16 June, 2026
Vanuatu Volleyball (VVF), in collaboration with its key sponsor Titan FX Vanuatu, was again very pleased to welcome Rob Francis, who is a performance practitioner in the field of Sports Science from the UK, and regularly visits Vanuatu as part of his role with the International Olympic Committeeâs Solidarity and Development program, and it has to be said, has become a key member of the VVF extended family over the past 4 years.
Robâs recent visit saw him active in a variety of areas, continuing to support the coaching and high-performance training of the national womenâs beach volleyball team, but also conducting physical training sessions and educational lectures for Titan FX staff in Port Vila. Titan FX provided accommodation support for Robâs visit through its Titan Mansion, located at the companyâs Port Vila base.
Another activity undertaken by Rob Francis was contributing to community-level knowledge sharing, 
which extends impact beyond just elite athletes. Underlining this community work was the delivery of what is referred to as an âAdaptive Volleyballâ program, which focuses on people with disabilities, and was delivered as an additional element at the conclusion of the recent V4C Port Vila 5-Wards Initiative.
Rob is a strong advocate for adaptation in sport, from the perspective of removing the rigidity of elite performance sport, which can shut people out at the community level, and set it to be suited to different intersections in the community â adults and children, ability and disability, older and younger participants.
For example, a volleyball net doesnât have to be regulation height, it can be lowered for children, beginners and older players to enable successful spiking for instance; and the ball doesn’t have to be a regulation volleyball. A balloon or soft ball moves slowly, is easy to track and doesn’t hurt â ideal for young kids, older adults or anyone new to the sport. Adaptation can be applied to many areas of the game but is not about lowering the standards of the sport.
So, an adaptive volleyball session is designed to make the game accessible to everyone, regardless of age, ability or experience. By adjusting the rules, equipment and formats â softer balls, lower nets, smaller courts, extra touches or catches â barriers are removed â with the simple aim of allowing everyone access to play, succeed and enjoy the game.
According to Rob Francis, what emerges from adaptive volleyball sessions are more people being active and engaged in the sport, who might otherwise be excluded; leading to increased confidence, as well as improved movement skills and social connection for participants. This then translates to stronger community links and a greater sense of belonging, underlining a model of inclusive delivery that can be repeated across schools, clubs and villages.
