The Canada Games, held every two years, alternating between summer and winter, are the largest multi-sport event in the country and represent the pinnacle of interprovincial/territorial sport competition. As the best in their age group, these young competitors come to the Games having trained long and hard to be among those chosen to represent their respective province or territory. Since 1967, nearly 100,000 athletes have participated in the Games with hundreds of thousands having engaged in try-outs and qualifying events. Add to that the over 100,000 coaches, officials and volunteers that have been directly involved in the planning and staging of the Games and you have some idea as to the enormous reach of the Canada Games over a proud history.
Indoor volleyball has been on the Canada Games program since the very first Canada Games in 1967 in Quebec City, QC, and is one of the few sports that has been featured on both Winter and Summer Games programs. Indoor volleyball was on the Winter program from 1969-1987, and transitioned to the Summer program at the 1985 Games in Saint John, NB.
Beach Volleyball made its debut in both Men’s and Women’s categories at the 2001 Canada Summer Games in London, ON. Beach volleyball returned to the program in 2009, and has been on every summer program since.
The 2025 Canada Summer Games to be held August 8-24 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
For more information on the Canada Games program, contact Ryan Marsden at highperformance@volleyballalberta.ca
Key Info and Dates for 2025 Canada Games:
2025 Athlete Identification/Program Pathway
- This is the final year of this Canada Games cycle. We will be offering an 18U girls and 18U boys team this year.
- Club Coaches will receive an email when the athlete application portal is opened. Athletes interested in participating in this 2025 Team AB program will be asked to submit an application including video submission through the VA athlete application portal (GMTM). Athletes can begin the application process through GMTM on December 2nd, 2024. *Please note: There will not be an Identification Camp for these teams, but just an Invite Only tryout camp.
- Physical testing will be done at the Tryout Camp. If you have had them done through your club, then you are welcome to share those numbers through GMTM. Anyone attending the Tryout camp will have all of these physical testing numbers gathered there as part of the camp. Conducted tests include weight, height, seated height, standing reach, wingspan, grip strength, vertical jump (block, spike), Pro-Agility test.
- A selection team consisting of team coaches and mentor coaches will identify athletes and begin evaluations via the Application Portal and at Premier events. It is through this process that athletes will be offered to attend the Tryout Camp.
- Team Alberta coaches and mentors will continue to evaluate athletes throughout the Premier Season.
- The following teams will be selected, consisting of 12 competition and 2 training athletes each. These teams will continue through competition team training and compete at the 2025 Canada Games happening in St. John’s Newfoundland from August 8th-24th.
- 18U Girls – 1 Team
- 18U Boys – 1 Team
- Teams are selected following the same selection criteria as last year found in this document: 2024 Athlete Selection Policy
Please mark highperformance@volleyballalberta.ca as safe in your email browser to receive future program info via email!
Athlete Eligibility:
An athlete must be 18 and under (18U) as of December 31, 2025.
Year of birth: 2007 or later.
Alternative Option:
18U athletes not selected to the indoor Canada Games teams have another pathway which would include the Team AB Beach 18U Program.
Key Dates
- Tryouts (Invite Only):
- April 5th: 18U Girls Team Alberta- Canada Games team tryout camp to take place in Edmonton at Raise Athletics-(invitations will be emailed to participants selected to attend)
- April 12th: 18U Boys Team Alberta-Canada Games team tryout camp to take place in Sylvan Lake at Multi-Campus Facility-(invitations will be emailed to participants selected to attend)
- Final Team Selection:
- June 7th for the girls
- June 8th for the boys
- 18U Canada Games Long List Training Camp
- June 7th: 18U Girls Team Alberta- Canada Games team training camp to take place in Sylvan Lake at Multi-Campus Facility-(invitations will be emailed to participants selected to attend)
- June 8th: 18U Boys Team Alberta-Canada Games team training camp to take place in Sylvan Lake at Multi-Campus Facility-(invitations will be emailed to participants selected to attend)
- 18U Canada Games Competition Team Training
- Both Genders: June 29-July 5th @ Olds College in Olds, AB
- July 5-20th: Edmonton, AB (NAIT)
- July 21-August 16th: TBD (Edmonton, Calgary, International Trip)
- Please note: There will be small breaks within this training block and also an additional International Training Opportunity.
- 2025 Canada Games– St. John’s, Newfoundland
- Both Genders – August 18th-24th (Depart on August 16th- Return on August 25th)
Coaching Staff:
- Women’s Team:
- Head Coach: Dione Kristel
- Assistant Coach: Brian Kim
- Assistant Coach: Tracy Keats
- Men’s Team:
- Head Coach: Ryan Marsden
- Assistant Coach: Phil Dixon
- Assistant Coach: Jace Barros
- Assistant Coach: Waylon Auger (Aboriginal Apprentice Coaching Program)
The Development of a Physical Profile
Our High Performance Committee has researched and evaluated physical testing results from numerous sources to understand the base physical performance levels that athletes should possess for continued success in our sport.
18U Male Team Alberta Athlete- Physical Profile (with recommended standards)
Standards updated by the High Performance Committee in 2019
Position | Reach | Spike Jump | Block Jump | Pro-Agility (seconds) |
Setter | 96″ | 127″ | 119″ | 3.1 |
Middle | 98″ | 128″ | 120″ | 3.1 |
Outside | 96″ | 127″ | 119″ | 3.1 |
Libero | NA | NA | NA | 3.1 |
18U Female Team Alberta Athlete – Physical Profile
Standards were updated by the High Performance Committee in 2019
Position | Reach | Block Jump | Spike Jump | Pro-Agility Test(seconds) |
Setter | 223.5 cm (7’4″ = 88″) | 267 cm (9’2.5″= 105″) | 281 cm (9’2.5″ = 110.5″) | 4.1 |
Middle | 234 cm (7’8″= 92″) | 276 cm (9’0.5″ = 108.5″) | 289.5 cm (9’6″ = 114″) | 4.1 |
Outside | 228.5 cm (7’6″ = 90″) | 272 cm (8’11” = 107″) | 284.5 cm (9’4″ = 112″) | 4.1 |
Libero | 4.1 |
Please note: These standards are not the sole factor in athlete identification or selection. Athletes also need to demonstrate potential to be an elite athlete, a willingness to learn, a great attitude, decision making and leadership skills.
Athlete Application Portal (GMTM)
Athlete Application deadline extended to March 15th due to high demand! Please visit the following link to apply: https://gmtm.com/organizations/249503/volleyball-alberta/home
The portal will close on March 15th, 2025 for the Major Centre ID camps. The deadline of March 1st, 2025 will remain for the Regional ID camps.
Previous Canada Games Team AB Rosters and Results – Men
2022 Canada Games – 19U Team Alberta
19U Men, Team Alberta Volleyball Canada Games Team
Results: Canada Cup, Tier 1 Championship Silver Medal
Results: Canada Summer Games Silver Medal
Niagara 2022 Schedule Niagara 2022 Watch Live
| 19U Team Alberta Men | |
| 1 – Zach Van Geel |  |
| 2 – Marek Edwards | |
| 3 – Logan Greves | |
| 4 – Luke Weddell | |
| 5 – Renn Petryk | |
| 6 – Tate Howell | |
| 7 – Victor Secches Reis | |
| 8 – Mason Greves | |
| 9 – Reeve Gingera | |
| 10 – Max Penner | |
| 11 – Aaron Elser | |
| 12 – Ethan Czepuryk | |
| 13 – Jacob Sargent | |
| 14 – Ashton South | |
| 15 – Jacob Breton | |
| Head Coach – Greg Barthel | |
| Assistant Coach – Sam Tuivai |
2017 Canada Games – 18U Team AB Roster
| Uniform # | Athlete Name | Position | |
| 12 | Caleb Funk | Middle |  |
| 5 | Caleb Weiss | Setter | |
| 8 | Colm Guyn | Setter | |
| 9 | Hunter Stewart | Outside Hitter | |
| 1 | Jackson Brennan | Setter | |
| 3 | Jesse Elser | Outside Hitter | |
| 7 | Liam Huth | Middle | |
| 10 | Luis Lange | Middle | |
| 4 | Mathias Elser | Outside Hitter | |
| 2 | Matthew Neaves | Outside Hitter | |
| 6 | Mitchell Newman | Outside Hitter | |
| 11 | Reece Lehman | Middle | |
| 15 | Ryan Zachary | Outside Hitter | |
| 14 | Griffin Butler (alternate) | Outside Hitter | |
| 13 | Jordan Krause (alternate) | Outside Hitter |
Previous Canada Games Team AB Rosters and Results – Women
2022 Canada Games – 19U Team Alberta
19U Women, Team Alberta Volleyball Canada Games Team
Results: Canada Cup, Tier 1 Championship Silver Medal
Results: Canada Summer Games Silver Medal
| 19U Team Alberta Women | |
| 1 – Kinna Fisher |  |
| 2 – Bronwyn Ettinger | |
| 3 – Maryn Boldon | |
| 4 – Sarah Zonneveld | |
| 5 – Payton Shimoda | |
| 6 – Robyn McLean | |
| 7 – Daisy Olsen | |
| 8 – Kylee Glanville | |
| 9 – Faith Christensen | |
| 10 – Isla Olesen | |
| 11 – Evvia Belireau | |
| 12 – Bella Stothart | |
| 13 – Laila Johnston | |
| 14 – Sheridan Coninx | |
| 15 – Sammi Boag | |
| Head Coach – Sammy Fraser | |
| Assistant Coach – Reid Brodie | |
| Team Manager – Jenna Smith |
2017 Canada Games – 18U Team Alberta Roster
| # | Athlete Name | Position | |
| 15 | Elizabeth (Lizzy) Reimer | Middle |  |
| 4 | Elyse Hart | Setter | |
| 11 | Emma Kieftenbeld | Outside Hitter | |
| 10 | Jenae Eisler | Libero | |
| 8 | Julia Zonneveld | Outside Hitter | |
| 5 | Kacey Jost | Outside Hitter | |
| 2 | Lauryn Tremblay | Outside Hitter | |
| 9 | Lexis Peart | Setter | |
| 3 | Madison Marshall | Outside Hitter | |
| 6 | Marina Culo | Middle | |
| 7 | Milana Zivak | Outside Hitter | |
| 13 | Myja Wildenhoff | Middle | |
| 1 | Rayn Perry (alternate) | Setter | |
| 14 | Tabitha Martin (alternate) | Middle |
Financial Assistance Program
Athletes in financial need can apply to Volleyball Alberta for assistance via the Hugh Hoyles Scholarship Fund.
Below is a list of other scholarships, grants, and programs that athletes may apply for:
- Kid Sport Alberta: KidSport is a national not-for-profit organization that provides financial assistance for registration fees and equipment to kids aged 18 and under
- JumpStart: Jumpstart funding helps families that need a financial hand with registration, equipment and/or transportation costs.
For more information on the Team Alberta Indoor program, contact Ryan Marsden at highperformance@volleyballalberta.ca
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