Botswana Volleyball Federation

Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) is a non-profit-making society, which is legally registered with the registrar of Societies. It was formed in 1979 with 3 (Mafolofolo, Kalavango and Kutlwano) clubs and its membership has grown tremendously over the years.

BVF is affiliated to the Botswana National Sport Commission, Botswana National Olympic Committee; Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB), Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) and CAVB Zone Six. This Organization (BVF) is tasked with administering Volleyball in Botswana. This participation is non-discriminatory and this is evidenced by the wide spectrum of participants (players, officials and supporters) with regard to gender, age and race.

Currently the number of teams affiliated to BVF stand at 44 and the number of active players is around 500 (55% men and 45 % women). The teams are spread all over the country with teams in Maun, Kasane, Ghanzi, Hukuntsi, Tsabong, Kasane, Francistown, Serowe, Selebi Phikwe, Mahalapye, Molepolole, Gaborone, Lobatse, Ramotswa, Jwaneng, Orapa and Sowa - Town. The growth in numbers and in distribution of clubs has contributed immensely to the standard of play in a positive light.

As per its constitution, BVF was set up to develop sport through competitions and leisure activities throughout the country aimed at achieving a well - cultured and healthy social environment. 

Structure of BVF:

The Federation has been blessed by having the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) provide office space and staff. The Federation has one Sport Development Officer, one Cuban coach and one administration Assistant all of whom are on the payroll of the BNSC. These staff members are responsible for carrying out the day to day activities of the BVF as set out by the Congress through the Executive Committee. Currently the BVF offices are at the Plot 471 Extension 4. Postal address Box 1917, Gaborone Telephone 3161448 Fax 3161544 email bvf@botsnet.bw.

Both the Government and the private sector finance all the BVF activities. The current operating budget (yearly) for BVF is around P500 000. The government's contribution amounts to about 60% whilst the private sector sponsorship amounts to 35%. The remaining 5% is obtained through the efforts of the BVF in fundraising.

The bulk of the money (95%) from the private sector is used to sponsor tournaments where all the affiliates of BVF take part for prize -money and other items (e.g. t - shirts, balls, nets etc) as donated by the particular sponsor. The money from the government goes into the administration (15%) of the organization, development activities (85%) such as mini - volleyball, referees, coaches (training), national team participation, and Youth teams’ development. The Federation's accounts are audited (externally) yearly and the congress and all the sponsors are provided with audited financial statements of the organization.

Domestic

Through the financing by private companies, BVF runs annual competitions for all its affiliates. These, competitions are open to all teams affiliated to BVF and the prizes are normally in the form of money and other like T-shirts, balls etc. These events, named after the sponsoring companies are played in different parts of the country. 
 

International

BVF has, since 1988, been very active in the Zone Six of the Confederation of African Volleyball competitions. This zone comprises of 10 countries being Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, Malawi and Namibia. National Teams (both men and ladies) are engaged in yearly competitions to determine the champions of the zone each year. The winner of the zone would then go on to represent the zone in the continental championships. Botswana has been doing quite well over the years getting medals in each category. The men’s team participated in the last All Africa Games.

Currently both National teams are the winners of the Zone 6 Senior National Championships. Both National teams represented the Zone in the Africa Nations Cup in Nigeria and Egypt. Women got position 7 while men got position 8.

Our clubs have also participated regionally and continental with good results achieved in the regional competitions. BDF 6 Volleyball Club, which recently won the Club of the Year Award at the recent BNSC/Barloworld Annual Sports Awards, is due to represent Botswana at the Men's African Club Championships in Egypt in May 2005.

Development

Botswana Volleyball Federation has embraced the BNSC's Vision 2012 in a big way and this has seen it put in place developmental structures which are necessary for the development of the game. The Botswana National Sport Commission sponsors a large proportion of our developmental activities with a small proportion financed by the private sector.

Developmental activities carried out by BVF range from grassroots level development to technical development (coaches, referees and administrators). Currently our development programme for grassroots is being sponsored by Barloworld Botswana. BVF has a good reputation with BISA and Primary Schools.

BVF Development Structures – Coaches Commission, Referees Commission, Sports Organising Commission, and Mini Volleyball Commission.

Key Achievements

BVF's hard work and effort were recognized in the Annual - BNSC/Barloworld 2001 Sports Awards in which it scooped most of the awards on offer and were runner-ups in others. BVF won the following awards:
 

• Best Sporting code 2001
• Best Administrator 2001 & 2003
• Best Executed Development Plan 2001
• Best Coach - 2001

BVF has on Annual basis been able to be the finalists in most of top awards and has at least been able to win one of them.