Joe Campbell has played volleyball for 12 years, coached for 16 years and has refereed for over 35 years. He was the first referee in the USA and Pan America zone to become involved with sitting volleyball (1989) and is one of only two referees in World ParaVolley to be selected to referee in six Paralympic Games.
From the first time he stepped on the volleyball referee stand in 1979, Joe has loved the game. And that is from a football and baseball fan growing up never having followed volleyball until Japanese strangers asked him to try the sport in 1979 while in the U.S. Air Force serving in Japan.
More will follow about where Joe’s passion for sitting volleyball came from, but he started as an international referee from 1992 to 2014 and served as the referee commissioner from 1994 to 2012 – responsible for the recruitment, training and official assignments in the Pan American zone.  Joe has stepped up each time because he wanted to make a difference in the sport and continues to drive the development of the sport on all levels. Joe became the Pan America zone president in 2012 and has worked for World ParaVolley at a number of international competitions to date in the role of either Referee Delegate, Jury, Assistant Technical Delegate and Technical Delegate.
1 – How did you get involved in Sitting Volleyball?
In 1989 I was living in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. The International Sports of Disabled (ISOD) brought the sitting and standing World Championships to the USA for the first time ever. I was a very active and high profiled volleyball official in the Las Vegas area, and I was asked to referee these games. At the conclusion of the games, I was asked by Dr. Radu Rosenthal (VRC Chair) if I would like to continue to work more competitions. I quickly agreed as I thought these athletes were awesome.
2 – What is it that motivates you each day to further develop our sport?
The joy in watching athletes compete, and to see their growth in the sport. I’ve been blessed to be involved with sitting volleyball for 35 years now, and I’ve watched all the teams in the Pan America zone grow from grassroots, to be in the top 5 in the world… amazing! I get so much joy and satisfaction in watching all teams compete in this wonderful sport.
3 – What has been your biggest achievement in Sitting Volleyball to date?
I would have to say that my biggest achievement has been being the president of the Pan America Zone. When I accepted this position, we had no zonal board, and only 5 member nations. My focus has been to see the PVPA zone grow with more member nations. We’ve had as many as 12 member nations, but I want to see us grow to 20+ members nations. Back in the 1990’s I was requested to travel around the USA to speak about sitting volleyball as most people had never heard of it. It was not only an honour to do this, but it was also emotional as I spoke with interested athletes direct.
4 – How would you explain Sitting Volleyball to someone in 12 words or less?
It’s a fast paced, energetic, challenging, thrilling, competitive team sport.
5 – What advice would you give to someone wanting to develop Sitting Volleyball in their region?
GO FOR IT! This is the advice I would give them. Developing sitting volleyball will give so many opportunities to athletes that have a desire and dream to play the game. For any person who is thinking about developing sitting volleyball, I would not only encourage them, but I’d share with them that they could be the catapult for an athlete to move up and play internationally on the global stage. In my opinion, the sky’s the limit in helping any athlete to pursue playing sitting volleyball nationally, regionally, and/or internationally.
6 – Where/how do you see Sitting Volleyball in 10 years’ time?
For all of society to see sitting volleyball as a sport for ALL. Today, many see this sport as only for physically challenged athletes. I believe that World ParaVolley is doing a great job in promoting the sport for ALL. I know that some countries have club teams, and playing on these teams are non-challenged athletes. It’s a great challenging sport, and a person can get an excellent physical workout.
I know that internationally it is one of the top team sports in the Paralympic Games, but I can see it soaring to the top as the #1 watched sport in the Paralympic Games.
The ‘Movers & Shakers’ initiative is aimed at giving more recognition to those that are developing Sitting Volleyball around the globe.
It can be anyone working in the sport, whether they have excelled at promoting it, ran a successful competition, started a new club/activity, organised events to increase awareness, influenced people for the greater benefit of the sport or a combination of the above.
Please do let us know if you know of someone who deserves to be highlighted by e-mailing
volleyslide@worldparavolley.org with the following:
- Full name
- e-mail address
- Country in which they mainly work
- A short justification of why you are putting them forward
Their story will also offer others a chance for others to learn from their good practise and use what works in their area for even greater benefit. Â This is your chance to give recognition to those who promote and build the sport of sitting volleyball. Â We look forward to hearing from you.
Previous Mover & Shakers:
Fernando Guimarães (BRA)
Remazan Zandi Nezami (IRI)
Peter Karreman (NED)
Robinson Tunwesigye (UGA)
Olga & Oleg (ISR)
Isabelle Collot (FRA)
Daniel Lopez (ESP)
Anton Raimondo (RSA)
Nello Calleja (MLT)
Richard Stacey-Chapman (GBR)
Robert Grylak (GER)
Elliot Blake (USA)
Stephane Girodat (FRA)
