Becoming a member of vereniging Albatros- what does that mean?
What is a âverenigingâ?
If you havenât checked Google Translate yet, it will tell you it means a volunteer association, club, or society. In the Netherlands, there are about 140,000 official verenigingen, of which 28,000 are sports-related. Albatros is one of them, meaning anyone can join â from eight-year-olds to people over 90, skilled players to those still learning. Everyone is welcome.
Is it for free?
In Dutch, we say: âalleen de zon gaat voor niets op,â which means âonly the sun rises for free.â So, no, itâs not free. Members pay fees of around EUR 310,- if youâre 18 or older. Donât worry â thatâs for a whole year, not per month. It covers weekly training sessions plus games. Youâre welcome to try a few training sessions for free to get a feel for the club and its awesome members. Once we find a spot for you on a team, weâll ask you to pay the fees and purchase an Albatros uniform for matches.
Do I have to play every week?
Yes â we say itâs âvrijwillig, maar niet vrijblijvend,â meaning âvoluntary but not optional.â We understand life happens, but we ask for your commitment â not only to yourself but especially to your teammates. If thatâs too much, tennis might be a better fit. Training is weekly. Home games take place on Wednesdays at the Verheijhal, while away games can be scheduled on different days throughout the week.
How is a âverenigingâ organized?
This is where the âvolunteerâ part of volunteer association really comes in. We run entirely on volunteers â people passionate about the club who give their time and energy freely. Nobody is paid (except trainers who get a small volunteer allowance). That means members help out with tasks like setting up nets, organizing tournaments, refereeing, or tidying up volleyballs. A vereniging is like a close-knit family: everyone pitches in, not just mum and dad.
It sounds fun, I want to try it out!
Send us an email (men, women or youth)! Tell us where youâve played volleyball before, your level, and how often you trained. If you have any questions, just ask!
Recente reacties