European Volleyball Confederation

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European Volleyball Confederation
CEV logo
Formation 1963
Type Sports organization
Headquarters Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Membership 55 nations
President Luxembourg André Meyer

The European Volleyball Confederation (French: Confédération Européenne de Volleyball or CEV) is the continental governing body for the sport of volleyball in Europe. Its headquarters are located in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.


Although the CEV was only formed on October 21, 1963,[1] volleyball became popular in Europe many years before. The majority of the teams that attended the Congress which eventually lead to the foundation of the FIVB in 1947 were from this continent. In fact, the foundation itself is supposed to have been a move on the part of European national federations.

Volleyball was invented in the USA, but became for the first time an extremely popular sport in eastern Europe, after being introduced by American soldiers during World War I. By the middle of the century, it had already spread through the rest of the continent as well. Many techniques and tactics that are commonplace in modern volleyball have been allegedly introduced by European teams. Amongst others, it would be worthy of note here: blocking (Czechoslovakia, 1938); penetration of the setter, which eventually led to the development of the so-called 5-1 system (USSR, 1949); forearm pass (Czechoslovakia, 1958); and backrow attack (Poland, 1974).

The long and significant tradition of the sport in the continent may at least partially account for the administrative structure employed by the CEV, that rivals with the FIVB's in size and comprehensiveness. It is the biggest of all volleyball confederations, and the one that organizes the largest number of annual competitions and tournaments. As of 2005, its headquarters are located in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

As the presiding entity over European volleyball federations, the CEV organizes continental competitions such as the prestigious European Championship (first edition, 1948), the CEV Cup and the European League. It participates in the organization of qualification tournaments for major events such as the Olympic Games or the World Championship, and of international competitions hosted by one of its affiliated federations.


Europe is considered the strongest continent in the field of volleyball. The CEV has usually more spots reserved in international competitions than any other confederation.

Russia, which inherited most of the players and coaches from former USSR and CIS, has arguably the most stable volleyball programme, supporting top level women's and men's teams. The same may be said of Italy, although only in later years women's volleyball was fully developed in this country.

Serbia, Poland, Italy, Bulgaria and The Netherlands must also be counted as continental forces in men's volleyball. At a lower level of play, one may consider a few other teams with some tradition in this realm, such as France; and at an even lower level, but still capable of occasionally upseting stronger teams, Germany, Spain,Greece and possibly Portugal.

Competition is less tough in the domain of women's volleyball. Russia, Serbia and Italy are rarely threatened by any other team in major competitions. Apart from these three, Germany, which has drawn players both from West and East Germany, may be viewed as the next most traditional European team. With more inconsistent results and often depending on the excellence of individual players, one may also take into consideration: The Netherlands, Romania and more recently Poland and Turkey.

Affiliated Federations[edit]

As of 2007, the following national federations were affiliated to the CEV:

Code Country Federation
ALB  Albania Albanian Federation of Volleyball
AND  Andorra Federació Andorrana de Voleibol
ARM  Armenia Fédération de Volleyball de la Republique d'Armenie
AUT  Austria Österreichischer Volleyball Verband
AZE  Azerbaijan Azərbaycan Voleybol Federasiyası
BLR  Belarus Bielorusskaia Federatsija Volejbola
BEL  Belgium Fédération Royale Belge de Volleyball
BIH  Bosnia and Herzegovina Odbojkaški savez Bosne i Hercegovine
BUL  Bulgaria Bulgarska Federatsiya Volejbol
CRO  Croatia Hrvatski odbojkaški savez
CYP  Cyprus Kypriaki Omospondia Petosfairisis
CZE  Czech Republic Český Volejbalový Svaz
DEN  Denmark Dansk Volleyball Forbund
ENG  England Volleyball England
ESP  Spain Real Federación Española de Voleibol
EST  Estonia Eesti Võrkpalli Liit
FER  Faroe Islands Flogbóltssamband Føroya
FIN  Finland Suomen Lentopalloliitto F. Y.
FRA  France Fédération Française de Volleyball
GEO  Georgia Georgian Volleyball Federation
GER  Germany Deutscher Volleyball Verband
GBR  United Kingdom British Volleyball Fderation
GIB  Gibraltar Gibraltar Volleyball Association
GRE  Greece Elliniki Omospondia Petosferiseos
GRL  Greenland Kalaallit Nunaanni Volleyballertartut Kattuffiat
HUN  Hungary Magyar Röplabda Szövetség
IRL  Ireland Volleyball Association of Ireland
ISL  Iceland Blaksamband Íslands
ISR  Israel Igud HaKadur'af BeIsrael
ITA  Italy Federazione Italiana Pallavolo
LAT  Latvia Latvijas Volejbola Federâcija
LIE  Liechtenstein Liechtensteiner Volleyball Verband
LTU  Lithuania Lithuanian Volleyball Federation
LUX  Luxembourg Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Volleyball
MKD  Macedonia Odbojkarska Federacija na Makedonija
MLD  Moldova Fédération de Volleyball de la Republique de Moldavie
MLT  Malta Malta Volleyball Association
MON  Monaco Fédération Monégasque de Volleyball
MNE  Montenegro Odbojkaški savez Crne Gore
NED  Netherlands Nederlandse Volleybal Bond
NIR  Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Volleyball Association
NOR  Norway Norges Volleyballforbund
POL  Poland Polski Związek Piłki Siatkowej
POR  Portugal Federação Portuguesa de Voleibol
ROM  Romania Federaţia Română de Volei
RUS  Russia Vserossijskaya Federatsiya Volejbola
SRB  Serbia Odbojkaški savez Srbije
SCO  Scotland Scottish Volleyball Association
SLO  Slovenia Odbojkarska Zveza Slovenije
SMR  San Marino Federazione Sammarinese Pallavolo
SVK  Slovakia Slovenská Volejbalová Federácia
SUI   Switzerland Swiss Volley
SWE  Sweden Svenska Volleybollförbundet
TUR  Turkey Türkiye Voleybol Federasyonu
UKR  Ukraine Ukrainian Volleyball Federation
WAL  Wales Welsh Volleyball Association

National Teams Competitions[edit]

Clubs Competitions[edit]




  1. ^ "About the CEV". European Volleyball Confederation. Retrieved 21 December 2013. 

External links[edit]