Frequently Asked Questions

Club volleyball is a competitive, organized program separate from school teams, where athletes train and compete on teams formed by age and skill level. The season typically runs from late November through early May (for teams competing at Volleyball Canada Nationals).

At QCVC, athletes register and may be invited to try out for our Elite, Selects, or Royal programs. Teams practice regularly and compete in tournaments, SaskCups, and potentially Nationals.

Club volleyball is one of the most popular and effective pathways for student-athletes to sharpen their skills, experience high-level competition, gain exposure to university and college recruiters, and even pursue opportunities at the collegiate level.

9-12 years old, co-ed Smashball

13-18 for female athletes depending on coaching availability,

• Smashball – A fun CO-ED development program for boys and girls ages 9–12, led by Tom Ash, Sask Volleyball’s Grassroots Program Coordinator.
• Triple-Ball – Designed for female athletes in our 13U Royal Program.
• Volleyball (14U–18U) –QCVC offers multiple teams across three streams: Elite, Selects, and Royal, providing opportunities for female athletes to train and compete at the appropriate level.

2025-26 QCVC season tryouts start on September 7, 2025. Applications for Elite and Selects must be in by Aug 31, 2025. The tryout period is mandated by Sask Volleyball and can run for a few weeks. This tryout period can start as early as September, though it has typically been closer to the middle of October. It can change from yearly.

Players must sign up for their division according to birth year (not grade).

4 things we are look for in our Coaches…

1. Technical Knowledge, Leadership skills, & interpersonal abilities
2. Teaching, Communicating, & fostering a Positive team environment
3. A passion for volleyball & commitment to player Development
4. Being organized, Disciplined, & adaptable

All of our QCVC programs are led by a passionate and experienced group of coaches who bring a wide range of expertise to the court. Together, they offer:

• Extensive Volleyball Coaching Experience – from grassroots development to high school, club, and provincial-level teams, our coaches have guided athletes across all stages of the game.
• Proven Leadership – many have served as head coaches at schools, led multi-year club teams, and contributed to athlete development programs across Saskatchewan.
• Multi-Sport Coaching Knowledge – in addition to volleyball, our staff bring diverse perspectives from coaching hockey, baseball, football, and softball, enhancing their ability to teach teamwork, strategy, and athletic performance.
• Commitment to Youth Development – several coaches are educators and facilitators who not only coach but also teach coaching clinics, mentor new coaches, and build leadership skills in young athletes.
• Balanced Approach – with backgrounds in both competitive and recreational sport, they combine technical expertise, game strategy, and a focus on athlete well-being.
• We have had some QCVC coaches who are dedicated parent volunteers. To ensure fairness, athletes are not placed with parent-coaches; instead, coaches are assigned to teams after evaluations.
• QCVC coaches are required to follow the Sask Volleyball Coaches’ Code of Conduct
• All Coachesmust have their Criminal Record Check (CRC) up to date.

Like all competitive sports, club volleyball involves a financial commitment. At QCVC, your season fees cover:

• All Sask Cup tournaments (up to 3)
• Sask Provincials & depending on age and level, Nationals
• Gym time
• Coaching and coach development fees
• Team jersey
• Team warm-up gear

Season fees typically range from $1,400–$2,400, depending on the team’s tier and age group.

Extra costs vary by team and coaching staff. These may include expenses for:

• Additional tournaments (5–10 per season)
• Extra gym time or practices
• Exhibition games
• Coaches’ travel and meal expenses
• Specialized training (mental performance, nutrition, high-performance fitness, etc.)

Please note: all travel and accommodation costs for out-of-town tournaments (typically 2–3 per season) are the responsibility of the athlete and their family.

QCVC does not provide group or individual fundraising programs. If a team or individual athlete wishes to organize fundraising, it is their own responsibility to plan and manage those efforts independently.

Many players are able to play different sports (hockey, soccer, ringette, dance, cheer etc.) however there are things to consider when choosing to play multiple sports. These include schedule conflicts, with both practices and tournaments, dedication to sport and commitment to your team. Before choosing to join multiple sports, we recommend getting as much information about tournaments and practices from both teams to ensure conflict is minimized and development is maximized.

QCVC recommends you contact organizations such as Kidsport and Jumpstart for financial assistance. Contact us if you have applied for financial assistance and are waiting for a response so we are aware.

Elite Commitment:

Coaches – Coaches for the Elite teams are experienced with years behind them. Have practice plans ready for all practices; attend all tournaments teams are registered for (or have a suitable assistant coach to back up); register team in additional tournaments (min 6 – max 9; athletes should not be playing more than three tournaments in a month); plan scrimmages with other QCVC teams or local teams when possible.

Players -The expectations of the athletes for these teams will be extremely high. If an athlete cannot make the commitment to attend all the mandatory requirements, they should consider looking at our Royal Program teams. Expectations include (but are not limited to): attending practices 3 times per week, along with off court training; attend all SaskCups; attend Provincials; attend all additional tournaments and attend Nationals in May.

Selects Commitment:

Coaches – Coaches for the Elite teams are experiences with years behind them. Have practice plans ready for all practices; attend all tournaments teams are registered for (or have a suitable assistant coach to back up); register team in additional tournaments (min 5 – max 8; athletes should not be playing more than three tournaments in a month); plan scrimmages with other QCVC teams or local teams when possible; organize off court training for athletes and plan to attend Nationals with your team.

Players -Expectations include (but are not limited to): attending practices 2 times per week, along with off court training; attend all SaskCups; attend Provincials; attend majority of the additional tournaments and attend Nationals in May.

Royal Purple Commitment:

Coaches –  Coaches for Purple teams are usually first-third  year coaches that are developing in their skills. Have practice plans ready for all practices; attend all tournaments teams are registered for (or have a suitable assistant coach to back up); register team in additional tournaments (min 5 – max 8; athletes should not be playing more than three tournaments in a month); plan scrimmages with other QCVC teams or local teams when possible; and discuss with team about possibility of  attending Nationals with your team.

Players -Expectations include (but are not limited to): attending practices 2 times per week, attend all SaskCups; attend Provincials; attend at least half of the additional tournaments and attend Nationals in May if your team chooses to attend.

Royal Black Commitment:

Coaches – Coaches for Black teams are usually first year coaches that are developing in their skills. Have practice plans ready for all practices; attend all tournaments teams are registered for (or have a suitable assistant coach to back up); register team in additional tournaments (min 4 – max 7; athletes should not be playing more than three tournaments in a month); and plan scrimmages with other QCVC teams or local teams when possible.

Players -Expectations include (but are not limited to): attending practices 2 times per week, attend all SaskCups; attend Provincials; and attend at least half of the additional tournaments