OVERVIEW

This program is for those athletes with a keen interest in the sport of volleyball who want to who want to take their skills to the highest level of competition. These teams compete against teams from across Ontario in OVA sanctioned tournaments. They typically practice 2x/week for a total of 4 hours from September to April. Practice nights will vary depending on age group. Tournaments are held across Ontario depending on which club is hosting the tournament. Age groups are from 10 to 18.

WHAT EXACTLY IS COMPETITIVE VOLLEYBALL?

Competitive volleyball is designed for players that truly enjoy the sport and want to take their volleyball skills to a higher level. It is an organized, controlled, and fun way for volleyball players of varying abilities to be introduced to, continue to develop, or be challenged at the game of volleyball beyond House Leagues or School Programs.

Competitive volleyball is also about new friendships, learning the game, opportunities for your daughter to expand their horizons, developing teamwork and communication skills, and an opportunity to travel. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Club Volleyball costs will vary, depending on program, travel, and more. Typically, our fees are in the $1,100 – $1,250 range.

This includes Volleyball Club and OVA individual registration and insurance, tournament fees, jersey package (2 game jerseys, shorts, practice shirt), gym rentals, equipment, coaches’ training and travel, specialized training, concussion management protocol service, year end banquet & awards, Ontario Championships (also known as “OCs” or “Provincials”) picture packages, as well as volunteer & overhead expenses.

Excluded – Travel costs, hotels, meals, extra tournaments outside of age group and beyond Provincials, shoes, and any spirit wear (backpacks, sweatshirts, etc.).

WHAT AGES?

The Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA) has competitive events for u12 to u18. BYVC’s aim every year is to have a team at each age group.

WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT?

PRACTICES – typically we practice 2x a week, locations and times depend on the coach’s schedule and gym availability. Most of our gyms are in the Brantford & Paris area. Practices start late September and run until Provincials in April.

TOURNAMENTS – The typical competitive schedule is a series of 4-5 “regular season” tournaments played on Saturdays (sometimes Sundays) from November to April. The coach may also schedule some exhibition games/tournaments as well. Provincials are a 3-day tournament in April. Depending on interest and skill level, teams may also play in Nationals which are held in May.

HOW MUCH TOURNAMENT TRAVEL IS INVOLVED?

The OVA does not own their own facilities. They rely on clubs to host tournaments. BYVC typically gets assigned to Southwest Ontario events – KW, London, Chatham, Windsor, Niagara, Hamilton, and Stratford are frequent destinations. Rarely do we travel east of Toronto.

As a team progresses to higher levels, the number and location of tournaments vary and may require travel outside Southwest Ontario.

Each team may also consider tournaments outside of the OVA-sanctioned events, or Nationals (AAU, USAV tournaments in the U.S. as an example) if coaches are willing.

HOW ARE TEAMS CHOSEN? HOW DO TRYOUTS WORK?

The purpose of tryouts is to assess an individual player’s abilities to place the player on the appropriate level team so they may have fun, improve, and excel during the upcoming volleyball season. ALL players must tryout every year.  No player will be placed on a team until they have completed the tryout process.

During the try-out process, directors and coaches evaluate players as they participate in drills designed to test their basic volleyball skills. Players are evaluated by multiple coaches throughout the course of the tryout sessions; the coaches then work together on the team placement process.

There will be official try out sessions for each age group. This will consist of an Evaluation Window and Acceptance Date. 

Please note that while BYVC tries to take all athletes, the numbers may not allow us to take everyone depending on coaching staff and number of participants.

Check our website at www.byvc.ca by mid August for dates, times, and locations.

WHAT ABOUT PLAYING TIME?

OVA has strict rules related to the younger age group (U12 – U16) to ensure equal participation in all tournaments. The older age groups (U17 – U18) do not have the same requirement. BYVC believes playing time is earned, not given. Playing time is determined by the coach based on several criteria including attendance, practice, attitude, game performance and skill.

Playing time and related issues are encouraged to be resolved between player and coach. After such meetings, if the issue remains then a formal meeting with the player, coach and director will be held.

WHAT ABOUT PARENT INVOLVEMENT?

Parents can and are encouraged to support and play active roles throughout the year for their team. Such roles include having Team Representatives who coordinate such items as food for games, travel arrangements where necessary, and assignment of duties during tournaments. Parents are also expected to share duties during the tournament including performing scoring and acting as line judges.

BYVC will support and provide training needed by parents to fulfill these roles.

We have an open-door policy with our parents and encourage them to communicate with our staff.   This policy does not exist during tournaments and practices; we ask that all parents observe a 24-hour rule during and after tournaments to allow for a “cooling off” period before approaching a coach with any staff/parent discussions/issues.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND reviewing the two Code of Conduct Contracts that would be required should you join the BYVC family…

For more information, please contact info@byvc.ca.