The Italian Volleyball Federation (FIPAV) is taking a new step in organizing its work with national team players. Starting this season, the project "Athlete at the Center" (Atleta al Centro) will begin, whose main goal is to ensure a constant connection between the men's national team and the clubs where the volleyball players play.
The decision was announced after the two-day meeting of the Federation's Board of Directors, which concluded on October 24 in Milan. Conditioning coach Oscar Berti will be responsible for the project's implementation, coordinating the physical preparation of the national team players throughout the year.
The idea is for players not to switch from one training system to another every time the national team gathers, but to have consistency in their work regardless of whether they are with their clubs or available to the coach.
The news from Italy is particularly interesting from a Bulgarian perspective. On October 2, VolleyWeek published the article"Who will be Blengini's eyes in Bulgaria?", in which we raised the question of how the monitoring of national team players and potential new additions to our representative team would be carried out, given that Gianlorenzo Blengini now combines his commitments to Bulgaria with club work in Italy.
At the time, we noted that none of the 14 volleyball players who participated in EuroVolley 2026 play in the Bulgarian championship, but ten of the extended squad of 30 players compete in Bulgaria.
Among them are young talents like Dimitar Peychinov, whose development requires constant attention. No less important is the monitoring of players outside the extended squad who could become real options for the national team in the next two years.
Of course, the Italian initiative is specifically focused on physical preparation, not on selection and monitoring of players in the championship. But it shows the federation's desire to maintain constant coordination with clubs even outside the period of national tournaments.
For Bulgaria, the question remains relevant. Given that Blengini no longer has the opportunity to regularly attend our halls, and some of his assistants also have club commitments abroad, who will provide the necessary information about the development of players in Bulgaria?
Moreover, our national team faces the Nations League and the World Cup in 2027, and the big goal remains qualification for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
1.6 million euros for young volleyball players
Another significant decision by the Italian federation is the allocation of 1.6 million euros for the development of youth volleyball. The funds come from the budget surplus for 2025.
Half of the amount – 800,000 euros – will be distributed among clubs participating in the three main youth championships. Additional funding is provided for those who maintain more than one team in the respective age categories.
The remaining 800,000 euros will be used to support and expand activities for adolescents.
Thus, the Italian headquarters combines direct financial support for clubs with investments in the development of future national team players.
Italy also reported the effect of EuroVolley 2026
Federation President Giuseppe Manfredi presented an analysis of the national teams' season, in which the main indicators were match attendance, tickets sold, and television audience.
Particular attention was paid to the men's and women's European championships. The Italian federation recognizes the organizational success of the men's championship as further proof of the high interest in volleyball and its growing popularity.
It is indicative that, alongside sports results, the leadership also analyzes the economic and media dimensions of the national teams.
The two main decisions from Milan – for year-round coordination with clubs and for investments in youth – outline an approach where work with national competitors is not limited to just a few months of the international season.
And this is precisely where the connection to the question we posed three weeks ago lies. Bulgaria has a promising generation, but its development continues daily in the clubs. It is important who and how will maintain the connection between this work and the national team.