better chances in the game."

And Kumi Nakada, who will guide Hisamitsu Springs Kobe as the only female coach in the competition agreed: "The challenge system is very good to correct faults, though sometimes it interrupts the flow out of the game."


Giovanni Caprara of Pomi Casalmaggiore is happy that coaches will get more freedom of movement on the sidelines.

Giovanni Caprara, yet another Italian coach, who will lead reigning European champions Pomi Casalmaggiore, concentrated on the removal of the dashed line allowing coaches more freedom of movement on the sidelines. "I like the new innovations especially the [removal of the] line for coaches," he said.

Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro coach Bernardo 'Bernardinho' Rezende, fresh from leading the men's national team of Brazil to Olympic glory at Rio 2016, elaborated further: "There have been many changes in the technology. On the use of the tablets for substitutions, I just hope that it works because sometimes too much technology can create some problems during the matches, and in crucial moments, there are tough decisions to make. But I think the game is very much the same and that’s the beauty of it."


Giovanni Guidetti of VakifBank Istanbul is eager to see how players will respond to the new warm-up area behind the benches.

"The new location of the warm-up area [for substitues] behind the bench will be new for everybody," said Giovanni Guidetti, the Italian coach of VakifBank Istanbul. "I still can't understand though the real need for the tablet, because it's much easier to call a timeout and put the player inside like in any other sport."


Zoran Terzic of Volero Zurich says resolving disagreements with referees is now only the push of a button away.

And Zoran Terzic, who led Serbia's women to Olympic silver in Rio 2016 this year and is now coaching Volero Zurich, had more praise for the challenge system: "I agree with Bernardo [Rezende] and Giovanni [Guidetti]. It's so much easier without the tablets, but the challenge system is very good because finally we don't need to fight with the referees, we just need to press a button."

The Challenge System was first used at an FIVB event during the FIVB Volleyball Club World Championships in 2012. It has been used at flagship FIVB events since including the World League and World Grand Prix, the FIVB World Cup and most recently at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Referees have benefited from the introduction of Electronic Scoresheets and LED Scoreboard Tablets since the Olympic Games in London in 2012, which help to visualize team rosters and track scores, rotations, substitutions and timeouts.

Headsets now also play an important role and help to improve how information is exchanged within refereeing teams. By allowing direct verbal communication, they provide an additional line of communication as a complement to hand signals.

Other innovations that fans on site in Manila and around the world on television and online will get to enjoy are the use of the 'ball transport system' and the introduction of 'team moppers' who will be sitting behind the benches. The matches will be played on Gerflor's tri-colour volleyball floor.

Quick links:
FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship Manila 2016 - Website
FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship Manila 2016 - Results & Schedule
FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship Manila 2016 - Teams