Reviving Community Sports: How Park Volleyball Is Reconnecting Nigerian Youth to the Game

Reviving Community Sports: How Park Volleyball Is Reconnecting Nigerian Youth to the Game

By Admin 

The President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engr. Musa Nimrod, has reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots development, emphasizing that his passion for park volleyball is rooted in inspiring young athletes and restoring a tradition of community-based sports participation.

Nimrod spoke on Saturday during the maiden edition of the NVBF Park Volleyball Session held at Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Reflecting on his formative years in the sport, he said his drive to support young players stems from the values and opportunities volleyball provided him as a child.

“I want to set an example for the young ones coming behind us,” he said. “I started in 1977 as a ball picker when I was a kid, growing up around the Flying Horses team. I want this new generation to learn from us the same way we learned from our seniors.”

He described park volleyball as more than a recreational activity, portraying it as a platform for mentorship, community engagement, and talent discovery.

“Park volleyball is part of our constitution and part of our advocacy. When young players see us play, it inspires them,” he noted. “Today, you can see young and older players coming together that’s the beauty of park volleyball.”

Nimrod identified equipment availability as a key challenge, particularly the need for more soft balls suitable for younger players.

“We want to get more soft balls because the V200 is too hard for the younger ones. We plan to invite more senior players, visit different parks, and expand the initiative. We want everyone to connect with the game,” he added.

He emphasized the accessibility of park volleyball, which requires minimal equipment and can be played informally within communities.

“You can even play it in your compound. It’s a game that helps you relax, exercise, and maintain your health. Look at how many calories we burned today that’s beneficial to everyone.”

Nimrod expressed optimism that participation will continue to grow as more youths take interest in the sport.

“Our motivation is to keep increasing the numbers and spreading the goodness of the game. We are encouraging it everywhere,” he concluded.

Also speaking, NVBF Board Member and North Central Chairperson of Park Volleyball, Bolcit Amakiri, praised the initiative, saying it will play a key role in grooming the next generation of volleyball stars.

The momentum behind park volleyball aligns with NVBF’s broader vision of strengthening stakeholder engagement and expanding the sport’s national footprint. According to the head of the newly inaugurated Park Volleyball Commission, the concept is well established globally and fully approved by the FIVB, but still relatively new in Nigeria.

He explained that the commission created less than three months ago aimed to end the year with an exhibition that would unite stakeholders and shape discussions on the sport’s future.

Volleyball development, he stressed, requires collective commitment beyond the efforts of the federation alone. He added that park volleyball is strategically positioned to attract young players and ensure continuity as veteran athletes retire. The initiative forms part of a medium-term plan to rebuild Nigerian volleyball and restore the nation’s presence on the global stage.

The event featured four teams: Team Board Members, Team Stakeholders, Team Coaches, and the Veteran Team all contributing to an atmosphere of excitement and camaraderie at the stadium. Additional indoor games such as chess, ludo, and the traditional Ayo Olopon were also played.