View past editions of the VC Nationals Newsletter here. Want to get updates straight to your inbox? Sign up to get the Nationals Newsletter straight to you!

News Releases

July 6, 2023: Volleyball Canada announces 2024 Youth Nationals dates

Newsletters

June 2023 Newsletter

July 2023 Newsletter

August 2023 Newsletter 

September 2023 Newsletter

October 2023 Newsletter

November 2023 Newsletter

VC acknowledges that, in previous years, the registration format was stressful and caused issues with technology for many users.  It has since been concluded that a lottery would provide an equitable registration process for all Nationals participants.  The lottery format alleviates several key stress points: 

1.      Participants no longer need to have access to reliable internet; 

2.      Participants no longer need to take time out of the workday in order to prepare to click a link at the exact right time; 

3.      Reduces the burden on clubs who need to register multiple teams at the same time. 

The expression of interest will allow VC to invite teams directly and opens up the event’s full capacity therefore limiting the number of teams directed to the waitlist.  VC will also be able to adjust the number of courts designated per age/gender of a tournament to better serve the demands of any particular age/gender. 

While we recognize the stress associated with getting into Nationals cannot be alleviated, we are working to limit the stress of the overall registration process.  

Questions about Registration? Click here

Watch our info session reviewing the new registration process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDObgjQf3LM 

Registration

New for 2024!  VC will be launching an all new registration process in an effort to reduce the stress and time sensitive pressures associated with Nationals registration.  

From December through January, teams will have the opportunity to fill out an expression of interest for attending Nationals.  All interested teams will be placed into a lottery and will be drawn to determine the teams who will be invited to register.  

14U teams may only submit one (1) expression of interest per team per event (Ottawa, Fredericton, Richmond, Edmonton), however they may submit additional expressions of interest if they wish to attend multiple 14U events. These teams will be waitlisted for any/all events after their first event invitation to ensure that all interested teams have an opportunity to participate before a second invitation is offered. 

**Additional note for 14U** When expressing interest, please select a priority (First, Second, Third) for each event to help with invites.

A $500 deposit will be required with each expression of interest, this amount will be removed from the overall amount owing on the registration fee.

Once the tournament is at capacity, remaining teams will be placed on a waitlist based on the order of the lottery draw. Selected teams will then receive an invitation to register via Sportlomo.   

In the event that a team does not submit an expression of interest in the allotted timeframe, they will be able to submit a late expression of interest and will be added to the waitlist. 

We are excited to offer this new opportunity as all teams will have the time to complete the registration process on their own schedule and not have to recruit multiple individuals to be a part of the registration process.  

Pre-Registration

Championship Tier Medalists from 2023 will be offered an opportunity to register for Nationals prior to the general registration period.  

New for 2024!  Provincial/Territory Gold Medalists from 2023 will now also receive Pre-Registration for 2024 Nationals.   

Eligible teams will receive an email directly from VC in late November with further details. Early registration will be held in December 2024. 

Expression of Interest

To express interest in the registration lottery please fill out form between December 11 – January 7th by midnight EST.

**Teams expressing interest after January 7th will be invited to register if there is space. If the event is full, teams will be added to the waitlist in the order that they express interest. To express interest after January 7th, please click here.

Registration How-To

All team registrations for Nationals are done on SportLoMo. For assistance with registering a team, please consult the Nationals Registration Guides.

The 2024 registration fee for Ottawa is $1160.

Once an age/gender category is full after the registration lottery, teams will be placed on the waitlist based on the order of the lottery draw. VC will maintain a waitlist to invite teams as additional space becomes available or if a team withdraws; waitlisted teams will be offered a spot in the tournament based on their position on the posted waitlist.

In the event that a team does not submit an expression of interest in the allotted timeframe, they will be able to submit a late expression of interest and will be added to the waitlist in the order that they express interest.

Any teams playing up by 1 or more divisions from their declared age category must wait until January 22nd, 2024 to express their interest to play at the older age group.  If space is available, teams will be invited to register.  If the event is full, teams will be waitlisted in the order that they have expressed interest. 
 
This is to give all “of-age” teams a chance to register in their appropriate age group. Any team found in violation of this rule will be subject to removal from the tournament. If a team wishes to play up but the event fills before the play-up registration date, the team will be added onto the waitlist on January 22nd. 

Example: a 14U girls team may express interest to compete in the Fredericton Nationals. If that team wishes to also play in the 15U Nationals in Edmonton they must wait until January 22nd to express interest for that event. If the 14U girls team plans to only compete in 15U Nationals, they must still wait to register until January 22nd. 

If you wish to withdraw from Nationals, please complete the Team Withdrawal Form.

Teams who wish to withdraw from Nationals will be eligible for a refund as per the following timelines:

** Teams who do not submit a withdrawal form and who do not attend Nationals are subject to the following penalties:   
-No refund for registration fees  
-A fine in the amount of $1500 
-A not in good standing status for the head coach and/or club should the     penalties not be completed in the specified timeline.   

The registration closing date for the 2024 Nationals is March 28th, 2024. 

Early Bird Tournament passes will be available for purchase at a discounted rate on Thursday, February 15th at 12 pm (noon). Tournament passes will increase to full price on Thursday, April 18th at 12 pm (noon) EST.

Online Tournament pass sales will be deactivated on Monday, April 29th, 2024, at 12 pm (noon) EST.

NOTE: All event pass options will be available for purchase on-site.

New for 2024! Cash payments will NOT be accepted on-site.

Refunds:

Refunds will only be provided for event passes which have not been secured or worn by the spectator. To request a refund, please contact nationals@volleyball.ca.

Please note that athletes and team staff are not required to purchase an event pass as accreditation will be provided at Coach Check-in. 

For information and questions regarding event passes, please contact nationals@volleyball.ca or 613-748-5681 x231.

Volleyball Canada is not responsible for any lost or stolen passes.

Ottawa Event Pass Purchase Link: Coming Soon

Tournament passes purchased online will be available for pick up at Will Call. Make sure to have a piece of photo I.D. as well your confirmation email with you when picking up your pass.

Further information regarding ticketing hours and locations will be available in the Spring.

If you are picking up a pass under another name, please have the confirmation email from their purchase to receive these passes.

Ottawa Event Pass Purchase Link: Coming Soon

VC’s Stay to Play policy is in effect for the 2024 Nationals. This means that all participating travelling teams are required to book hotel rooms through the event’s Accommodation Management Provider (AMP), in order to be eligible to play in the tournament.

For more information on the Stay to Play policy, please review the Volleyball Canada Stay to Play Overview and our Frequently Asked Questions document.

VC is once again pleased to be working with HTG Sports Services who is the official AMP for Nationals 2024. Please refer to the chart below for the tournament accommodation opening dates.

Nationals Accommodations Contact Information:

For questions regarding the Stay to Play Policy and Exemption Requests, please contact: nationals@volleyball.ca

Preview links will be posted in mid-December.

Please refer to the below guide for an overview of the hotel booking process for HTG. VC strongly recommends teams review this prior to the booking portal opening.

HTG Booking Guide (coming soon)

Volleyball Canada offers exemptions from the Stay to Play policy for both teams and individuals under the following categories:

1. Proximity Exemption:

If a team/player meets one of the criteria below, they would be eligible for a local exemption.

• If the team/athlete is based within the specified proximity distance from the competition venue.
• If member(s) of the team plan to stay with family or friends that reside within the specified proximity distance of the competition venue.
   

The proximity distances for 2024 Nationals are:

 Note: If your Club falls within the proximity distance, and your Club Team decides to book accommodations, bookings must be made through Hudson Travel Group (HTG) to help support the event. Hudson Travel Group will work with your Team to ensure your needs are met. Volleyball Canada has to report "Heads in Beds" to Host Cities to be able to secure funding to offset the facility rental costs to make this large event possible. Thank you for your support in bringing bigger and better events to Volleyball Canada members!

Pre-Approved Local Clubs – Volleyball Canada and the host PTAs have pre-approved local clubs that fall within the designated proximity distances. Any teams associated with a club on this list are automatically exempt from the Stay to Play requirement. No further action is required on their part. To view the list of clubs, please see the link below.

•               2024 Pre-Approved Local Club List 

 *If your club is not listed but should be based on its club address, please have a club administrator complete the S2P Local Exemption Form to have your club reviewed.

2. Special Exemption:

For exemption requests that do not fall under the above category, a Special Exemption Request must be submitted.

Please note, that previous booking exemptions will not be considered. Teams who book a hotel room outside the Stay to Play policy will be required to cancel their hotel bookings and book through the designated hotel provider.

Exemption Request Process: 

To apply for an exemption from the Stay to Play policy, teams will be required to complete the online S2P Exemption Request Form. The opening date for submission requests is December 15, 2023. The closing date for submissions is April 2, 2024.

S2P Exemption Request Form

Volleyball Canada will respond with the result of the request within 10 business days. Exemptions are not final until official approval is received from Volleyball Canada. 

Who is eligible:

• Any club with three (3) or more registered teams in a single event; AND,
• Clubs looking to have all teams stay in the same hotel

Any club meeting the above criteria will be provided with the opportunity to book their entire group into one of the designated ‘large club’ properties. The designated hotels were selected by VC and HTG and were chosen to ensure options meeting a variety of potential team needs.

How to Book: VC will email all registered eligible clubs/teams directly with full booking details on February 2nd. After receiving the email, teams will be required to confirm their participation and provide the following details to VC. If you do not receive the email on February 2nd but feel you should be eligible, please email nationals@volleyball.ca.

• Name and Contact Details for the Club Representative who will book on behalf of all teams;
• Number of teams participating;
• Booking codes and team names for each participating team

Please refer to the Accommodations Booking Date Chart, under Accommodations Overview, for details on when the Large Club Booking window will open. The designated Team Contact will be sent a booking link prior to this window and will have 24 hours to complete their initial request.  Room caps will be strictly enforced, as per each event’s guidelines.

Preview Links: Clubs can view the designated ‘large club’ properties via the Hotel Preview Links for each event. 

*Note, clubs are not required to book via this method and may choose to have their teams book accommodation individually during the regular accommodation booking window. 

VC is once again happy to partner with Absolute Travel Specialists for the 2024 Nationals season. Though not required, we encourage teams to book with Absolute Travel Specialists to take advantage of the following benefits:

• WIN: Book your team with Absolute Travel Specialists by January 29, 2024 and you will be automatically entered into a draw for a $500 credit towards your group flight booking.
• Hold Group Space: Absolute Travel is holding group space, permitting you to mix and match flights with Air Canada and Westjet from all gateways! Absolute Travel has secured group air seats from all major gateways, which ensures the best flight times for your team and families with competitive rates.
• Free checked bag and seat selection: Bookings include 1 FREE checked bag per person, round trip PLUS free seat selection! (Approximate value $120)
• Group pricing: Every person travelling with your team will pay the same price.
• Reserve with deposit only: Final payment required 75 days prior to travel date giving your team lots of time to fundraise if required. Names are not required at the time of deposit, just your estimated numbers.
• Payment options are available.
• Block reduction: You can reduce your group block by up to 20% without penalty.

Read past Nationals Participants' Absolute Travel testimonials.

Contact Elayne Pink - epink@absolutetravelspecialists.com or call toll-free 1-866-322-6538 - for more information, or to book today!

Did You Know?

• Air Canada Groups no longer provides group quotes unless you are an IATA registered agency, which Absolute Travel is.
• Absolute Travel has experience booking team group travel and has assisted Volleyball Canada Teams for all Nationals since 2015.
• WestJet has a long-standing group relationship with Absolute Travel.

Nationals are held over three (3) days, with Day 1 being pool play, Day 2 being power pools and Day 3 being playoffs. Day 1 and 2 are separated into two waves, AM wave (7:30 am – 2:30 pm) and a PM wave (2:45 pm – 9:45 pm) while Day 3 has all teams starting in the morning. During the first 2 days, teams play all other teams within their pools. After the first day of competition is complete, teams are “re-pooled” for day 2 of the competition in order to group teams of similar calibre together. Day 3 playoffs consist of teams playing in a single-elimination playoff bracket. 

Last matches of the day 3 are scheduled for 4:45 PM. 

VC is committed to a sport environment free from abuse that is safe for all participants. For more information, our policies, and resources, please click here.

Safe Sport Reporting

Volleyball Canada has zero tolerance for any type of abuse. Individuals are required to report abuse or suspected abuse. If you are the victim of abuse, harassment, or discrimination, or you’ve witnessed such an incident within our sport, you are encouraged to contact the Abuse-Free Sport Helpline by phone or text at 1-888-83SPORT (77678), or by email to info@abuse-free-sport.ca, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When the incidents recounted appear admissible, operators can assist you in filing a report through a confidential online platform, if desired.

To see the complaints process, click here.

Education

VC is requiring that all individuals involved with the sport across the country take the new safe sport training module, available via the Coaching Association of Canada website.
 
As of April 1, 2020, anyone associated with a Sport Canada-funded organization must be trained on conduct to prevent and address maltreatment. This includes coaches, referees, parents of youth athletes, high-performance staff and contractors, officials; and all administrative staff and volunteers whether they may have direct contact with athletes or not. 

Through the adoption of VC’s Pan Canadian Safe Sport policies, all Provincial/Territorial Association registered coaches, referees, staff/contract members and volunteers, are required to take approved Safe Sport Training. VC also currently mandates training for parents of Youth National Team Program athletes, however, PTA’s currently implement safe sport training requirements for parents of youth athletes in their province and it is not currently included in the Volleyball Registration System and is not a requirement for registration for National Championships.

The safe sport module is a free, 90-minute eLearning module that gives all participants the tools to recognize, address, and prevent maltreatment in sport. The module aligns with the principles of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport and meets Sport Canada requirements for Safe Sport education.
 
Visit the safe sport training site for more info: https://safesport.coach.ca/

Background Check and Screening Disclosure form

All coaches, staff members, volunteers, referees, team staff members and Integrated Support Team (IST) members involved in VC domestic competitions are required to complete a yearly Screening Disclosure form and have completed a criminal record/police check issued within 36 months of the activity being attended. These requirements apply to all disciplines.

These are to be completed upon your yearly registration and can be done though Sportlomo. 

To provide further clarification, we have compiled the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Nationals provides an excellent opportunity for companies to showcase products and connect with participants. In addition, our social media and community reach provides partners with the opportunity to engage with an even wider membership.

Instagram: 71.3K followers
Facebook: 168K followers
Twitter: 52.2K followers
YouTube: 14.6K subscribers
VC Nationals Newsletter: 4.9K subscribers

Are you interested in what sponsorship options are available during the 2023 Nationals? Please contact Colin Young at colin@sportbrand.ca or 403-764-3955 for more information and to discuss your marketing ideas.

Interested in becoming a vendor at the 2024 Youth Nationals?

If you would like to be at one of our Nationals events as a vendor, please review our Vendor Guide and complete the Vendor Application Form.

Volleyball Canada welcomes companies and organizations of all types who would like to connect with our participants through interactive displays, contests, as well as general information.

2024 Vendor Guide

Vendor Application

Apply to become a vendor today!

For more information, please contact nationals@volleyball.ca.

Ottawa is Canada’s capital, a dynamic city of more than one million people located in Ontario at the border of Quebec. An urban centre on the edge of nature, Ottawa offers a bustling city life right beside vast outdoor beauty.

During your trip to Ottawa, explore the distinctive local neighbourhoods such as the historic ByWard Market, lively Glebe, or trendy Westboro Village. Bring your appetite and discover a deliciously diverse culinary community, with restaurants and food festivals inspired by a beautiful variety of cultures. Find your favourite stores and local treasures in this busy, yet relaxed, capital city. Travel by foot, bike, bus or car (and even paddle boats in the summer on the Rideau Canal) to get around.

Whatever your interests, there’s plenty to discover, see and do in Ottawa. Check out ottawatourism.ca for more information, recommendations and things to do during your visit! For the “tried and true” see the suggested Top 10 Things to Do in Ottawa. For updated information visit the Ottawa Insider blog or What’s Happening in the Ottawa Area page that’s updated weekly.