2022 World ParaVolley Awards

BLAKE Elliot – USA (PVPA)

Elliot is the manager of sitting volleyball at USA Volleyball

He is responsible for the identification and recruitment of athletes for training, development, and future national team consideration.

He leads Sitting National Team Development Program (SNTDP), providing new athletes with the foundation of knowledge, skills development, and understanding of team strategy.

He provides teaching to new sitting volleyball coaches and practice through participation in SNTDP.

He oversees all domestic national team events and competitions and provide logistical support during team training camps.

He leads the grassroots development of sitting volleyball across the country by developing new partnerships with disabled sport and volleyball organizations.

He pursues funding and grant opportunities to support grassroots initiatives, the SNTDP, and/or national teams. Since 2009, have received over $600,000 in funding support.

Elliot began working for USA Volleyball in April 2008 as the first full time employee dedicated to sitting volleyball. His role has been to support the grassroots development of sitting volleyball across the United States and to identify and recruit new athletes for the national teams. Since then, he has created and led the athlete development pipeline, currently called the Sitting National Team Development Program, and has conducted a large number of clinics, presentations, and competitions to further support the sport’s growth. Additionally, he have served World ParaVolley and the Pan American Zone in numerous capacities as an LOC Tournament or Competition Director, PVPA Jury Delegate, and member of the World ParaVolley Technical Commission.

John Kessel and Bill Hamiter have had the greatest influence on him, primarily because they were his supervisors at USA Volleyball. However, they also took time to have detailed discussions and brainstorming sessions with him on new ideas for growing the sport of sitting volleyball at low cost and great appeal. Additionally, his own Team USA athletes have been very influential as they have always posed questions regarding new opportunities to grow the game or introduce new athletes to our programs.

Event involvement:

2020 – Edmond, OK, USA, LOC Tournament Director, Men’s Final Paralympic Qualifier (cancelled two days before team arrivals due to COVID-19)
2019-Present, member of World ParaVolley Technical Commission
2019, Tokyo, Japan, WPV Women Super 6, Technical Coordinator, USA Women’s Sitting National Team, Gold Medal
2019, Lima, Peru, Lima 2019 Para Pan American Games, Technical Coordinator, USA Women’s Sitting National Team, Gold Medal
2018, Tabriz, Iran, WPV Men’s Super 6, Team Leader, USA Men’s Sitting National Team, 6th place
2017, Montreal, Canada, PVPA Sitting Volleyball Zone Championships, Jury Delegate
2017, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sao Paulo 2017 Youth Para Pan American Games, Head Coach, USA Girl’s Youth Sitting Team, Silver Medal
2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Technical Coordinator, USA Men’s Sitting National Team, 8th place
2016, China, Technical Coordinator, USA Men’s Sitting National Team, WPV Intercontinental Cup
2015-2017, Technical Officer, Board of Directors, ParaVolley Pan America Zone
2015, Toronto, Canada, Toronto 2015 Para Pan American Games Technical Coordinator, USA Men’s Sitting National Team, Silver Medal
2013, Edmond, OK, USA, ParaVolley Pan America Sitting Volleyball Zone Championships, LOC Tournament Director
2012, London, England, London 2012 Paralympic Games, Technical Coordinator, USA Women’s Sitting National Team, Silver Medal
2011, Guadalajara, Mexico, Guadalajara 2011 Para Pan American Games, Jury Delegate
2011, Kettering, England, Continental Cup, Technical Coordinator, USA Men’s Sitting National Team
2010, Edmond, OK, USA, WOVD Sitting Volleyball World Championships, LOC Competition Director
2010, Denver, CO, USA, WOVD Pan America Sitting Volleyball Zone Championships, LOC Tournament Director

Worked until the present in the fields of event management since 2010, coaching from 2009, national refereeing from 2010, technical officiating from 2011, and administration (governance) from 2015.

Awards received:

2014, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Diversity & Inclusion NGB Choice Award for Sitting Volleyball Summit

Official posts held:

2019-Present, member of World ParaVolley Technical Commission
2015-2017, Technical Officer, ParaVolley Pan America Board of Directors