Daniele Lavia's severe injury during a national camp revealed a structural problem: the lack of insurance for players during national team training.

The Incident

On August 23, Lavia fell from a platform during a special exercise, and a 15-kilogram disc crushed his right arm. The subsequent operation lasted over three hours, and his recovery will take at least three months. The incident caused shock among teammates and concern at the Trentino Volley club.

Lack of Insurance

Trentino's General Manager, Bruno Da Re, clarified that the federation had not provided insurance for Lavia during the national camp. This leaves the club bearing full responsibility for his treatment and the damages from his long absence. Immediately after the incident, Trentino Volley officially raised the issue and sought a meeting with the federation to discuss responsibilities and possible compensation for the club.

Raising the Issue

Italian media immediately focused on the case. The lack of centralized insurance turned out to be a structural problem, and clubs and the public began to question why federations do not bear part of the risk when players participate in national camps.

The Finding

CEV and FIVB regulations show that there are no mandatory rules for providing coverage during national camps. The responsibility remains with the clubs and federations if they voluntarily decide to provide insurance.

Recalling a Previous Case – Matteo Piano

In 2019, Matteo Piano was injured during a national camp. The federation covered his salary, but this was an exception and does not indicate a consistent practice for all players.

Conclusion

Lavia's case highlights a gap in risk management in Italian volleyball. While stars continue to bear heavy financial and health risks when playing for the national team, clubs remain without guarantees of protection.

This case also raises a question for Bulgarian volleyball: how does this problem stand in our country? In Bulgaria, there is also no centralized system to provide insurance for players in case of injuries during camps or national team participation. This means that such incidents remain uncovered by insurance and that the lack of insurance is a serious omission in the protection of athletes and clubs.