World ParaVolley helped to organise a coaching course in Luxembourg ©World ParaVolley

Sixteen different countries were represented at a sitting volleyball coaching course - a number seen as a big step forward for the Paralympic sport.

In all, 31 people took part in the intensive course in Luxembourg, which lasted for four days.

Four travelled from South Korea with Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, England, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, Norway and Spain also represented alongside hosts Luxembourg.

Twenty-nine people left with diplomas while two translators achieved certificates of attendance.

Organised in cooperation with the Federation Luxembourgeoise de Volleyball, World ParaVolley, VolleySLIDE and LuxSittingVolley, the participants went through intensive theory and practical sessions in order to cover all the areas of coaching the sport at a national level.

Sitting volleyball is an established part of the Paralympic programme
Sitting volleyball is an established part of the Paralympic programme ©Getty Images

Dutchman Jouke de Haan and Matt Rogers of Luxembourg tutored the course, which was run at the National Sports and Culture Centre on the Kirchberg Plateau.

Sitting volleyball was introduced at the Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games, but World ParaVolley also govern a standing game for athletes with a disability.

Beach volleyball for sitting and standing players is also contested.

In the men's sitting tournament at London 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina were crowned as champions with China winning the women's event.