Expression of Interest (December 2nd 2024 – January 5th 2025)

Teams will be required to fill out an expression of interest for attending Nationals.  All interested teams will be drawn to determine the teams who will be invited to register.

Teams may only submit one (1) expression of interest per age/gender category via SportLoMo.

14U teams will have the opportunity to list a 2nd event in their Expression of Interest should they be willing to attend an alternate event. Teams will be automatically invited to the alternate event should they be waitlisted for their preferred event.

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 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. 

Expressions of Interest will be open from December 2nd – January 5th by midnight EST and will be completed on SportLoMo. Teams expressing interest after January 5th 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. 

Registration How-To 

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

Volleyball Canada Portal (ON, QC, SK, and NWT)

Volleyball Canada Portal Expression of Interest Guide

Volleyball Canada Portal Registration Guide 

Club Portal (AB, NB, MB, NS, BC, NL, PEI, YK)

Club Administrator

Club Administrator Portal Expression of Interest Guide

Club Administrator Portal Registration Guide 

Rostered Coach/Official (Team Manager) *appropriate membership required 

Coach/Official (Team Manager) for Club Portal Expression of Interest Guide

Rostered Coach/Official (Team Manager) Login for Club Portal Registration Guide Coaches or Team Managers (parents) added to their Team's Roster on the Club Portal 

*Membership varies by PTA for adding Parents to Team Staff, please contact your PTA.

If you are unsure which registration process (Club vs Volleyball Canada Portal) please reach out to your Provincial membership coordinator.

The 2025 registration fee for Ottawa is $1210.

Registered Teams

The Registered and Waitlisted Teams lists will be available in 2025.

Expression of Interest teams:  Boys    Girls

*Both lists as of December 20th, 2024 1:30pm ET.

Waitlist

Once an age/gender category is full, teams will be placed on the waitlist based on the order of the draw and/or the date of submission of the late expression of interest. 
Volleyball Canada may invite a team(s) off of the waitlist: 

• If a team does not accept an invitation 
• If a team withdraws from the event 
• If there is sufficient space in the facility to expand the event 
• If there are enough teams on the waitlist (minimum of 4 to 8 teams required)
   

Please note that teams who have pending invites won’t be listed on the Registered Team List nor will they be on the Waitlist. Teams will be noted on the updated list once the registration is complete or the invitation expires.

Any teams playing up by 1 or more divisions from their declared age category must wait until January 23rd, 2025 to express their interest to register.  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 23rd.

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 23rd 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 23rd.  

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: 

** Registered 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 2025 Nationals is March 26th, 2025. 

Volleyball Canada’s Stay to Play policy is in effect for the 2025 Nationals. All participating travelling teams must book their accommodations through the event’s Accommodation Management Provider (AMP) 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 the Frequently Asked Questions document.
 
Volleyball Canada is excited to continue working with HTG Sports Services, the official AMP for Ottawa 2025. Please refer to the chart below for the tournament accommodation opening date. 

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

Hotel Preview Link: 
Ottawa 2025 Hotel Preview Link

Hotel Booking Link: The hotel booking Link will be emailed directly to Team Accommodation Managers. If your Team Accommodation Manager's contact details change after Registration, please complete the Team Manager Change Requst Form.

Team Room Minimum and Cap : 

• Room Minimum = 5 Rooms
• Room Cap = 12 Rooms

*The Room Cap is the maximum number of rooms that may be reserved (per team) during the initial booking period. 
 

Each team can reserve up to 12 rooms during the initial booking period. This cap is in place to ensure all travelling teams have fair access to accommodations. This cap applies to the initial request made through HTG.   A minimum of five rooms per team must be booked to ensure Stay to Play compliance.
 
Please book only the confirmed or necessary number of rooms during this period. Historically, significant room cancellations occurred after bookings, limiting other teams' availability. 
 
If additional rooms are needed, they may be requested with HTG after your initial block has been filled, based on availability.

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

HTG Booking Guide 

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

1. Local Exemption: 

Teams or athletes may qualify for a local exemption if they meet one of the following criteria: 

• The team is based within the specified proximity distance from the competition venue. 
• The athlete resides within the specified proximity distance from the competition venue.  
• Team member(s) plan to stay with family or friends who reside within the specified proximity distance from the competition venue. 

The proximity distances for Nationals 2025 are: 

Note:  If your club falls within the proximity distance and decides to book accommodations, all bookings must still be made through HTG to support the event.

Pre-Approved Local Clubs – Volleyball Canada, in collaboration with the host PTAs, has pre-approved a list of local clubs that fall within the designated proximity distances. Teams from these clubs are automatically exempt from the Stay to Play requirement—no additional action is required. To view the pre-approved club list, click below: 

2025 Pre-Approved Local Club List

*If your club is not listed but meets the criteria based on its address, please have a club administrator complete the S2P Local Exemption Form for review. 

2. Special Exemption:

For exemption requests outside of the local category, a Special Exemption Request must be submitted.

Please note, previously approved exemptions will not be considered. Teams who book 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, please complete the online S2P Exemption Request Form. Volleyball Canada will provide a decision within 10 business days. Please note, exemptions are not final until officially approved by Volleyball Canada. 

The deadline to submit an Exemption Request is February 28th, 2025.

Who is eligible:

• Clubs with four (4) or more registered teams in a single event; AND, 
• Clubs looking to have all teams stay in the same hotel. 

Eligible clubs will have the opportunity to book their teams into one of Volleyball Canada’s designated ‘large club’ properties. These hotels were selected by Volleyball Canada to accommodate a variety of potential team needs. 

How It Works:  

1. Receive Eligibility Email: 

• Volleyball Canada will contact all eligible clubs/teams by email on Thursday, January 31st, with details on how to opt into the program. 

2. Opt-In Process: 

• If your club wishes to participate: 
  
  • Assign one Club Accommodations Manager to oversee the process for all participating teams. 
  • The Club Accommodations Manager must complete the opt-in form provided in the eligibility email from Volleyball Canada before the indicated deadline. 

3. Receive Booking Link: 

• HTG will send an email with the booking link to the designated Club Accommodations Manager. 

4. Booking Rooms: 

• On the designated booking date, the Club Accommodations Manager will log into the portal and reserve one (1) block of rooms for the entire group. 

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

*Please note:  Clubs are not required to use this method and may choose to have teams book individually during the regular accommodation booking window. 

Early Bird Tournament passes will be available for purchase at a discounted rate on Thursday, February 13th at 12 pm (noon). Tournament passes will increase to full price on Thursday, April 17th at 12 pm (noon) EST.

Online Tournament pass sales will be deactivated on Monday, April 28th, 2025, at 12 pm (noon) EST.

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

Important! Cash payments will NOT be accepted on-site.

Refunds: Refunds will only be provided for event passes which have not been picked up from Will Call. 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. 

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

For information and questions regarding event passes, please contact nationals@volleyball.ca or 613-748-5681 x229.

Ottawa Event Pass Purchase Link: Coming Soon  

Tournament passes purchased online will be available for pick up at Will Call. You will need to present your confirmation email when picking up your pass.

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

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

Ottawa Event Pass Purchase Link: Coming Soon

Nationals are played over three (3) days:

• Day 1: Pool Play
• Day 2: Power Pools
• Day 3: Playoffs

Day 1 and Day 2 Waves

• AM Wave: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM
• PM Wave: 2:45 PM – 9:45 PM

On Day 3, all teams start in the morning for single-elimination playoffs. The final matches on Day 3 are scheduled for 4:45 PM.

During the first two days, teams play all other teams within their pool. After Day 1, teams are re-pooled for Day 2 based on performance, to ensure teams of similar calibre are grouped together.

Important Note on Tier-Based Schedules: Some teams, known as 'bubble teams,' may switch waves from Day 1 to Day 2 based on performance.

Schedule Availability

Schedules will be available on AES 1 week before the competition.
Final schedules will be posted once all teams have checked in. Always refer to the Final Schedules on AES for the most accurate and up-to-date match times and court assignments.

Please note, details regarding team seeding will not be available on AES until all provincial/territorial championships have been completed for each age/gender category. Please review the seeding schedule for anticipated timelines.

Book a Timeslot

Teams may sign up for a practice time at no charge. Teams are permitted a 45 or 60-minute practice slot and are asked to promptly exit the court space at the end of the reserved time. Practice times will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Practice times are not guaranteed for all teams due to space and time available in each venue.

Practice time bookings will be available Thursday, March 13th at 12:00pm EST. 

The first draft practice schedule will be posted Friday, March 28th and will be updated every Friday by 5:00pm EST.

For information and questions regarding practice time bookings, please contact: nationals@volleyball.ca.

Practice time bookings will be at Carleton University at: 1125 Colonel By Dr. Ottawa, On. K1S 5B6 

Seeding will be shared with coaches once all provincial championships have been completed for the specific age/gender category. Final seeding will be updated in AES as soon as possible.

Anticipated timelines for releasing seeding will be posted in March 2025

Situated on unceded Algonquin territory beside the historic Rideau Canal, an official UNESCO World Heritage Site, Carleton University was founded by the community in 1942 to meet the needs of veterans returning from the Second World War. 

Since those days, it has grown to become a leading university recognized for its leadership in teaching, research, community engagement and interdisciplinary study. 

COURT MAP 

Address 

1125 Colonel By Dr. Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6 

Campus Map

Getting to the Venue  

Getting to Carleton University campus by bus (or O-Train) is a convenient option for many students faculty. The transitway is a big part of the OC Transpo public transit system. It provides rapid transit across the entire city on bus-only roadways and intersects with the O-Train.  

You can even combine cycling with you ride on public transit - the Rack & Roll program allows cycle their bicycles with them. Racks are installed on over 200 buses, including all articulated buses on Ottawa transit routes. 

Select games of the 2025 Nationals will be live-streamed on Volleyball Canada’s YouTube page. Make sure to follow the account and check in on this page before the event kicks off where the links will be posted once available.

View all National events' past results here.

Nationals will be using AES for reporting all results. Final scores will be updated upon completion of the match and made available via AES.

More details to come. 

Medals

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place: Awarded to teams in the Championship Tier and each division’s Championship Tier.
• 1st and 2nd Place: Awarded to teams in all other tiers.

National Champions Awards

All National Champions will receive:

• Medals
• Banner
• Hats
• Sponsor prizes (if available)

Championship Tier Awards Ceremony

Teams in the Championship Tier (formerly Div 1, Tier 1) will receive their medals, prizes, and any additional awards during a formal awards ceremony held on the final day of competition, following the completion of their last match. Additional details will be provided closer to the event date.

Medal Distribution for Other Tiers

Teams outside the Championship Tier will collect their medals from a designated pick-up area. There will be no formal ceremony for these teams.

Fair Play Award

The Fair Play Award will be presented to one (1) male and one (1) female 14U team at youth indoor nationals. This award recognizes teams that embody Volleyball Canada’s Fair Play Rule, demonstrating support and consideration for both teammates and other participants. Fair Play awards will be presented on-court on Day 3 of the competition.

All coaches participating in Volleyball Canada’s National Championships are required to meet a minimum level of training and certification to ensure that every athlete is provided with a safe, inclusive, and responsible sport experience. 

Guiding Principles 

All athletes have the right to an NCCP Certified coach. 

All coaches have the responsibility to: 

• Have the required training to provide an environment that is physically, mentally, emotionally and socially safe for all athletes and participants. 
• Have the required training to be able to provide a responsible learning environment that incorporates Volleyball Canada’s teaching methodologies, technical guidelines and long-term athlete development principles. 
• Ensure that all training is current and updated as required, to be able to provide a safe and responsible sport experience for all. 

A full breakdown of the Coach Eligibility Requirements, including deadlines, can be found here. 

If you have questions regarding the Coach Eligibility Requirements for Nationals, please contact your respective Provincial/Territorial Association or email coaching@volleyball.ca. 

Ottawa: May 1, 2025

Late Check-In 

If coaches will not be able to make the listed coach check-in time they may request late check-in. Late check-in requests will be charged $50.

Late Check-In form (Coming Soon)

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.