The Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA) is proud to introduce a comprehensive Mentorship Program designed to connect coaches with experienced mentors. This initiative aims to address the needs of coaches seeking guidance in specific aspects of coaching. The program is a collaborative effort between the Regional Coach Subcommittee and the OVA and is generously funded by the Regional Council.

Program Objectives

• To facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise between experienced coaches and those eager to learn.
• To provide a structured platform for mentors to share their skills and experiences.
• To enhance the overall quality of coaching within the OVA.

On Tuesday January 28th, 2025 the OVA hosted a virtual Town Hall to further discuss this new program and field question from our members.

To view the recording, please head over to our Town Hall page.

Mentors 

Mentors who wish to participate in the program must be members in good standing with the OVA and have completed all required coach eligibility requirements (listed below). They will then follow the registration link further down this page to complete an application form and provide the following information:

• Information for coaches to contact them (email, phone, etc)
• NCCP number and certification status
• Detail about coaching experience and expertise
• Short introduction to present themselves to the coaches (can be a video)
• Desired mentorship structure:
  • Individual 1-on-1 mentorship
  • Group mentorship (include max number of coaches)
• Cost of the mentorship offered with details of what it covers

This information will be used by OVA staff to create a profile for the mentors on the OVA website. This profile enables interested coaches to review and connect with mentors that meet their specific needs.

Mentees

Prospective Mentee Coaches will then be able to browse the profiles of available mentors on the OVA platform and directly connect with the mentor they wish to work with. There will be a registration link for Mentees to fill our with basic information that the Mentor should know that will be directed to the selected Mentor once submitted.

Mentorship Agreement

It is the responsibility of the mentor and the coach to arrange the terms of the mentorship, including any fees for services provided.

Once a mentorship partnership is established, the mentor will complete an online form detailing the coach's information, the mentorship plan, and the learning objectives. This form is a crucial step in formalizing the mentorship agreement and ensuring both parties are aligned on the goals and expectations.

Mentorship Sessions and Payment

Coaches are eligible to receive a subsidy for participating in a mentorship program. The subsidy will be $50 per session up to a maximum of $200 for a 1-on-1 mentorship and $25 per session up to a maximum of $100 for a group mentorship.

Post Mentorship Review

At the conclusion of the mentorship program, the mentor will complete another online form to confirm the completion of the program by the coach. Upon submitting that form, the coach will receive an email with a post-mentorship survey to complete. Once the survey is submitted, an OVA staff will review the documents and issue the subsidy to the coach for the sessions completed.