Women's National Excellence Program (NEP)
National Excellence Program (NEP)
The National Excellence Program (NEP) is designed to prepare athletes to perform at the highest level of our sport and to continue their development towards the National Senior Team Program and/or playing professional volleyball. It offers individual technical and tactical skill development as well as team play refinement. Athletes are exposed to an array of Sport Science and Sport Medicine services, dispensed by leading Canadian practitioners in a holistic high-performance environment. NEP athletes, through training and exhibition competition, are introduced to leading international volleyball programs and clubs.
Those selected to the NEP are committed to an investment in their future as an international athlete competing on the world stage.
The objectives of the National Excellence Program are to:
- create a high-performance daily training environment with provincially and nationally identified Grade 10-12 athletes
- monitor and support the WHOLE athlete through national team staff leadership
- enhance volleyball skills to match and exceed those of other top nations
- provide a balance between academic and training demands
Program Details
Program Details
Athlete Eligibility: Female athletes in Grades 10-12
Location: Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond, BC
Dates: September to December (approximately 80 training days)
Sport Medicine: IST Staff, including mental health and recommended practitioners will be made available.
Athlete Selection: Volleyball Canada will identify and invite 16-20 athletes
Education: Student-athletes complete online courses from their home province or territory and are provided daily face-to-face classroom support from a certified teacher. Three hours of daily study time is integrated within the program schedule, with evenings and weekends free for additional study time.
Living Arrangements: Athletes will reside with a locally approved homestay family.
Training: Sessions will vary from on-court, strength and conditioning, education, therapy, and recovery.
Competition: Travel and competition opportunities with local University and College programs.
Approximate Program Fee: $6000-$7000 plus tax (will be confirmed prior to selections) includes all training, gear, administration, education support, local travel, and homestay expenses. This fee does not include travel to and from the training venue and does not include any education-related expenses for online registration or out-of-province students.
Check with your PTA for details and/or other sources of subsidies.
Additional Information
Nationally identified athletes would be committed for the duration of the program and would not participate in other club or school-based programs during the program (Sept-Dec). This program is designed for athletes who have chosen volleyball as their primary athletic pursuit. Student-athletes may be exposed to other sports during the year as a means to support their volleyball development. Athletes will return to their home school in January and are encouraged to participate in their local club to further their development and regain family/social bonds.
The program would integrate online and/or classroom learning to support excellence in academics while managing a high-performance training load. Students graduating from the program can expect to improve their opportunities to excel in a post-secondary program.
This program also aims to propel Canada beyond the current success of Olympic qualifications to Olympic podium performances.
Identification Information
2025 Identification Information
Step 1: Complete an online GMTM application
Athletes must register and create a personal profile that includes physical stats, a highlight video, and a video of a full set.
Click here to be taken to the GMTM Registration
Registration Fee: $50 USD
Deadline to Register: November 20, 2024
Applications for the Women's National Excellence Program open on November 4, 2024.
The deadline for application is November 20, 2024.
Step 2: Athlete in-person camp invitation
Based on their GMTM submissions, athletes will be invited to regional, in-person ID camps. Up to 24 athletes will be invited to each ID camp.
Identification camps will be held throughout Canada from December 2024 through February 2025.
Invitations will be sent out in early December (Saskatchewan athletes will be notified earlier). Athletes not selected for in-person camps will be notified by email.
Registration Fee: $125
Dates for In-Person ID camps are as follows
Saskatchewan - December 6th & 7th, 2024
Ontario - January 4th & 5th, 2025
BC - January 11th, 2025
Alberta - Calgary - Jan 18th & 19th, 2025
Quebec - week of March 3rd-6th (TBC)
Nova Scotia - TBC
(last updated Nov 5th, 2024)
Step 3: Athlete Selection
Final selections will be made in April 2025. All athletes will be notified as to whether they've been selected or not.
Program questions can be directed to Jennah Paron | jparon@volleyball.ca
Rosters
2024 Roster
Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to the 2024 National Excellence Program:
Molly Beatty (IN), S
Sydney Bell (ON), OPP
Maya Bukovcan (ON), MB
Remy Catojo (S), MB
Jorgie Cornish (AB), OH
Brooke Fermaniuk (AB), OH
Ashlyn Gent (AB), L
Sara Gray (SK), L
Ella Hope (ON), MB
Savannah Jamieson (NS), OPP
Emerson Matthews (SK), OH
Ana Nastase (ON), S
Lea Pendergast (ON), OH
Zoey Purvis (MB), S
Kate Sinclair (AB), MB
Alicia Thibodeau (QC), OH
Abby Wasutyk (SK), MB
Lydia-Jane Wigston (AB), MB
Sofia Zabjek (ON), OH
2023 Roster
Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to the 2023 National Excellence Program:
Maeli Cormier (QC), OPP
Jasmine Ellison (ON), L
Gabi Flaman (SK), L
Sara Gray (SK), OH
Brooklyn Grobb-Prins (MB), OH
Sophia Hansen (AB), OH
Logan King (ON), OPP
Isabel Kuna (BC), S
Élodie Lalonde (ON), OH
Lydia-Jayne Wigston (AB), MB
Avaya Maga (ON), S
Sydney Mcdermott (ON), OH
Ana Nastase (ON), S
Trinity Shadd-Ceres (ON), OH
Ella Piskorz (ON), MB
Marilou Robichaud (QC), MB
Alicia Thibodeau (QC), OH
Carmen Waye (NS), MB
2022 Roster
Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to the 2022 National Excellence Program:
Maëli Cormier, Quebec
Mary Healy, California
Erika Bang, Alberta
Anya Fehr, Alberta
Lydia Johnson, Alberta
Taylor De Boer, British Columbia
Calinda Kok, Ontario
Lauren Perugini, Ontario
Ronnie Dickson, Alberta
Kaiya Tyson, Ontario
Olivia Edlund, Alberta
Logan King, Ontario
Isabella Stothart, Alberta
Delaney Watson, Ontario
Esther Lim, British Columbia
Naomie Sinclair, Quebec
Tianna Kehler, British Columbia
Sophia Magus, Saskatchewan
Mischa Hameed, Alberta
2021 Roster
Congratulations to the following athletes on their selection to the 2021 NEP:
Jessica Andrews (ON), Middle
Evvia Belireau (AB), Libero
Maryn Boldon (AB), Outside
Olivia Boulding (BC), Outside
Taylor de Boer (BC), Outside
Ava Ebert (ON), Middle/Outside
Tara Garvey (ON), Outside
Kylee Glanville (AB), Outside
Jaime Hewlett (BC), Libero
Lauryn Hovey (ON), Opposite
Lydia Johnson (AB), Opposite
Payton Lightfoot (ON), Middle
Sophia Magus (SK), Setter
Brooke Malek (AB), Libero
Mackenzie Pool (BC), Outside
Naomie Sinclair (QC), Middle
Isabella Tehrani (ON), Middle
Kaiya Tyson (ON), Setter
Viktoria Wahlgren (ON), Setter
2020 Roster
2020 National Excellence Program Roster
Congratulations to the following athletes on their selection to the National Excellence Program:
Brooke Malek, AB (Libero)
Chloe Ladd, BC (Libero)
Viktoria Wahlgren, ON (Setter)
Bella Noble, NS (Setter)
Lucy Borowski, BC (Setter)
Mackenzie Pool, BC (Outside)
Maryn Boldon, AB (Outside)
Mady Saris, ON (Outside)
Emoni Bush, BC (Outside)
Tara Garvey, ON (Outside)
Olivia Boulding, BC (Outside)
Jada Hamer, AB (Outside)
Shynelle Woroniuk, AB (Outside)
Jenna Pollock, ON (Middle)
Elyse Allard, SK (Middle)
Payton Lightfoot, ON (Middle)
Grace Melnick, ON (Middle)
2020 National Excellence Program Staff
Shannon Winzer, Head Coach
Nicole Ban, Assistant Coach
Cody Piwowar-Desilets, Assistant Coach & Strength and Conditioning Coach
Mischa Partridge, Athletic Therapist
Dr. Sara Forsyth, Team Physician
Dr. Anne Muscat, Psychologist and Mental Performance Coach
Ashlen Leonard, Sport Dietitian
Beathen Thomas, Educational Support
Dawna Sales, Program Manager
Bree Fraser, Program Coordinator
Contact
For additional information, contact Jennah Paron - Women's Indoor Program Coordinator | jparon@volleyball.ca