Athena on Tour: Our German Volleyball Adventure in Krefeld 

Last summer, our Athena Tournament welcomed a very special guest: Verberger Volleyball Club from Krefeld. What started as a friendly visit quickly turned into an international friendship — and an open invitation to experience volleyball, German‑style. Spoiler alert: it was absolutely worth it. 

Fast‑forward to 1st–4th May 2026, when five of our amazing adult players from Star, Galactics and Nova packed their bags and headed to Germany for a weekend of beach volleyball, culture, and unforgettable memories. 

From the moment we arrived, the German hospitality was unreal. They made us feel right at home — imagine Leicester, but with taller people and more pretzels 😅. We were welcomed into every activity, fed all the German specialities you can think of, and treated like part of their volleyball family. 

A special shout‑out to Janni and Michelle (our German versions of Sara and Paul) who went above and beyond to look after us and make sure we had the best time. We learned so much from their training, their culture, and their passion for the sport. 

Now it’s our turn. Planning has already begun for their visit to us — and trust us, we’re going to make sure they have just as much fun as we did. This exchange will now be a yearly tradition, and we couldn’t be more excited. 

A final note to say a big thank you to CLETA for providing us with a grant to help offset the cost of the visit, it was very much appreciated.