Created in September 2023, this volleyball academy is based in Melbourne (VIC). The mission of the Atlas Volleyball Academy is to offer high quality indoor volleyball training to children and young people of all ages, starting from ten-year-olds and up. Our coaches will teach youths volleyball playing skills at any level – basic, intermediary, and advanced. Our training sessions will be help primarily in the southeastern suburbs.
The focus of the academy is dual: a) to initiate children into volleyball, and b) to nurture young volleyball talents, enabling them to compete at the local level and be selected to play at the professional level, including internationally.
The founding member of this academy is Abdel Raffass. He has been playing and coaching volleyball for 42 years. From 1983 to 1993, Abdel was playing for clubs in Morocco and represented the National Team of Morocco in 1992-3 before he went to study in Ukraine. He continued playing volleyball while in that country as well, alongside his university studies. Upon completing his degree, he moved to Australia where he’s been actively participating as a volunteer in the Victorian Volleyball State League, State Team and Australian Volleyball League. From 2004 to 2023, the teams he coached won eight gold and five silver medals. He was awarded the Coach of the Year Award by the Victoria Volleyball State League in 2017. Currently, Abdel is also the Head Coach of the International Volleyball Club (IVC) Premier Women 2023.
ACCREDITATION
Volleyball Australia Level 3 Associate Coach
COACHING EXPERIENCE IN AUSTRALIA
- IVC, Women’s Head Coach — 2023; Coaching Premier One and Premier Two Women; Silver medal for Premier Two at the Victorian State League Championship Grand Final
- Dandenong Volleyball Club, Women’s Head Coach — 2020-2022; Coached Premier One and Premier Two, as well as providing coaching assistance
- Dandenong Volleyball Club, Division Two Men’s Head Coach — 2019; Gold medal at the Victoria State League Championship Grand Final
- Victoria State Team Under 19 Boys, Assistant Coach — 2019
- Melbourne Uni Women’s Premier, Head Coach — 2018; Gold medal at the Victoria State League Championship Grand Final
- Melbourne Uni Men’s Premier, Assistant Coach — 2017; Gold medal at the Victoria State League Championship Grand Final
- Melbourne Uni Women’s Premier, Head Coach — 2017; Silver medal at the Victoria State League Championship Grand Final
- AVL, Uni Blues, Head Coach — 2017
- AVL, Uni Blues, Assistant Coach — 2016
- Eastside Hawks Volleyball Club, Division Two Men’s Head Coach — 2016; Silver medal at the Victoria State League Championship Grand Final
- Dandenong Cossacks Club, Division Two Men’s Head Coach — 2009; Gold medal at the Victoria State League Championship Grand Final
- Dandenong Cossacks Club, Division Two Women’s Head Coach — 2008; Gold medal at the Victoria State League Championship Grand Final
- Dandenong Cossacks Club, Division One Men’s Head Coach — 2008; Silver medal at the Victoria State League Championship Grand Final
- Victoria State Team Under 17 Boys, Assistant Coach — 2008; Silver medal at the Australian Volleyball Championship Grand Final
- Dandenong Cossacks Club, Division One Men’s Player & Head Coach — 2007; Gold medal at the Victoria State League Championship Grand Final
- Dandenong Cossacks Club, Division One Men’s Player & Head Coach — 2006; Gold medal at the Victoria State League Championship Grand Final
- Victoria State Team Under 19 Boys, Head Coach – 2005
- Victoria State Team Under 15 Boys, Head Coach – 2004; Gold medal at the Australian Volleyball Championship Grand Final
- Melbourne Uni, Player — 2002; Gold medal at the World Masters Game
Atlas Volleyball Academy 