Paralympic hopefuls plan to "slide a mile" to support sport relief and raise sitting volleyball's profile

On Saturday March 13th, the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering will host one of the more unusual Sport Relief Mile attempts this year: the GB Sitting Volleyball teams’ “Slide a Mile” challenge.

A Sitting Volleyball court measures 10m x 6m: the players involved in the “Slide a Mile” effort will have to cover over 160 court lengths, going under the net each time. Players will be attempting the challenge in groups of six, with at least four groups achieving the full mile.

As well as a fundraising target of £2000 for the worthy Sport Relief cause, the “Slide a Mile” challenge is an opportunity to draw attention to the growing sport of Sitting Volleyball with the view to attract new players.

Sitting Volleyball is another version of Volleyball that has been adapted to allow anyone to participate, including those with a disability, and has been part of the Paralympic Games since 1980. London 2012 is set to be the first Paralympic Games that Great Britain will put forward both men’s and women’s Sitting Volleyball squads.

In Sitting Volleyball, the international rules for Standing Volleyball apply in principle, with amendments allowing for a sport for disabled players: during play, a player must touch the court with some part of their body between the buttocks and the shoulders, and you are able to block the serve. Sitting Volleyball is played on a smaller court (meaning quicker points and faster, more exciting play) with a lower net to account for the players’ seated positions.

Lisa Wainwright, CEO of Volleyball England, said: “Sport Relief has always done fantastic work to help transform the lives of poor and vulnerable people, both at home and across the world’s poorest countries. We welcome the innovative approach that our Sitting Volleyball players have taken to raise both funds and their profile, all in the name of a good cause.”

“Great Britain consistently performs well at other “sitting” sports like sailing, rowing, cycling: Sitting Volleyball is the final frontier for us to shine as a sporting nation! Our GB squads are by no means finalised, we are still recruiting via our regional centres. I would encourage anyone who’s interested to get involved with our programmes: you never know, you could be representing your country in a few years’ time on a world stage!”

To help the “Slide a Mile” challenge reach its fundraising target, please visit www.justgiving.com/Team-GB-Slide-a-mile-for-Sport-Relief

For more information on getting involved with Sitting Volleyball, regional centres and much more, please visit www.volleyballengland.org/sitting