The FIVB is an international federation founded in Switzerland in 1947, and represents all major volleyball rules and tournament play in the world. Standing for the Federation International de Volleyball, it governs five continental confederations.

Consisting of a World Congress, which acts as the supreme authority in volleyball competitions, it governs all international volleyball events. It convenes every two years to decide on new rules and to elect a Board of Directors.

Sponsoring several beach and indoor volleyballl tournaments, the FIVB hosts more tournaments than any other body. The FIVB world league is a yearly event, taking place over seven weekends in 40 cities with more than 12 national volleyball teams attending. This is the premier international volleyballl tournament, with the contestants competing for over 20 million in prize money.

The World Championships occur every four years, and prior to the tournament there are many qualification matches. 214 teams attempt to qualify for this volleyball tournament, with only 24 teams of each gender competing in the FIVB volleyball final.

The FIVB sponsors a Beach Volleyball Tour known as the Swatch World Volleyball Tour, which travels to a variety of countries, and holds an international beach volleyball championship every two years.

VolleyballSponsorship and FIVB

The FIVB has strong support to force other tournaments into using their rules. Making them the supreme volleyballl authority, they also hold camps to train players and referrers in international rules.

Referees can become FIVB certified by attending a volleyball-refereeing clinic. These clinics are offered in a variety of countries, and once FIVB certified, it is much easier to get a position refereeing for local and national tournaments.

FIVB sponsors the Swatch World Beach VolleyballTour, which travels to a variety of countries, and holds an international beach volleyball championship every two years.

Volleyball programs are a necessary action to promote relationships between different factions of the world.

The Namibian Volleyball Federation will host a referee-training course in the month of April, and is the first effort to promote volleyball on the continent. The FIVB is starting to promote volleyball in developing countries and is starting this campaign in Africa. International tournaments are set to follow, as members from 11 different African countries will be attending the clinic.