The new proposal, in fact, does not solve the structural problem of the current calendars, i.e. the too short duration of the national championships, concentrated in just seven months, but is limited to redistributing the commitments between national and international activities. The result risks being a further burden for the whole system.
The fundamental components of the Italian movement highlight three unsustainable critical issues in the new project.
- More load on athletes: the new set-up involves more matches, greater concentration of commitments and more peaks of intensity, with direct consequences on recovery times and the protection of the health of players.
- Less value for national championships: the stop scheduled between December and January takes away from club competitions one of the most important periods for audiences, sponsors, television rights and fan involvement.
- No solution to the underlying problem: instead of expanding the space dedicated to national championships, the proposal further compresses their development, sacrificing continuity and value.
Volleyball needs a sustainable calendar, which enhances national championships, protects athletes and recognizes the central role of clubs. Any international reform must start from an indispensable assumption shared by leagues and athletes: because without clubs and without players there can be no volleyball.