*VA has developed a sport-specific matrix, in collaboration with the AIS Performance Pathways Team (and SIS/SAS partners where appropriate), that defines each of the five categorisation levels:

• Podium: Athletes have won a medal at an Olympic/Paralympic Games, World Championships or agreed event in the previous 24 months
• Podium Ready: Athletes that have been 4^th– 8th at the most recent Olympic/ Paralympic Games or Senior World Championships, and/or Top 8 on the FIVB world rankings at the time of categorisation
• Podium Potential: Senior athletes that have achieved defined international competition performance benchmarks that reliably confirm their world standard.
• Developing: Athletes that have progressed through a reliable national talent confirmation phase in a high-quality training environment, including achievement of relevant international competitions performance outcomes.
• Emerging: Athletes who have been identified by Volleyball Australia via a valid and reliable talent identification profiling method and are going through a set, time-limited talent confirmation period in a high-quality training environment.

*More information can be found in the 2021-2024 Volleyball Australia Athlete Categorisation Policy