03/06/2020 10:00
Swiss national teams start preparations for EuroVolley qualifiers
News from the National Federations
Bern, Switzerland, June 3, 2020. The chances of a historic double qualification for EuroVolley 2021 are real for the Swiss national teams, with preparations starting soon as the country eases the lockdown measures in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The training of the members of the Swiss national teams is due to begin in the coming days. However, it will be nothing like what players are familiar with, since instead of participating in training camps, test matches abroad and joint activities with foreign teams in Switzerland, they will train solely at the Betoncoupe Arena in Schönenwerd for the next two months. The goal is to perform well at the EuroVolley qualifiers due to take place later this summer.
Anne-Sylvie Monnet is responsible for the national teams at Swiss Volley. She is optimistic despite the complexity of the current situation: “Many things are still uncertain but all the participating teams are determined to find a solution so that the EuroVolley qualifiers can take place in the late summer of 2020,” she says. The CEV will be taking a final decision on the organisation of these matches by July 1 at the latest, with dates already secured in January 2021 for any postponed fixtures.
“This is why the planned training volume is maintained until this date. As the women begin a two-week training camp this week, the men will meet for isolated training every Monday and Thursday in June. For these activities, 21 and 20 players were invited. In July, the two teams will be busy with almost continuous activities in Schönenwerd,” she adds.
In addition to the start of preparations for the EuroVolley qualifiers, the new coaching teams will also get to work indoors. The new national women’s coach, Saskia van Hintum, can count on most of the players who played the matches of the 2019 EuroVolley in Bratislava. Only Livia Zaugg decided against joining the national team for personal reasons. Gabi Schottroff and Chiara Petitat are still recovering from their injuries. National men’s coach Mario Motta has all the players selected at his disposal. The return of Schönenwerd’s figurehead, Leandro Gerber, is particularly gratifying.
The men’s national team of Switzerland will play against Slovakia, Albania and Romania in Pool E. The women are due to take on Belarus and Estonia in Pool A.
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