1 – CBVA Summer Season Reminder2 – Summer Squads Spotlight3 – Introducing New Squad Coach – Fernando4- And Celebrate Our Juniors – Ryan5 – Double Interview with Ryan and Fernando
As summer approaches, it’s not just the rallies that matter, it’s how we look after the space and each other. Everything is always available on our Court Info page, but here are the key points to keep in mind:Court TimetableSummer (1 Oct – 31 Mar):Mon–Sat: Courts 1–5, 6am–8pmSunday: • 8am–12pm – Courts 4 & 5 only • 12pm–8pm – Courts 1–5Important: No social play before 6am.*No social game or training before 2pm Sunday 02/11/2025 due to Nippers CompetitionCourt Rules & EtiquetteOur courts are in a public space, and courtesy matters. Key reminders from our Court Usage Rules:Respect the community: no loud music, no inappropriate language, no kicking balls outside the courts and no alcoholCurrent season adult CBVA members only for social play. Membership cards must be displayed on the poles.Keep the courts clean — take rubbish with you.Be respectful in all interactions; abuse or aggression won’t be tolerated.Game flow: max two consecutive games if others are waiting. “Two new / four new” queue rules apply.Match level: if there’s a large points gap, consider moving to a more suitable court. Final NoteThanks for doing your part to keep the courts safe, fair, and welcoming. See you at the beach!For more information please see the full rules.
With the summer season now underway, squad selections took place a few weeks ago. Thank you to everyone who showed interest and came down for trials. We had so many talented players putting their hands up, narrowing it down to just six per group was no easy task for our coaches, Martin and Fernando.You may already know from our website (or just from being around the club) that the squads aim to “give players a competitive and supportive training environment, helping them prepare for state and national-level tournaments throughout the season.” Sounds like a fantastic opportunity, but we wanted to dig a little deeper into what really motivates our players to join.Thanks to everyone who completed our mini quiz! Here’s a fun peek behind the scenes: What made you want to join the Summer Squad this season? Players said it was all about improving performance, training alongside high-level coaches and teammates. I got offered a spot. Couldn’t say no to more sun, sand and sass. – MarieTo have practice and time on the sand during the season. – Misha What’s your favourite thing about training with the squad? Consistent, dedicated training and being surrounded by people who help you grow as a player.Pushing myself – GregorSeeing the improvement of everyone throughout the season – JesseWhat are you hoping to achieve this summer through squad training?Leveling up skills, smashing stronger attacks, and finally owning those handsets. Many are chasing better fitness, sharper gameplay, and podium finishes in tournaments. A few are hoping to keep their physios totally bored this season (no injuries, please! – Marie).Better my game, sharpen my skills, and aim for some tourney wins! – MicaWhat’s the best advice a coach or teammate has given you in the past? Popular answer: Volleyball is a mindset! Stay focused. “Relax!” – Jesse’s advice from Roman. “Breathe, volleyball is a mind game” – Ilaria Which beach volleyball skill makes you feel like a superhero when you nail it? The most popular answer was blocking closely followed by hand setting.Every season brings new energy and new faces, but the same love for the game. We are very proud of our squad athletes and can’t wait to see what this talented group achieves this season.Thanks for reading, See you at the beach!
We’re excited to welcome Fernando to the CBVA coaching team.Originally from Brazil, Fernando brings over ten years of experience in both indoor and beach volleyball. With a Bachelor’s in Physical Education and Level II coaching certifications from the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation and Volleyball Australia, he combines technical expertise with a passion for developing players of all levels.A former professional beach volleyball player and high-performance coach, Fernando believes in game-based training that builds strong fundamentals, fosters teamwork, and translates directly to better on-court performance. His approach balances skill development with a focus on enjoyment, ensuring players grow in both confidence and ability.Since moving to Sydney last year, Fernando has been coaching across school and club programs, sharing his knowledge and love for the sport with the local volleyball community. We’re thrilled to have him on board and look forward to the energy and experience he brings to CBVA.
Ryan Cooper was 13 years old when he decided to join a friend from school at a beginners camp organised by Marcos in Coogee. Flash forward 4 years, he has been selected to represent Australia under 18’s World Championships in Doha this October, and we couldn’t be more proud!In the meantime, he trains with the CBVA Squad, he’s a regular at the highest level of local, state and national open (age-wise) competitions and has some ambitious goals for his future on the sand, which we are sure is bright.
We asked Fernando and Ryan a few questions to know a bit more about them, and get some insights on the objectives and motivations of a successful coach and athlete.When did you start coaching / playing beach volleyball and what keeps you hooked? Fernando – l started working with beach volleyball early in my coaching career, back in 2012. I was invited to join a beach volleyball training center after a short period coaching indoor volleyball in my hometown. At the center, I was responsible for a social project that supported many children and teenagers, as well as developing high-level athletes.I quickly fell in love with beach volleyball because of its versatility and the environment around the sport. What keeps me hooked is how dynamic and complete the game is. Every player needs to master all aspects of the sport (technical, tactical, physical, and menta ) which makes coaching both challenging and rewarding. And, of course, the beach setting and the sense of community make it even more special. Ryan – I started playing beach volleyball in 2021 right down here at Coogee. A school friend of mine (LF) asked if I wanted to do a beginner camp with coach Marcos, and I thought to myself, why not, so I gave it a shot. The desire to be better than what I was yesterday keeps me hooked, the constant drive to be better with every touch I get with the ball.I quickly fell in love with beach volleyball because of its versatility and the environment around the sport. What keeps me hooked is how dynamic and complete the game is. Every player needs to master all aspects of the sport (technical, tactical, physical, and menta ) which makes coaching both challenging and rewarding. And, of course, the beach setting and the sense of community make it even more special. What would you like to achieve this season? Fernando – I like to think that a coach is an instrument, the person who connects the athlete to their maximum potential. No matter how good an athlete already is, there’s always something to adjust and improve.I believe the game itself teaches you how to play, and that’s the core of my coaching philosophy. My goal for this season is to help our athletes develop by giving them more tools to solve game situations, building a solid physical and technical foundation to support their performance on the court, facilitate tactical organization, and make their decision-making more intentional and effective.This is my first season coaching beach volleyball in Sydney, so my personal goal is to establish a high-performance program with our athletes and to learn about the structures and organizations of the sport here. Ryan – I would like to win my first NSW BVT in Division 1, and also consistently place at junior national events throughout the season. I also would like to represent Australia at the U19 asian championships at the end of the season, as well as the U19 World championships a couple of months after that. What’s the best quality you look for in a player / coach ? Fernando – For me, the greatest quality in an athlete is the desire to learn, or what I would call a sense of restlessness, that relentless drive to keep improving and refining their skills.An athlete who understands that nothing in volleyball is more important than a solid foundation, strong fundamentals, and giving full attention to the work that most people overlook, that to me is the greatest quality. Everything else can be built and taught over time, but without the willingness to evolve, no real progress is possible. Ryan – The best quality in a coach, in my opinion, is motivation. In reality, it’s up to you to show up to training and perform, and with motivation from the coach it gives you that extra bit of confidence. You have been granted a one-off bvb magical wish: you can coach / play with any player in the world (even retired ones!). Who do you choose and why? Fernando – I think I would choose two players.The first would be the American Kerri Walsh, perhaps the greatest female beach volleyball player of all time. She is renowned not only for her incredible athleticism and dominance on the court, but also for her consistency, determination, and ability to perform under pressure.The second would be the Brazilian Emanuel Rego, whom I had the privilege of watching play. I was deeply impressed by his dedication in training, his incredible work ethic, and the respect and leadership he showed to everyone around him. Emanuel was not only a highly skilled player, but also someone who inspired his teammates and set a standard for professionalism and commitment in the sport. Ryan – I choose to play with Adrian Carambula. This is because he is like me, short lefty who is very smart and crafty with his game. I believe me and him would make a crafty team who can beat tall players by outskilling them.
