On June 6th to 8th in Ottawa, the Ontario Volleyball Association’s High-Performance Team delivered a memorable experience for both coaches and athletes, hosting a coaching symposium alongside the Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) tournament at TD Place.

After a hugely successful 2024 event, there was high demand for another engaging weekend of skill development for coaches attending the VNL tournament. Over the course of three days, 102 coaches gathered to engage in an intensive and inspiring learning environment.

The symposium featured 15 carefully curated sessions led by the best coaching minds from across the country, and the world. The diverse programming offered a balance of on-court demonstrations and classroom learning allowing participants to gain practical insights while exploring the evolving science behind coaching.

On Court Sessions:

• Q&A with Japan’s National Team Coach Ferhat Akbas
• Giovanni Guidetti (Canadian National Team HC) - Block and Defense
• Round Table Discussion Led By LP Mainville
• Mark Dodds (U of Saskatchewan HC ) & Austin Dyer (Lakeland College HC) – Out of System Offense
• Doug Reimer (UBC Women's HC) - Pass to Perform: Skill, Feedback & Mindset in Practice            
• Marie-Claire Geneau (Canadian National Team IST Lead) - Strength and Power Assessments for Volleyball
• Matt Harris (Team Canada NextGen AC) - High Performance Tryouts

Classroom Sessions:

• Coach Panel Featuring: 
  • Kristine Drakich (U of Toronto Women's HC)
  • Doug Reimer (UBC Women's HC)
  • Mark Dodds (U of Saskatchewan Women's HC)
• Lionel Woods (U of Ottawa Women's HC)  - Building a Roster Profile
• Melissa Healy (CMNT Medical Lead) - Trends and Patterns in Physical Capacity & Musculoskeletal Injuries Through the National Team Pathway
• Matt Krueger (Team Canada Next Gen HC) - Adaptive Systems in Volleyball
• Kerry MacDonald (VC Chief Sport Officer) - Coaching the Future
• Shannon Winzer (Team Canada Director of High Performance) - Practice Planning
• Glenn and Megan Cundari - AI in Coaching - Coach+

Hybrid Training

• Mental Performance Workshop with Jason Bovin and Emily Riley                      

Games:

• Dominican vs Netherlands                 
• Serbia vs Japan
• Canada vs Japan                                                                    
• Bulgaria vs Serbia - All participants with tickets were invited to the VIP section                             
• Bulgaria vs Netherlands                                                                    
• Canada vs Serbia                              

Among the standout moments were sessions led by two internationally respected figures in the sport, Giovanni Guidetti and Shannon Winzer. Both delivered engaging presentations that sparked lively discussions and left a lasting impact. Another highlight was the “AI in Coaching” session, presented by Glenn and Megan Cundari who curated an innovative talk explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping modern training and decision-making, quickly becoming a fan favourite among attendees.

For a full schedule of how the weekend mapped out to see if this might be something you wish to attend in the future, please refer to the document below.

Complementing the symposium was an unforgettable athlete experience. Four high-intensity sessions were opened exclusively to athletes from Region 6, each led by Canada Games coach and Team Canada NextGen coach Matt Harris, alongside several top Team Ontario coaches. With only 16 spots available per session, registration sold out within minutes. These 1.5-hour sessions took place directly on the VNL show court, offering young athletes a once-in-a-lifetime chance to train on the same surface as some of the world’s best.

The weekend exemplified the OVA’s ongoing commitment to elevating coaching standards and athlete development in the province. By aligning the symposium with an international event like the VNL, the association created an atmosphere charged with excitement, learning, and community connection. Coaches left with actionable knowledge and renewed passion, while athletes walked away inspired by a taste of elite-level volleyball.

From insightful discussions on the future of coaching to hands-on court sessions in a world-class venue, the OVA’s High-Performance symposium was a resounding success, one that strengthened the roots of volleyball in Ontario and offered a glimpse into its promising future.

Stay tuned for your next opportunity to attend a VNL Coaching Symposium presented by OVA's High-Performance Team.