Upcoming Sessions: Visual Calendar View

 

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For visual learners, here's a calendar of the next three months to help you stay on track. In November, NexGens are sold out, but Rising Stars have a few spots left. There is one private lesson and one basic serving session that NexGens can join to advance to the skill sessions. Boys and Girls, Open Gyms are a great way to get more practice time and there are very few boy sessions so find some friends and comet to open gym and play some ball. We hope to see you on the court. Do a November Registration As we approach Christmas,   NexGens remain sold out, but Rising Stars has a few spots left and more private sessions available. Don't miss our 'Lose the Turkey' camp to shed extra holiday weight. Our 'Making the Cut' Camps sell out quickly, and this year is no exception. We are also offering skill sessions this month.

Do a December Registration In January 2026,I We are launching a popular league for girls who didn't make a club team, which is now three-quarters full. Our first session of the new year is 'Lose the Turkey' for Elementary School athletes (NexGen and Basic Athletes welcome). Check out our open gym times for more practice opportunities. Private sessions are also available for one to six athletes, perfect for individual or club team training. Do a January Registration

 

Canadian Elite Academy Weekly Update

We’re excited to share what’s happening at the Academy as our programs continue to grow! NexGen & Rising Stars Sessions Our NexGen program (ages 11–13) continues to fill quickly! The 6–7 pm NexGen session is basically sold out, and the 8–9 pm session is getting close — if this is on your radar, register soon before it’s full. The Rising Stars (junior high level) 6–7 pm session is also nearing capacity, so don’t wait if your athlete plans to join. These sessions are perfect for developing foundational skills and movement patterns that build confidence and prepare athletes for higher-level play. Open Gym Nights & Private Lessons Friday nights feature both Open Gym time and Private Lessons. Open Gym: A great chance for boys (and all athletes) to get extra touches, especially since it’s difficult to run a full boys’ league at this time. Private Lessons: These can include up to six athletes per session, allowing you to select the topic, coach (if available), and teammates. When you consider that cost is shared among six athletes, it’s actually comparable to our regular session pricing — with the added benefit of customized instruction. Winter Girls League The Winter Girls League is starting to fill quickly! This is a structured but fun opportunity for athletes to play real games and apply what they’ve learned in training. Space is limited — register early to save your spot, as it’s not a program where we can easily add more teams once it’s full. Extra Sessions on School Days Off Whenever schools are closed for teacher development days or holidays, we do our best to offer extra sessions and camps. These are great chances for athletes to add to their “touch count” — an essential part of player development. Remember: Athletes who only touch the ball during school or club practices will fall behind those who are also training through the Academy. Independent touches — those done without a coach pushing you — help build mental toughness and self-discipline, two qualities every great athlete needs. Supporting Volleyball Growth The Academy’s mission is to fill the gaps left when athletes don’t have access to school or club teams. Through leagues, structured sessions, and specialized training, we’re helping younger players build their foundational skills, while giving older players the opportunities to keep improving. We’re committed to keeping costs as low as possible, but as we’ve moved to the Henk Reys Soccer Centre, we now book three courts at a time — which means we need strong registration numbers to continue offering the same range of programs. Your participation and support make it possible for us to keep expanding and creating more opportunities for volleyball in our community. Thank you for being part of the Canadian Elite Academy family — and for helping us grow the game!  Register Now

Secure Your Spot: Christmas Winter Camps & Lessons (Forgot to mention them in the last email)

Missed these important events in the last email. These are going to be ones you don't want to miss.

Private Day Camps – November 10 & 11 We have two Private Day Camp opportunities coming up soon! November 10 – Designed for Elementary School athletes (though High School groups are welcome too). November 11 – Designed for High School athletes. These camps are a great way to get focused, personalized training. You simply find five friends and book one or more private lesson times. The best part? You choose the topic — serving, passing, setting, attacking, defense, or any skill you’d like to improve. You can even request a specific coach. If that coach isn’t available, we’ll make sure you get the best coach for the skill you’ve chosen. Many athletes like to bring their school or club teammates, and if you’re all from the same team, you can bring more than six athletes for your session. Scheduling Notes: November 10 is an early dismissal day for elementary schools. November 11 is an early dismissal day for both elementary and high school students. Private lessons for either age group can be booked on either day, but please note that we do not encourage skipping school to attend. Register Now Lose the Turkey Camps – December 27–30 & January 2–3 After all that Christmas turkey (and maybe another round at Grandma and Grandpa’s on the 26th), it’s time to get back in the gym! Our Lose the Turkey Camps are the winter versions of the popular Making the Cut Camp, designed to help you shake off the holiday meals and sharpen your skills before the Club and Winter League seasons begin. We have three groups this year:  Elite 1 & Senior High School Athletes Dates: December 27–30 Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM If we have enough Elite 1 athletes registered, they’ll train separately from the Senior High School group. Otherwise, the two groups will combine for high-level sessions focusing on advanced skill development, gameplay, and competition.  Junior High School Athletes Dates: December 27–30 Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM These four days will be packed with technical reps, tactical training, and fun competitions to help Junior athletes elevate their game heading into the new season.  Elementary School Athletes Dates: January 2–3 Split into three skill levels: Rising Star: 8:00 – 10:00 AM NexGen: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Elementary Basic: 1:00 – 5:00 PM Each group focuses on skill-appropriate development, teamwork, and fun—perfect for young athletes who want to improve while enjoying the game. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete or an experienced player getting ready for club season, these camps are the perfect way to lose the turkey and gain a competitive edge! Register Now The Winter Girls Volleyball League Help Us Keep the League Growing! In the past, the Academy has grown almost entirely through word of mouth — and we’re so thankful for that! If you know anyone looking for a place to play, compete, and enjoy volleyball, please tell them about our Youth Volleyball League. The feedback from our last league was fantastic — athletes had fun, the games were competitive, and the energy was incredible. We’d love to keep offering leagues and open gym opportunities like these, but to do that, we need your help to grow enrollment and increase participation. If you can, spread the word to friends, teammates, or families who might be interested. The more athletes we have, the more we can expand and enhance the experience for everyone. We’re also open to sponsorships or partnerships with individuals or organizations who want to support a non-profit volleyball league for youth athletes. If you know someone who might be interested, please share my contact information:  info@canadianeliteacademy.com Thank you for being such an important part of our volleyball community. We appreciate your ongoing support — and we can’t wait to see you all back on the courts soon!   Register Now

Weekly Training at the Canadian Elite Academy

 

Weekly Training at the Canadian Elite Academy We’ve standardized our weekly schedule to make planning easier for families! Each day now has a clear focus — designed to meet athletes where they are and help them reach the next level.  Tuesdays – NexGen Sessions Ages: 11–13 (and younger developing athletes) Focus: Core fundamentals, coordination, and a love for the game. Our NexGen program builds a strong foundation for young athletes through fun, high-energy drills.  Perfect for players preparing to join school or club teams.  Thursdays – Rising Star Sessions Ages: Junior High to Early High School Focus: Game play, skill refinement, and confidence on the court. Rising Star sessions help athletes take the next step — developing advanced skills, learning strategy, and becoming smarter players.  Great for those aiming to move toward advanced or elite levels.  Fridays – Private Lessons, Team Lessons & Open Gym  Private Lessons: Individual one-on-one training customized to each athlete’s goals — from improving serving to fine-tuning hitting or defensive techniques.  Team Private Lessons: Perfect for full teams that want focused work on systems, rotations, and communication.  Open Gym Time: A relaxed, supervised environment for athletes to get extra touches, practice new skills, or just enjoy playing. No pressure — just play, grow, and have fun!  Common Dismissal & Non-School Day Sessions School may be out, but volleyball doesn’t stop! On common dismissal days and holidays, the Academy offers special training sessions and mini-camps to keep athletes active and improving — while parents get a well-deserved break. Keep an eye on our schedule — these fill quickly!  Register Now Spots are limited, and sessions are already filling fast!  Click Here to Register

New 12U PROGRAM beginning in 2026

Sask Volleyball is very pleased to introduce a new 12U PROGRAM beginning in 2026!!

 

This program is designed to serve as a transition between Smashball and our 13U age class program.  For those who might be interested, 12U PROGRAM information has been attached to this message.

 

NOTE:            OUR FIRST 12U TOURNAMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, JAN. 10, 2026 AT THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE IN REGINA. (Registrations open on Monday, Nov. 3.)

 

                        Registration for the Jan. 10 tournament, and any future 12U tournaments will be completed through TeamLinkt at:

 

Https://app.teamlinkt.com/register/find/saskvolleyball

 

I’m asking you to consider sharing information about the 12U program with families of children in your club and in your community.  I realize that you may not be in direct contact with families of children in this age range, but there may be others in your club who are in contact with such families.  Any assistance you/they can provide in helping ‘get out the word’ about our 12U program, would be greatly appreciated.

 

If you, or others, have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me, via email (tom@saskvolleyball.ca) or phone/text (306-527-4897).

 

Regards,

 

Tom Ash

 

P. S.     I’ve also included information about a Zoom presentation called Intro to 12U.  This on-line presentation is scheduled for Dec. 3.  Registration is required for this free informational presentation. 

There is registration information on the attached document.

12U

Girls/Boys/Co-Ed

LTD Stage: Learning to Train

Principle Focus: To introduce and develop sports skills (Hitting/Attacking; Serving; Overhead passing).

The goals of the 12U program are to:

• introduce or, re-introduce children to volleyball;

• promote skill development and;

• encourage participation in a fun, friendly competition.

Smashball is the game play format that will be used for the 2025-2026 Age Class season.

Smashball is:

• a volleyball game-play variation that emphasizes attacking (hitting/spiking).

How is 12U Smashball played?

• off of an ATTACK - the receiving team can catch the ball directly, OR after the ball bounces once,

and still continue the rally. (NO POINT IN SCORED)

• off of a SERVED or TOSSED ball - the receiving team must catch/play the ball directly.

NOTE: Setters may choose to use a:

o SELF-TOSS & VOLLEY (set) to the hitter, OR

o VOLLEY (set) to the hitter

Competition format:

• Open to Girls teams, Boys teams and/or Co-Ed teams

• 3 v 3 game play

• Recommended team size: 3 - 6 players

• The Mikasa VUL500 will be the competition ball for this age category

• The court is a volleyball court divided in half, length-wise (~4m X ~7m)

• Net height (~2m)

• Scores will be kept (flip cards . . . no scoresheets) to determine when teams switch sides

• There are NO referees. Teams will make their own line calls.

• NO medals will be awarded and NO champion will be declared

• This is intended as a fun competition (learning event) to serve as an introduction to competitive

volleyball

Match format:

• 25 minutes duration (new match starts every half-hour)

• Sets played to 15 points with a minimum lead of 2 points (no cap)

• 3

rd set will be played until time expires

• Fair play rule (ALL players must start in the 1st or 2nd set)

• Substitutions may occur in the event of an injury

• Ball movement between players (‘passes’) will be:

o PASS or TOSS –> VOLLEY (set) –> ATTACK

o 2

nd contact can be a self-toss and volley (set), if the player chooses

• The serve alternates between teams after EACH time the ball is grounded (. . . the ball bounces

more than once inbounds, the ball lands out of bounds or the ball is played into the net.)

• A team must rotate and introduce a new server when it is their turn to serve (The same as

traditional volleyball)

• No blocking allowed

• Underhand serve may occur from anywhere in the court behind the attack line OR, overhand

serve, if used, must occur from behind the Smashball court End line.

• Players cannot ‘walk’ with the ball. The ball must be played (passed / tossed) from the location

where it is caught.

12U - Support materials/resources:

Coach/Instructor - Training Opportunities:

• Intro to SMASHBALL - (FREE) On-line presentation - October 8, 2025

- registration required - (contact Tom Ash, Program Coordinator – tom@saskvolleyball.ca

• Intro to 12U - (FREE) On-line presentation - December 3, 2025

- registration required - (contact Tom Ash, Program Coordinator – tom@saskvolleyball.ca

• Smashball Coach Workshop – online training through Volleyball Canada

Smashball Coach Workshop information

School tryouts newsletter

 

School Tryouts Results Hey athletes! We know some school tryouts aren't complete yet, but don't worry. You can still sign up for the League starting this Tuesday, but if you're unsure, please register once you have the information. We hope you make your school team, but if you don't, school is not the only place you can play this beautiful sport.  League is only for players who did not make their school team.

Register for now!   We are attempting to provide more private lessons so it is possible to make them fit your busy schedule. Register for now!    Rising stars and NexGen Sessions    If you are new to the sport of volleyball and in grades 3 -8, these sessions are starting next week. Register for these to build that volleyball foundation. Register for now!  Indoor Pick-Up Games No pressure, no coaching—play. Show up, get reps, and have a great time! Upcoming Dates: Every possible Friday from now until August Perfect for players seeking extra touches, staying game-ready, or connecting with the volleyball community. Register for one now!  Christmas and Easter Camps will be offered this year. We’re finalizing our camps and day cams now.     Keep an eye out—we’ll announce the schedule in the next two weeks! School tryouts success or failure...parent and athlete responses Alright team, this is where the rubber meets the road, isn't it? Tryouts, whether for school or club, are a crucible for our young athletes, and how they—and their parents—respond to the outcomes, both success and failure, speaks volumes about their character and potential. Our Academy's philosophy, deeply rooted in holistic athlete development, emphasizes that tryouts are far more than just a skills assessment; they're an evaluation of the whole athlete. We're looking for the complete package: not just raw talent, but also work ethic, coachability, attitude, sportsmanship, and how an athlete interacts with their potential teammates. It's about identifying growth potential—players who are willing to learn, work hard, and continuously improve.Let's break down the optimal responses for both athletes and parents, whether the outcome is a triumphant selection or a disheartening cut .Athlete Responses: Navigating the OutcomeFor our young athletes, tryouts are a significant emotional event. We need to equip them with the mental fortitude to handle any result with grace and a focus on long-term development. 1. Response to Success (Making the Team): When an athlete earns a spot on the team, it's a moment to celebrate, but it's also a crucial opportunity to reinforce core values :       • Humility and Continued Commitment: While they should feel proud, athletes must understand that making the team is "just one step" in their volleyball journey. Success is earned through consistent practice, self-discipline, and an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement. They should embrace their achievement humbly and commit to ongoing development as valuable team members.        • Focus on the "Why": Remind them that they were selected not just for their current skills, but for their potential, work ethic, and team-first attitude. This reinforces that their character, not just their athletic prowess, is highly valued.       • Embrace Responsibility: With a spot on the team comes responsibility. They are now accountable to their teammates and coaches, setting a positive example and contributing to the team's culture .2. Response to Failure (Being Cut): Being cut from a team can be a challenging and emotional experience, but it's also a powerful learning opportunity.        • Coping with Disappointment and Building Resilience: Athletes need strategies to cope with disappointment and build resilience. It's "okay to error but it is not okay to stop playing; it is okay to lose but it is not okay to give up". Resilience is the ability to adapt and bounce back from challenges, setbacks, and adversity. Encourage them to view setbacks as opportunities for growth and improvement, not as a reflection of their personal worth.         • Self-Reflection and Seeking Feedback: Instead of dwelling on disappointment, athletes should use it for growth and self-reflection. We encourage them to "seek feedback from coaches or teammates to identify areas for improvement". Personalized feedback helps athletes understand the rationale behind the decision and supports their growth.         • Goal-Setting and Alternative Avenues: Help them set new goals based on lessons learned and create action plans for future development. Encourage them to "seek alternative avenues for growth and development," such as community leagues or additional training sessions. Our Academy offers various tiers for this exact reason, ensuring every athlete can find an appropriate challenge.         • Maintaining a Positive Mindset and Perseverance: Emphasize the importance of perseverance and a resilient mindset. They should "stay committed to their passion for volleyball" .Parent Responses: The Unwavering Support System  Parents play a vital, yet distinct, role in their child's athletic journey. Their response to tryout outcomes can either empower or undermine their child's development and relationship with the sport. 1. Response to Success (Child Makes the Team): When a child makes the team, parents should be their biggest cheerleaders, but always with perspective and respect for boundaries.     • Unconditional Support, Not Over-Involvement: Parents are "supportive training partners," influencing lifestyle, diet, and fitness. They should provide "unconditional love and support", celebrating achievements without making the sport solely about "themselves" or focusing on "return" on financial investment.      • Respect the Coach's Role and Boundaries: It is paramount that "parents are Parents, Coaches are Coaches, do not confuse them". Parents should "not undermine the role of the appointed coach" and "trust in the coach's decisions, avoid interfering in coaching matters". Constant commentary or coaching from the sidelines is not supportive and teaches "selective respect".      • Reinforce Team Values: Encourage good sportsmanship, respect for opponents, officials, and teammates. This models the behavior we expect from our athletes and helps build a positive team culture. 2. Response to Failure (Child is Cut): This is perhaps the most critical moment for parental support, where the focus must shift entirely to the child's well-being and growth.     • Provide Unconditional Love and Emotional Support: The child needs unconditional love and support, especially after a setback. The outcome of tryouts "does not indicate what kind of parent you are"    .• Avoid Criticism and Pressure: Parents should "not criticize your child’s gameplay or tell them what they have done wrong the moment after a game". Allow the child time to process feedback from coaches. The "two-minute rule" can be a helpful guide: limit your evaluation unless the child initiates a longer conversation. Avoid "excessive pressure or unrealistic expectations," which can lead to increased stress, diminished enjoyment, and burnout.    • Emphasize Learning and Growth: Reframe the experience as a learning opportunity. Remind them that "you learn a lot more from failure than from success". Discussing the developmental process in volleyball can help manage expectations, emphasizing that "athletes progress at different rates and that each player's development is unique".    • Collaborate and Plan Next Steps: Work with the child to explore options for continued play or skill development, potentially seeking feedback from the coach (privately and respectfully) to understand areas for improvement. Our Academy is always here to help find the right pathway for continued development .Our Collective Role as CoachesAs coaches, we must foster an environment where trying out, whether successful or not, is seen as a valuable part of an athlete's development. This means:    • Clear and Transparent Communication: Communicate tryout criteria, the evaluation process, and timelines upfront to athletes and parents. Explain the rationale behind decisions related to athlete development and placement.    • Focus on the Process: Emphasize effort, progress, and personal growth over solely focusing on outcomes or wins. As Autumn Bailey reminded us, "practice is kind of where it's where you become the player that you want to be".    • Foster a Supportive Environment: Create a safe space where athletes feel comfortable taking risks and making mistakes. Encourage open communication and empathy among all stakeholders.     • Educate Parents: Proactively educate parents on the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) framework, the developmental process, and the importance of their supportive role without overstepping boundaries .Coaches, these conversations are never easy, but they are essential for nurturing well-rounded individuals who will thrive in all aspects of life, not just on the court. What strategies have you found most effective in guiding athletes and parents through the emotional landscape of tryouts? Let's keep this discussion going and strengthen our collective approach!     The Academy Blog