9 Apr 2024
Proposed restructure of Cup and Shield competitions for 2024-25
Current challenges
In the 2023-24 season that is in its closing stages, the two competitions occupied nine weekends in the 27-weekend calendar.
The first three rounds were played in a six-week period in September and October, which made it difficult to co-ordinate venues, appoint referees and prepare for the matches.
To increase the spacing between rounds to four weeks would mean a season would have to start in the first weekend of September.
Another issue was the regular forfeiting of matches – with 18 byes resulting across Cup and Shield competitions.
Proposed restructure from 2024-25 onwards
Following a review by the Competitions Working Group (in line with the five-year vision), Volleyball England is proposing a change to the structure of the competition to the below:
Both competitions would run on the same weekends, but in isolation, with no opportunity to enter the National Shield if knocked out of the National Cup.
The changes will meet the strategic priority of reducing calendar congestion and clashes with Junior competitions.
Less matches will create a minimum of five weekends between rounds, allowing more time for referee allocation, sourcing venues and team administration.
Another strategic priority to be positively addressed is to help drive up standards, with more preparation time for matches, more matches played with appointed officials, less matches with large victory margins (due to the division into Cup and Shield) and more immediate exposure for teams against higher-ranked opposition.
How to give your feedback
Comments on the proposed restructure are welcome via a Microsoft form, which will be open until 24th April.
Details have also been emailed to all club secretaries
