The Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) in an attempt to build the sport is offering players scholarships to go abroad to further their careers in the sport.

Steve Brown, the JaVA head, said that players can earn a living out of playing volleyball.

“There are incentives in playing volleyball and players can make a living from the sport,” he said

“The University of the West Indies (UWI) has offered scholarships to players to go overseas to play and these players are playing in the pro-leagues and they are doing well.

“Our netball star Simone Forbes is on a scholarship playing overseas and she is doing well so you can see that players can make a life from volleyball,” said Brown as he addressed the Jamaica Observer Sports Club last week.

The captain of the men’s senior volleyball team, Dellan Brown, no relation to Steve, noted that with scholarships being offerd to players they will be more focussed on the game, which will ultimately lead to the development of the sport.

“Scholarships wise, volleyball is pretty much up there with the other sports. Over the years we have had our players playing overseas on scholarships and so our athletes are more geared in playing volleyball,” he explained.

Brown also revealed that once players are playing on scholarships abroad they can make a career in volleyball.

“Last year we have had like five players playing overseas on scholarships… the system has changed so you can make a living out of volleyball. If you are serious, you can make a career out of playing Volleyball,” he ended.