Beyond VCL Season 1: Naveen Rathi's Blueprint for Grassroots Volleyball in North India

A semi-final in the first season of the Volleyball Champions League was a strong start for Haryana Hurricanes. But owner Naveen Rathi's ambition has never been about one season. The franchise's mission is to make volleyball a premier sporting culture across Haryana and to nurture elite talent. This post looks at what that means for the next generation, and answers the question many young players are already asking about Haryana Hurricanes trials.

Why Grassroots Matters for Haryana Volleyball

Volleyball is already part of daily life in Haryana. It is played on school grounds, village courts and college fields across the state. What has been missing is a clear pathway from those courts to the professional game. A national league with television coverage creates that pathway, and a home-state franchise makes it feel reachable for a young player in Haryana.

That is the idea at the heart of the franchise, as set out on the About Haryana Hurricanes page: give raw talent the right environment, professional guidance and the direction it deserves.

From Mud Courts to Professional Indoor Arenas

The jump from an outdoor mud or clay court to a professional indoor arena is bigger than it looks. Players have to adjust to a faster surface, a quicker tempo, tactical systems, video analysis and the pressure of live broadcast. The players who make it usually have three things: strong fundamentals, exposure to higher-level competition, and someone who spotted them early.

What the Hurricanes Pathway Could Look Like

Built on the franchise's mission, a long-term talent pipeline would rest on a few pillars:

• Talent identification: scouting at school, college, district and state tournaments across north India.
• Open trials and clinics: sessions where young players can be assessed by the Hurricanes coaching staff.
• Coach development: sharing professional methods with school and club coaches so standards rise at every level.
• Exposure: bringing promising youngsters into training sessions with VCL players, the way the squad mixes senior and young talent today.

This builds on the ecosystem idea in our earlier post, Building Champions Beyond The Court.

Why Private Franchise Ownership Matters

Government schemes and state associations remain the backbone of Indian sport. What a privately owned franchise adds is speed, money and visibility. An owner like Naveen Rathi can sign a player for a record ₹27 lakh, fund a pre-season camp in Dehradun and put a young player in front of a national TV audience within a single season. That is a powerful bridge between local tournaments and the highest level of the sport. Read more about his approach in Who Is Naveen Rathi?.

How Young Players in Haryana Can Get Noticed Now

You do not need to wait for an official trial to start building your case. Here is what aspiring players can do today:

• Play competitive volleyball: school, inter-college, district and state championships are where scouts look first.
• Master one position: study the roles on the Haryana Hurricanes squad page, from setters and liberos to middle blockers and outside hitters, and train for one.
• Record your game: short highlight videos of serves, attacks, blocks and digs make it easy for coaches to assess you.
• Follow official channels: trial announcements will be shared on the Haryana Hurricanes Instagram and our news page.
• Get in touch: players, coaches and schools can reach the franchise through the Haryana Hurricanes contact page.

The Long Game

Season 1 gave Haryana a team. The next seasons can give Haryana a system, one where the next Chirag Yadav or Shakti Singh is found on a local court and developed all the way to the VCL. That is the real meaning of the franchise's promise, and it is why the Hurricanes' story is only beginning. See where it started in Haryana Hurricanes Enter A New Era Of Volleyball.

About the Owner

Naveen Rathi

Owner, Haryana Hurricanes | Member, ZRUCC, East Central Railway

Naveen Rathi is the Owner of Haryana Hurricanes, Haryana's franchise in the Volleyball Champions League (VCL) India, and a Member of ZRUCC, East Central Railway. He led the franchise through the VCL 2026 auction and its debut season, taking the Hurricanes to the semi-finals. Read the full Haryana Hurricanes story.