The Ontario Volleyball Association is thrilled to be awarded a third Canadian Red Cross (CRCS) Emergency Support Grant through the Granting Programs for Non-Profits stream. The funding through the Government of Canada (Employment and Social Development) and CRCS has been awarded to adapt volleyball to a COVID-19 reality for coaches, clubs and referees. 

The funding will cover the development and delivery costs of the online Coach and Referee Resource Centre. This platform will help prepare members, coaches and referees to safely resume indoor volleyball activities during COVID-19. The online resource hubs will provide training to over 1800+ Coaches and 90+ Club leaders on how to safely adapt volleyball operations, programming and competitions to follow OVA COVID-19 Return to Play Guidelines. In addition, over 600 referees will be trained on new match protocol, modified rules of the game and on conflict management to ensure athletes and coaches have a safe return to competition when the time comes.

"The goal of this grant is to ensure 9000+ youth volleyball athletes can safely resume indoor volleyball activities across Ontario and reap the physical and mental health benefits associated with volleyball programming" said LP Mainville, Director of Athlete Development for the OVA.  "This will be achieved by creating and providing online training resources to members in leadership positions on how to safely adapt volleyball programming to follow COVID-19 Return to Play Guidelines."

Club staff, coaches and referees will have access to the platform starting in October 2020. The platform will house content such as educational videos, webinars and Club training documents. It will also provide access to live events such as webinars, courses and workshops through Zoom. In addition, new content will continue to be posted throughout the season to address hot topics or to provide additional/updated COVID training guides and operational plans. Coaches and Referees will also be able to start sharing their own content based on their own experience and best practices. OVA will have a clear and detailed process for coaches and referees to submit content shortly. 

"The OVA is extremely grateful to the Canadian Red Cross and Government of Canada (Employment and Social Development Canada) for providing non-profits like the OVA the opportunity to create resources and platforms to train our members to support a safe return to the court," stated Jo-Anne Ljubicic, Executive Director.  "This project would not be possible with out the support of CRCS and Government of Canada."

For more information on the Canadian Red Cross and the Government of Canada (Employment and Social Development Canada), please visit their social media sites at:   

@redcrosscanada (Facebook / Instagram / Twitter)
@ESDC_GC (Facebook / Twitter)