Birmingham City University to host England’s only year-round indoor beach volleyball centre

Volleyball England is proud to announce today that Birmingham City University (BCU) will host England’s only year-round indoor beach volleyball centre.

England’s only beach volleyball center is to be built in Birmingham thanks to a landmark agreement between Volleyball England and Birmingham City University (BCU).

The indoor facility, built at BCU’s sports headquarters in Perry Barr, will help develop the sports stars of the future, benefiting elite athletes, students and the local community.

The £320,000, 4-court facility, due to be built by the end of 2024, will be open all year round to allow UK athletes to continue their training well into the winter months.

As part of the build, the facility will reuse sand from the beach volleyball courts set up for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham – further strengthening the event’s sporting legacy in the city.

“It has always been an integral part of our Commonwealth Games legacy plans to establish more facilities in and around Birmingham, providing an outlet for local, regional, national and international activities and events,” said Volleyball England chief executive, Charlie Ford.

“This new facility at BCU will be of great help in strengthening the infrastructure and awareness of beach volleyball in England, particularly in the West Midlands.

“There is also a strong commitment from BCU and Volleyball England to develop a high performance program that provides educational and athletic development opportunities for aspiring beach volleyball athletes.”

Mark Jeffreys, Director of Sport and Physical Activity at BCU, says the center will benefit the local community as well as elite players.

“You wouldn’t expect to find a world-class beach volleyball facility in the heart of the Midlands, so this is a very welcome addition,” he said.

“This investment means we will be able to help identify talented people in the local area who may not otherwise have experienced the challenging and engaging sport of beach volleyball.”

Former beach volleyball pro Jake Sheaf, now a 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy consultant, said the center would have a massive impact.

“I have been fortunate enough to compete for England for over a decade on the World Tour, European Tour and Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“One of the biggest challenges we faced as full-time beach volleyball athletes in England was year-round access to a suitable facility that allowed us to train at the frequency and intensity that we needed to continue climbing the world rankings.

“This new facility will make a huge difference in our ability to compete at the highest level.”

Beach volleyball has a special place in the history of the Birmingham 2022 Games.

The sport gave England its first international showpiece medal, with Joaquin and Javier Bellow claiming a historic bronze in the men’s event.

The result was the precursor to a hugely successful summer for the host nation, who went on to collect a record 176 medals over the 12 days of competition.

BCU Vice-Chancellor David Mba said: “The legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games continues to extend into 2024 with the construction of this new facility at BCU’s Moor Lane site.

“The indoor center will provide lasting wellbeing benefits to both our students and the local community as a space to promote physical activity throughout the year. I look forward to seeing the courts in use later this year.”