Nov. 05, 2024: The 2025 Men’s National Excellence Program (NEP) application process, now featuring in-person identification camps for the first time, is now open. This innovative program provides a full-time, high-performance training environment for top male youth athletes across Canada, bringing together elite coaching, on-court training, and sports science support to prepare future Team Canada athletes.

The Men’s NEP will be based at the Centre Sportif de Gatineau, QC, running from September to December 2025. Selected athletes in grades 10-12 who were born in 2008 or later will train in a program that aligns with Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team. NEP provides technical and tactical on-court development, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and medical services, as well as education on body management, nutrition, and performance psychology. Athletes will also receive academic support and access to mental health and wellness resources to balance their high-performance training with their studies.

“We’re proud to see the Men’s National Excellence Program continue to evolve and make strides in high-performance development. The in-person ID camps allow us to connect directly with athletes across Canada and identify the future talent that will drive our national program,” said Dave Preston, Men's NextGen Head Coach.

2025 NEP Application and Identification Process

The NEP application process begins with a virtual profile submission on GMTM, where athletes must upload highlight videos, physical testing data, and full game footage for evaluation. The application fee is $50 US, and the deadline for submission is December 1, 2024. Selected athletes from this online screening will be invited to attend one of Volleyball Canada’s in-person regional identification camps, scheduled across the country from December through February.

Application Timeline:
GMTM application opens: November 5, 2024 : https://bit.ly/3YI43Vg
Online application deadline: December 1, 2024
Camp Invitations sent: December 20, 2024 (Saskatchewan athletes will be notified earlier)
In-person ID Camps: From December to February.
NEP Invitations sent: April 2025

In-Person ID Camp Schedule:
Saskatchewan: Saskatoon - December 6, 2024
Alberta: Calgary - January 11, 2025
Manitoba: Winnipeg - January 18, 2025
Quebec: Gatineau - January 25, 2025
British Columbia: Vancouver - February 1, 2025
Nova Scotia: Halifax - February 8, 2025
Ontario: Kitchener - February 22, 2025

Selected athletes will be invited to join the nearest in-person camp for evaluation. Following these ID camps, final selections for NEP 2025 will be announced in the spring of 2025. For more details on the National Excellence program, please visit our website: https://volleyball.ca/en/national-teams/indoor-men-nep

This opportunity represents a unique pathway for aspiring high-performance athletes to train at the highest level and work toward representing Canada on the world stage.

• For additional questions, please contact Matheus Braz at mbraz@volleyball.ca

Volleyball Canada Media Contact:
Jackie Skender
jskender@volleyball.ca
Mobile: 613-794-7676