Volleyball - more than a sport?
Volleyball - more than a sport?
You never know what might happen when you play volleyball in a Glasgow park. One day, it’ll be a playful dog who’ll snatch and destroy your pricey professional ball; another day an unassuming passer-by you let onto the pitch turns out to be a seasoned Argentinian player who ends up coaching your team.
Several groups and clubs play in city parks and venues. The biggest, Glasgow Outdoor Volleyball Club (GOVC), brings together more than 150 players of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
My own experience began several years ago when I joined friends playing for fun in Kelvingrove Park. In 2021 I helped form a volleyball group as a volunteer with Outdoors For You, an organisation that supports Glaswegians, especially refugees and asylum seekers, to improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
The GOVC’s first official competitive team was called First Gen. On the opening day of the Scottish Volleyball League’s 2024/2025 season members sold T-shirts they’d designed themselves and home-made cakes. Sales help buy training equipment and pay league fees.
“First Gen has taught me that being in a volleyball team means more than just playing a sport together; it’s about trust, unity, and firm support,” says 14-year-old Sehr Baig, “It’s the laughter and tears shared in practice, the encouragement during tough matches, and the bond formed through every receive, set, and spike.”
Born in Scotland to a British Pakistani mother and a father who arrived in Scotland from Pakistan in 1998, Baig emphasises that each player's unique talent and effort are essential to the team's success: “Together we rise, we fall and rise again. A volleyball team is a family where every moment, every effort and every cheer counts, reminding us that we’re never alone on or off the court.”
There’s a strong sense of community and sky-high aspirations, she adds: “Our volleyball fundraising for First Gen was more than just raising money; it’s about coming together as a community to support a shared passion. It’s an opportunity to ensure that every player has the resources they need to succeed.
“Together, we are not just funding a sport: we are investing in dreams, growth, and a brighter future for all.”
Fellow team member Natalia Sm?tek, 19, was born in Poland and moved to Scotland aged 2 with her parents and sister in 2007. She says volleyball has made her fitter, stronger and more agile, and has been a huge confidence booster and stress-reliever.
“Overall, playing volleyball gives me a sense of belonging and identity. It isn’t just a sport for me — it’s a journey of personal growth, learning and connection,” she explains.
Volleyball is also great for adults, whether to stay fit and make friends or as a lifestyle. That’s the case for Matias Marceca of Holy Volley!, the team I captain, which was formed in Spring 2024 by players from Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran and Poland, plus some guest players.
Marceca happens to be that unassuming passer-by I let onto the pitch one sunny day last May. He grew up in a family of volleyball players in Argentina; his parents met playing volleyball; his father is a coach and referee; and his sister played professionally for several years.
“I joined my first league team aged 8, and I led a volleyball-rich life playing in countless tournaments until pandemic came,” he recalls, “but it was only recently that I met a group of people playing volleyball in Victoria Park. They immediately invited me to join them at tournaments, and we’ve won several.
“I feel so lucky to have found that group. And I’m glad to be able to help improve their technique and confidence with the ball. It is great to be back in the game in Scotland.”
The Holy Volley! team, at a 3rd division tournament
+ Razgar Hassan, the founder of Outdoors For You (OFY), came to Scotland as an asylum seeker in 2001. His love of the outdoors combined with his experience of the asylum process, which left him stuck in limbo for almost 10 years, led him to set up a charity to support asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants, who are more likely to face health inequalities. He says volleyball is the charity’s most popular activity.
“What started as a small gathering has blossomed into a spirited group where friendships are forged, skills are honed, and a love for the game is shared by all, creating a sense of belonging for everyone involved,” he says.
“We’ve had Afghanis, Algerians, Americans, Argentinians, Ethiopians, French, Georgians, Greeks, Indians, Iranians, Kurds, Pakistanis, Poles, Romanians, Salvadorans, Scots, Sudanese, Syrians and Ukrainians.
“It’s great to see cultural diversity at its best when we play for fun and more competitively.”
Hassan organised a volleyball tournament as part of Refugee Festival Scotland. He hopes it will become an annual tradition celebrating refugees and Glasgow as a city of sanctuary where those who have fled wars and persecution can feel safe and that they belong.
“The best teams have a special chemistry. It doesn’t matter where you come from and how well you speak English. It’s all about unyielding teamwork and cohesion that manifest themselves in anticipating each other's moves and adapting to what’s happening in every moment of the game.
“It’s about mutual support, encouragement, shared joy of playing, and pride in collective achievements.”
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Glasgow International Volleyball Club (GIVC) is a female volleyball group who play in the Scottish Women's League One, but welcome players at all levels to join their training and recreational sessions.
Thuy Le:
“I’m Canadian. I joined GIVC last year, after coming to Glasgow with my partner for his studies. I’ve always played volleyball and it was one of the first things I looked for when moving to a new city. GIVC has been instrumental to my Glasgow experience.
“It’s a prime example of how sport can create community, friendship and camaraderie despite our different backgrounds. You’re automatically a part of a community with great people, doing something we all love.
“Thanks to GIVC, I have very fond memories of my short time here in Glasgow. As I return home to Canada, I can’t express how much I’ll miss being a part of GIVC and the volleyball community.”
Madalina Avram
“I've joined GIVC after taking a break from volleyball for almost 10 years, and I really wished I joined sooner. I played back home in Romania, with some games here and there while at uni in Aberdeen, but I struggled to find a place to play as an adult in Glasgow.
“I was delighted when I found out about GIVC. The diversity of the girls in the team made it feel approachable - and it allowed me to constantly improve without feeling judged or rushed.
“As my first season with the team drew to a close I realised I'm now really missing the faces I got used to seeing three or four times a week — and yes, that surprisingly includes the coach! — and the true sense of belonging, being part of a team that's dynamic, fun, competitive and supportive.”
Rim Chniba
“I joined Glasgow International Volleyball Club as soon as I moved from France. The club has helped me make friends and have a feeling of belonging in a new city. Over the years, the club has grown, and I feel proud to be part of such a group of athletes consistently working hard to improve themselves and their skills. We are always welcoming new players to share the experience of volleyball around such a great group.”
Photo credit: Chris Bell, Jovana Abbasi