Title: **Staying Confident and Motivated in Volleyball by Embracing Mistakes and Growth**

How do I stay confident and motivated when I make mistakes or feel like I'm not improving as fast as I want to? *"Mistakes are proof that you are trying."* — Unknown This quote was chosen because it reminds young volleyball players that mistakes are a natural part of learning and improving. In volleyball, like any skill, growth comes from effort and practice. If you're making mistakes, it means you're pushing yourself and learning. This mindset helps players stay confident and motivated instead of getting frustrated when things don’t go perfectly. Mistakes indicate effort and progress. Embracing them as part of learning in volleyball helps maintain confidence and motivation. Growth comes from persistence, ensuring steady improvement despite setbacks. Mistakes fuel growth; embrace them for success!

Subject: Understanding Athlete Placement at the Academy

Subject: Understanding Athlete Placement at the Academy

Dear Parents,

Over the years, we have noticed a common trend: when given the option, many parents register their child at a level higher than recommended. This is often because, within their usual playing group—whether at school, in a smaller community, or at a smaller club—their child is among the stronger players. However, skill level is relative, and what seems like a strong performance in one setting may not translate the same way in a different, more advanced group.

Through feedback from over 1,600 athletes annually, the most frequent concern we hear is about players being placed in a level they are not ready for. This impacts both their development and the experience of others in the session. After carefully analyzing this, we found that only two or three athletes per year genuinely benefit and should be playing outside their recommended level.

As the Academy grows, our guidelines for registration will transition into firm rules. While we understand this may be frustrating for some, this change is essential for maintaining a positive and productive training environment.We often see concerns from athletes who are at the top of their assigned level or just below the cutoff for the next one. In our experience, being at the top of a level is actually an advantage.

It provides an opportunity to:

• Learn self-motivation and personal accountability
• Improve consistency by making every contact count
• Elevate teammates by leading and setting the standard
• Develop leadership skills and resilience
• Build confidence through success and responsibility
• Understand how to recover and adapt when teammates make mistakes
• Learn to be the reason your team wins, rather than just watching others make it happen

On the other hand, if an athlete moves up too soon, they often struggle to keep up, feel discouraged, and may not develop the same leadership skills. Just as they might feel frustrated playing with athletes below their level, the more advanced group may see them the same way—someone who isn’t quite ready and requires extra support.

We encourage every athlete to embrace their role within their assigned level, work hard, and focus on becoming the best player they can be. Growth comes from learning how to lead and elevate others, not just from playing with stronger teammates.Thank you for your trust in our Academy’s process. We are committed to developing all athletes at the right pace to maximize their long-term success.

Best regards from the desk of Dr. Darren Cannell
Canadian Elite Academy

**Title: Helping Volleyball Players Regain Confidence After Mistakes Through Growth and Resilience**

How can I help a player regain confidence after making repeated mistakes in a game? *"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."* — Winston Churchill This quote was chosen because it reminds players that mistakes are not permanent, and failure does not define them. In volleyball, errors are part of the game, but what truly matters is having the courage to keep going, learn, and improve. It encourages a player to focus on effort and perseverance rather than dwelling on past mistakes. Mistakes are temporary and do not define a player. Encouraging perseverance, learning, and effort helps rebuild confidence. The focus should be on continuous improvement rather than dwelling on errors, fostering resilience and growth in the game. Empower players: growth from mistakes is key.

Title: **Building Confidence and Motivation in Young Volleyball Players Through Persistence and Resilience**

How can I help my player stay motivated and confident when they are struggling with mistakes or not getting as much playing time as they want? *"Success is not the absence of failure; it’s the persistence through failure."* — Aisha Tyler This quote was chosen because young volleyball players often face mistakes and setbacks, whether from errors on the court or limited playing time. It reminds them that struggling doesn’t mean they’re failing—it’s part of the process. Staying motivated and pushing through challenges is what leads to success in the long run. Encourage players to view mistakes and setbacks as growth opportunities. Persistence, not perfection, leads to success. Support their confidence by reinforcing effort, resilience, and long-term improvement rather than immediate results or playing time. Persistence through setbacks fuels lasting success.

What's Happening Now and Through August!

Canadian Elite Academy - What's Happening Now and Through August! Get ready for a fantastic few months of volleyball development with Canadian Elite Academy! Here's a look at what's coming up: The List is Here Month by Month, something for everyone.   New Programs! We are excited to announce the launch of Canadian Elite Academy On the Road! This new initiative brings our top-tier coaching to rural Saskatchewan, offering customized camps and training sessions for club teams, school teams, and communities. If you're interested in hosting an event, visit our website to fill out the On the Road Application Form Introducing our NEW Off-Season Training program for ELITE 1 and Elite 2 athletes, More details can be found on our website Register Now! March Offerings Week of March 2nd: Monday, March 3rd: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Tuesday, March 4th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Wednesday, March 5th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Thursday, March 6th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Week of March 9th: Sunday, March 9th: Basic Volleyball Skills Focus - Serve reception, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST NexGen Volleyball Skills, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST ELITE 1 Volleyball Skills, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST ELITE 2 Volleyball Skills, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  Advanced Volleyball Skills Focus - Serving Reception, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  Private Lesson, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST60 Week of March 10th: Wednesday, March 12th: Grade 6-8 Girls League, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM CST Grade 9-12 Girls League, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM CST Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Thursday, March 13th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Week of March 16th: Sunday, March 16th: Basic Volleyball Skills Focus - Team Play, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST NexGen Volleyball Skills, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST  ELITE 1 Volleyball Skills, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST ELITE 2 Volleyball Skills, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Intermediate Volleyball Skills Focus - Defense, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Private Lesson, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Monday, March 17th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Tuesday, March 18th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Wednesday, March 19th: Grade 6-8 Girls League, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM CST  Grade 9-12 Girls League, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM CST Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Thursday, March 20th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST5 ... Week of March 23rd: Sunday, March 23rd: Team Private Lesson, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CSTELITE 1 Volleyball Skills, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST ELITE 2 Volleyball Skills, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST NexGen Volleyball Skills, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST Basic Volleyball Skills Focus - Setting and Hitter Variations, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Private Lesson, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Monday, March 24th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CSTTuesday, March 25th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Wednesday, March 26th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Thursday, March 27th: Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Sunday, March 30th: Advanced Volleyball Skills Focus - Hitting Variation Variation, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST Basic Volleyball Skills Focus - Hitting Variations, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST NexGen Volleyball Skills, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST ELITE 1 Volleyball Skills, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST ELITE 2 Volleyball Skills, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Intermediate Volleyball Skills Focus - Hitting Variation, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Private Lesson, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Monday, March 31st: Private Lesson, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST Private Lesson, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Private Lesson, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Private Lesson, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST   Register Now! May 2025   Week of May 4th:   Sunday, May 4th: "NexGen Volleyball: Start Strong, Play Smart!", 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST "Elite Serving: Precision, Power & Unstoppable Strategy", 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Monday, May 5th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Tuesday, May 6th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Wednesday, May 7th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Thursday, May 8th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST   Week of May 11th:   Sunday, May 11th: "NexGen Volleyball: Start Strong, Play Smart!", 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST Basic Serving REP Session, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  Intermediate Serving REP Session, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Advanced Serving REP Session, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Monday, May 12th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST33 "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Tuesday, May 13th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Wednesday, May 14th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Thursday, May 15th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST   Week of May 18th:   Tuesday, May 20th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Wednesday, May 21st: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Thursday, May 22nd: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST   Week of May 25th:   Sunday, May 25th: "NexGen Volleyball: Start Strong, Play Smart!", 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Monday, May 26th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Tuesday, May 27th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – :00 PM CST Wednesday, May 28th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Thursday, May 29th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Register Now! May 2025   Week of May 4th:   Sunday, May 4th: "NexGen Volleyball: Start Strong, Play Smart!", 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST "Elite Serving: Precision, Power & Unstoppable Strategy", 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Monday, May 5th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Tuesday, May 6th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Wednesday, May 7th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Thursday, May 8th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST   Week of May 11th:   Sunday, May 11th: "NexGen Volleyball: Start Strong, Play Smart!", 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST Basic Serving REP Session, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  Intermediate Serving REP Session, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Advanced Serving REP Session, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Monday, May 12th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST33 "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Tuesday, May 13th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Wednesday, May 14th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Thursday, May 15th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST   Week of May 18th:   Tuesday, May 20th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Wednesday, May 21st: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Thursday, May 22nd: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST   Week of May 25th:   Sunday, May 25th: "NexGen Volleyball: Start Strong, Play Smart!", 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Monday, May 26th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Tuesday, May 27th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – :00 PM CST Wednesday, May 28th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Thursday, May 29th: "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST  "Private Training & Team Sessions: Your Gym, Your Focus, Your Coach!", 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST Register Now! June 2025 Week of June 1st:   Monday, June 2nd: Basic Beach 2's Girls June and July (Monday and Wednesday), 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST  Intermediate Beach 2's Girls June and July (Monday and Wednesday), 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Tuesday, June 3rd: ELITE 2 Beach 2's Girls June and July (Tuesday and Thursday), 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST Elite Off Season Academy, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST ELITE 1 Beach 2's Girls June and July (Tuesday and Thursday), 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Beach 2's Boys June and July (Tuesday and Thursday), 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Wednesday, June 4th: Basic Beach 2's Girls June and July (Monday and Wednesday), 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST   Elite Off Season Academy, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST  Intermediate Beach 2's Girls June and July (Monday and Wednesday), 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Thursday, June 5th: ELITE 2 Beach 2's Girls June and July (Tuesday and Thursday), 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST  ELITE 1 Beach 2's Girls June and July (Tuesday and Thursday), 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Beach 2's Boys June and July (Tuesday and Thursday), 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST Register Now! July 2025 Week of July 1st - end of July:   All the summer training sessions beach 2's and off season continue on like in June...so look back up at June...that will be the July schedule.   Register Now! August 2025   Week of August 3rd:   Monday - Thursday, August 4th - 7th: Boys and Girls Beach Royalty Tourney, 5:00 PM CST – 9:00 PM CST   Week of August 10th:   Monday-Thursday August 11th - 14th: Making the Cut Boys High School Camp, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM CST and 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST and 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST Making the Cut Girls Elementary School Camp, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST and 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST    Week of August 17th:   Monday-Thursday August 17th - 20th: *ELITE 2* Making the Cut Girls Junior High School Camp, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM CST and 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST and 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST Making the Cut Girls Junior High School Camp,  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST and 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST    Week of August 24th:   Monday-Thursday August 17th - 20th: Making the Cut Girls Senior High School Camp, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM CST and 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST and 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST *Elite 1* Making the Cut Girls Senior High School Camp,  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST and 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST Register Now! Subject: Understanding Athlete Placement at the Academy Dear Parents,Over the years, we have noticed a common trend: when given the option, many parents register their child at a level higher than recommended. This is often because, within their usual playing group—whether at school, in a smaller community, or at a smaller club—their child is among the stronger players. However, skill level is relative, and what seems like a strong performance in one setting may not translate the same way in a different, more advanced group. Through feedback from over 1,600 athletes annually, the most frequent concern we hear is about players being placed in a level they are not ready for. This impacts both their development and the experience of others in the session. After carefully analyzing this, we found that only two or three athletes per year genuinely benefit and should be playing outside their recommended level. As the Academy grows, our guidelines for registration will transition into firm rules. While we understand this may be frustrating for some, this change is essential for maintaining a positive and productive training environment.We often see concerns from athletes who are at the top of their assigned level or just below the cutoff for the next one. In our experience, being at the top of a level is actually an advantage. It provides an opportunity to: Learn self-motivation and personal accountability Improve consistency by making every contact count Elevate teammates by leading and setting the standard Develop leadership skills and resilience Build confidence through success and responsibility Understand how to recover and adapt when teammates make mistakes Learn to be the reason your team wins, rather than just watching others make it happen On the other hand, if an athlete moves up too soon, they often struggle to keep up, feel discouraged, and may not develop the same leadership skills. Just as they might feel frustrated playing with athletes below their level, the more advanced group may see them the same way—someone who isn’t quite ready and requires extra support. We encourage every athlete to embrace their role within their assigned level, work hard, and focus on becoming the best player they can be. Growth comes from learning how to lead and elevate others, not just from playing with stronger teammates.Thank you for your trust in our Academy’s process. We are committed to developing all athletes at the right pace to maximize their long-term success. Best regards from the desk of Dr. Darren Cannell Canadian Elite Academy

**Title: Maintain Confidence in Volleyball by Embracing Strengths and Steady Improvement**

How do I stay motivated and confident when I make mistakes or feel like I’m not improving as fast as my teammates? *"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."* – John Wooden This quote was chosen because it reminds young volleyball players to focus on their strengths instead of getting discouraged by their weaknesses. Mistakes and slow progress are part of learning, but dwelling on what you can’t do can hold you back. By concentrating on what you can do well and improving little by little, you stay motivated and build confidence. Focus on your strengths rather than dwelling on weaknesses. Mistakes and slow progress are natural, but consistent effort and a positive mindset help maintain confidence and motivation for steady improvement in volleyball. Stay motivated by focusing on strengths, not flaws.

**Title: Helping Volleyball Players Regain Confidence by Embracing Mistakes and Learning from Failures**

How do I help a player regain confidence after making repeated mistakes during a game? *"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."* – Albert Einstein This quote was chosen because it reassures the player that mistakes are a natural part of learning and growth. In volleyball, just like in life, trying new skills or taking risks may lead to errors, but those mistakes help players improve. It encourages them to keep going, knowing that failure is a step toward success. Mistakes are essential for growth. Encourage players to embrace errors as learning opportunities, reinforcing that taking risks leads to improvement. Confidence builds through persistence and resilience, ultimately fostering skill development and long-term success. Embrace mistakes: Grow confidence through learning.