Andorra`s national volleyball and beach volleyball programs are making significant strides forward, largely due to targeted assistance from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiative. For years, the country lacked full-time coaches and consistent international competition. However, starting in 2023, the National Federation began implementing structured development strategies focused on regular training, building youth pathways, and increasing national team activity in both disciplines.
In 2023, the Andorran Volleyball Federation hired two full-time national coaches, dedicating one to each sport. This was made possible through $168,000 in financial support from the Volleyball Empowerment program.
Beyond coaching support, the federation also received essential equipment through the program in 2023 and 2024, including Mikasa volleyballs and Senoh net systems. This provision ensures that both the indoor volleyball and beach volleyball teams have reliable access to quality training materials, which is crucial for their development.
The introduction of dedicated full-time coaching staff represents a significant departure from the previous system, which relied heavily on semi-professional arrangements. Since this change, national teams, including youth and junior players, have benefited from regular training camps and increased international participation. Furthermore, connections between clubs, schools, and the national programs have been reinforced.
The FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program represents a significant change in the way the national federation operates. Until now, the structure was based on semi-professional figures. Having two coaches dedicated exclusively to volleyball in the country affects not only the national team but the federation as a whole. The FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme is a big boost for a small country like Andorra.
Technical Director Louis Hillaire explained that before receiving Empowerment support, Andorra had not competed internationally for several years. He attributed this to a lack of professional personnel and limited financial resources, stating, “There was a lack of dedication to the task of promotion and technical development in both areas, especially for training and talent acquisition.”
With the support of the Empowerment program, the perspective has fundamentally changed. The federation has established a national framework for junior development, with a focus on participating in upcoming European Zonal Championships for Small States in beach volleyball and future U20 volleyball championships. A clear strategy for nurturing the next generation of players is now in place.
Andorra`s efforts have already yielded positive results on the court. At the 2025 Games of the Small States of Europe, held on home soil, the country`s beach volleyball teams earned bronze medals in both the men`s and women`s events. The men`s indoor volleyball team also won bronze, and the U20 squad secured victory in the Small Countries Association Championship, also hosted in Andorra.
While these achievements may appear modest on a global scale, they hold significant importance for a federation that has only recently re-entered regional competition. Hillaire commented, “So far, there have been two bronze medals won at the Andorra 2025 Games of the Small States of Europe in beach volleyball for both women and men. This is a direct result of our ability to create consistent training and development pathways.”
For the athletes themselves, the benefits are personal and noticeable. Christian Ribeiro, a national beach volleyball player, described how the new training environment has positively impacted both his individual performance and the overall culture of the sport in Andorra.
I’ve been representing Andorra in beach volleyball for two years. I can confirm that, since the arrival of the FIVB coaches, both my performance and the development of volleyball in general in the country have improved significantly. The work they’re doing is very positive, especially in grassroots training. They’re identifying players with potential and promoting the growth of volleyball in Andorra, which, in my opinion, is precisely the main objective of their presence here.
Andorra is currently getting ready to participate in several regional age-group tournaments this summer, including U17 and U19 qualifiers for both beach volleyball and indoor volleyball. Daily training and matches in nearby Catalonia and France, along with frequent development camps for different age groups, have become standard practice, a stark contrast to the limited activities of previous years.
More importantly, the national federation is adopting a long-term perspective. By focusing on developing players from a young age, Andorra aims to create a more sustainable pool of athletes capable of representing the country at the senior level in future cycles.
Developing players from a younger age and creating youth teams is currently our main objective for both volleyball and beach volleyball. This will allow us to be more competitive within the Small Countries Association in the future.
Volleyball Empowerment has provided Andorra with the tools needed to build a more stable and interconnected system. With clearer strategies, consistent training, and support for both indoor and beach volleyball, the federation is now firmly focused on its long-term development goals.
Growing the base will be very important to nurture the national senior team in the coming years. For us, that represents a generational shift we’re preparing for with confidence.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood