The Figueres Volleyball Club marks a quarter-century of existence, an event that president Jordi Jaume, one of the most veteran leaders in local sports, describes as historic. The entity reaches this anniversary at its peak, with an unprecedented number of teams and a favorable sporting landscape for volleyball.
Jaume, who has led the club in two terms since its founding in 2001, recalls the beginnings as a necessity to continue the section of the Figueres Swimming Club. "We wanted to continue with volleyball, and the only option was to create a new club," he explains, driven by demand from players and parents.
The club's trajectory has been marked by moments of success and challenges, such as the shortage of players between 2010 and 2012. The implementation of extracurricular activities in schools and word-of-mouth were key to reversing the situation. The end of the pandemic also brought a significant boost, with a notable increase in participation.
Currently, the club has seventeen teams, including federated and school teams, a figure that Jaume considers "unthinkable" when it was founded. "Not even the most daring thought, when we were founded in 2001, that twenty-five years later we would have the number of teams we have now," he states.
Regarding male participation, the club has worked to decouple volleyball from its exclusive association with women's sports. While the current percentage is 70% girls and 30% boys, the goal is to reach 60-40 with the creation of a federated U15 team for the next season.
Jaume also wished to acknowledge the contribution of many individuals who have been part of the club, including coaches, founders like Germán de Juana, Santi Coll, and Martí Llauró, and the boards of directors who have supported his management.
The president highlights that the club has been a "motor" for volleyball in the Alt Empordà, collaborating with other entities such as Esplais, Sant Pere, and Castelló. "We have been one of the motors. When we started, it was just us, then Esplais, Sant Pere, Castelló emerged...", he points out.
With over thirty volleyball teams combining the main entities in the region, Jaume considers volleyball to be "one of the trendiest sports." However, he warns about the need for more training space to absorb demand and avoid having to say "no" to new players.
The saturation of current training facilities, such as the Roser Llop pavilion, Escola Joaquim Cusí, and Institut Narcís Monturiol, limits growth. The construction of a third pavilion in the city would be a "huge help" for the club and other entities, allowing for more training hours and improving competitiveness against other clubs that have more availability.
Looking ahead, Jaume expresses the wish for the club to continue growing and for its members to "adopt a more ingrained volleyball mentality," although he acknowledges his intention to remain at the helm if conditions are favorable.
