Team Ontario has announced its programming for 2023-25. Team Ontario is the core of the Ontario Volleyball Association's athlete development branch aimed for OVA athletes who want to take their game to a higher performance environment. The programming for the next three-year cycle will begin in the summer of 2023 and will re-introduce a program that has not been run since 2020 due to the pandemic.
About Team Ontario
Team Ontario indoor and beach programs are designed to deliver the content of the Volleyball Canada Athlete Development Framework. The four dimensions of athlete development are addressed in each stage of the pathway:
- Technical/Tactical,
- Physical,
- Psychological, and
- Life Skills
Team Ontario indoor programs are in place to accelerate the development of club volleyball players in Ontario and offer progressive development opportunities to athletes from 14-18U. The programs are aligned with the Volleyball Canada pathway as it aims to produce athletes that will represent Canada internationally as part of a National Team.
These Team Ontario indoor programs will be implemented beginning in the summer of 2023 and will run every summer until the end of Summer 2025.
Indoor Programs
Team Ontario Red & Black Training Camp - July 2022
Team Ontario Regional Program
All-around integrated (beach and indoor) skill training and introduction to a high-performance environment.
Long-Term Athlete Development: Train to Train
Skill Level: Girls – 14U (120 athletes); Boys – 15U (72 athletes)
Competition: Ontario Summer Games (occurs every other year)
More program information here.
Tall Maples
Integrated program focused on training specific athletes with above average physical attributes.
Long-Term Athlete Development: Train to Train
Age Groups: Girls & Boys 13-16U (~34 athlete’s total)
More program information here.
Team Ontario White
The Team Ontario White program is back! This program focused on bridging the gap between the Regional Program and Team Ontario Red. All around skills training and introduction to Team Ontario concepts and culture. Indoor program only. Athletes will be able to participate in Team Ontario White and Team Ontario Beach programs if they are selected to both.
Long-Term Athlete Development: Train to Train
Skill Level: Girls – 15U (60 athletes); Boys – 16U (48 athletes)
Competition: Team Ontario Cup tournament
Team Ontario Red
Indoor program focused on the development of advanced volleyball skills and their application in a competitive environment.
Long-Term Athlete Development: Learn to Compete
Skill Level: Girls – 16U (42 athletes – 3 teams of 14); Boys – 17U (28 athletes – 2 teams of 14)
Competition: Canada Cup tournament
More program information here.
Team Ontario Black
Indoor program focused on the development of performance. The focus will be on developing higher-level skills and integrating Team Ontario playing systems based on National Team systems.
Long-Term Athlete Development: Learn to Compete
Skill Level: Girls – 17U (32 athletes – 2 teams of 14 plus 4 alternates); Boys – 18U (18 athletes – 1 team of 14 plus 4 alternates)
Competition: Canada Cup or U.S.A. High Performance Tournament
More program information here.
Changes to programs can be seen in italics. The changes in programming reflect the athlete community within the OVA (more female participation) and the later entry of males into volleyball resulting in the shift in main age categories.
Indoor Athlete ID
To be part of Team Ontario programming, all athletes must go through the Athlete Identification process.
At the moment, exact details for the process are listed as To Be Confirmed (TBC).
Athlete ID for all programs will be online through GMTM, taking place from December 2022-February 2023 (TBC).
By this point, athletes will have a minimum of three OVA tournaments to get video footage. A Town Hall is scheduled for November 7, 2022 to provide athletes and parents a better understanding of how the athlete ID process will work.
Tips for Good Video/Footage
- Place camera at the back of the court with full view of court boundaries.
- Make sure athlete is identifiable (jersey number easily seen, etc.).
- Landscape camera set-up.
- Record the full game, every point from start to finish.
Beach Programs
Team Ontario Beach & Tall Maples Training Camp - July 2022
Fulltime Training Group (FTG)
Beach program focused on preparing athletes for future international success at events such as the FIVB U19 World Championships. Athletes are provided support of an integrated support team through monitored sport science services.
Long-Term Athlete Development: Learn to Compete
Skill Level: Girls – 15U-18U (18-24 athletes); Boys – 15U-18U (18-24 athletes)
Training highlights:
- 3-4 practices per week
- Team Ontario Beach Super Camp
- Out of Province camp (TBD)
- International Prep Camp
More program information here.
Camp-Based Program
Beach program focused on stepping-stones towards future international and national team success. Athletes committed to their own beach daily training environment will come together in a camp and access coaching and sport science support.
Long-Term Athlete Development: Learn to Compete
Skill Level: Girls – 15U-18U (12 athletes); Boys – 15U-18U (12 athletes)
Training highlights:
- Team Ontario Beach Super Camp
- Access to FTG training 1x/week and pre-nationals
More program information here.
Beach Athlete ID
Athlete ID for Beach programs will be a two-step process with online evaluations through GMTM and an invite-only tryout in May 2023.
Online evaluations will take place from December 2022-April 2023 (TBC).
Athletes will have access to OVA Winter Beach Tour events and Team Ontario Drop-in sessions to get video footage. Athletes are encouraged to gather video/footage ASAP.
A Town Hall is scheduled for November 7, 2022 to provide athletes and parents a better understanding of the process for beach athlete identification.
Tips for Good Video/Footage
- Place camera at the back of the court with full view of court boundaries.
- Make sure athlete is identifiable.
- Landscape camera set up.
- Record the full game/session, every point from start to finish.
Team Ontario program information can be found on their website at teamontariovolleyball.org
