OVA Coach Mentorship Program
The OVA is happy to announce the return of the Coach Mentorship Program for the 2021-2022 season!
The Coach Mentorship program is a way for the OVA to bring volleyball coaches together and one that will connect coaches who want to take their development further with top Ontario coaches from the post-secondary level and Team Ontario programs.
This program gives OVA coaches the opportunity to learn directly from successful, experienced Ontario coaches from across the province. Club coaches can choose the mentor they want to learn from and will partake in monthly online meetings where they will have the opportunity to broaden their volleyball knowledge in different topics such as statistics, technical or tactical training, practice planning, opponent scouting, player development, and more. Above all, this is an opportunity for coaches to meet their coaching needs by finding solutions to the challenges they face in their context.
How it works
OVA coaches can register to be part of a small mentorship group with the mentor coach of their choice. Each mentor coach has identified areas of volleyball they are best suited for to help coaches find the best match. Each group will be made of 3-8 coaches and will meet monthly for a minimum of one hour between November 2021 and April 2022. Coaches will participate in a minimum of 6 meetings that will take various forms depending on the mentor. Sessions may be formal presentations or simply a Q&A. Mentor coaches will tailor their meeting to the needs of the coaches in their group.
All coaches participating in the mentorship program will receive 3 PD points towards the maintenance of their NCCP Certification
Registration
Registration for the Online Coach Mentorship Program will open on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, and close on Thursday, November 25th, 2021.
Space for each group is limited, so make sure to secure your spot!
Check out the mentor's below for registration links or click here to see the full schedule on MRS:
https://mrs.ontariovolleyball.org/Calendar
Cost
$120 + HST
Mentors
Click on a Mentor's name for information about them, their areas of expertise, who they are best suited to mentor and what days and time they are available.
Ashley Nixon
Ashley is currently coaching with the KW predators organization with one of the 18U boys teams. She has been coaching for the past 9 years, and has also worked with the University of Guelph, Conestoga College, and currently also coach with our team Ontario Beach team.
Best suited to help coaches in the following areas: Technical & Tactical discussions;
Best suited to mentor: Younger Coaches; Anyone.
Meeting Date and Time (once a month): Wednesdays | 6:00 p.m.
Ryan Ratushniak
Ryan Ratushniak enters 2021-22 in his fifth season as the head coach of the women's volleyball team. In his first two seasons as head coach he's led the Gaels to identical 13-6 record season and consecutive OUA playoff berth.
Ratushniak is a former assistant coach with both the women's and men's national teams, and was an assistant coach for the men's team at the University of Manitoba. Prior to that, he served as the manager of Athletics and Recreation Services at Red River College in Winnipeg.
Ratushniak, who was a coach at Volleyball Canada's Centre of Excellence, is a University of Manitoba alumnus and played volleyball for the Bisons for five years. As the assistant coach for the women's national team, he coached in more than 50 international matches in different parts of the world.
Best suited to help coaches in the following areas: Comfortable with all areas of volleyball.
Best suited to mentor: Anyone.
Meeting Date and Time (once a month): Mondays| 7:00 p.m.
Brian Singh
Brian has been a competitive coach for just over 13 years and has been the head coach of the men's volleyball team at Seneca College for the past 5 years. Brian has been fortunate to coach athletes from all levels including elementary to university and pro.
He is also the host of the Volleyball By Design Podcast, a show for volleyball coaches where they share simple, actionable, step by step strategies so listeners can get clarity in their coaching and apply what they learn right away.
In short, volleyball is his passion and a big part of his life. Brian's mission is to help volleyball coaches, so together they can grow the game and positively impact the lives of athletes around the globe.
Best suited to help coaches in the following areas: Coaching Efficiency; Technical & Tactical; Game Planning ; Practice Planning; Skills; Seasonal & Program planning;
Best suited to mentor: - 15U or 16U and older coaches; Experienced coaches; Both genders
Meeting Date and Time (once a month): Tuesdays | 6:00 PM
Brenda Willis
Brenda Willis is a five-time OUA Coach of the Year, and winner of the OUA 3M Coaching Award in 2010 who finished her career in her 31st season with the Gaels in 2017-18, and her 43rd year of coaching overall. She posted a career record of 366-196 (0.651 winning percentage), including a 325-153 (0.680) mark in OUA play.
In the summer of 2009, Willis served as Head Coach of the National Maccabia Men’s Volleyball Team, earning bronze medal for Canada, the first men’s volleyball medal Canada has ever won in these games. In 1993, she led Team Ontario to a gold medal finish at the Canada Games.
Willis completed a 10 year stint as President of the Ontario Volleyball Association, and remains an active Learning Facilitator for Levels One through Three. In 2007, she was the honoured recipient of the Rolf Lund Jule Nisse Award, presented by the Ontario Sport Alliance and the Ministry of Health Promotion to an individual who has demonstrated a life-time commitment to Playground to Podium Sport.
Best suited to help coaches in the following areas: Culture; Systems; Practice Planning; Conflict Management; Comfortable with all areas of volleyball.
Best suited to mentor: Coaches of boys or girls in the 16-18U age group; Anyone;
Meeting Date and Time (once a month): Thursdays| 7:00 p.m.